When your children surpass you

Encouraging good dads to be great dads!

Yesterday my middle son did some welding for me. I have been a bit of a handyman over the years and always undertook projects, repair and renovations myself. My sons have not been that interested in being involved in these projects for the most part of their teenage years. So you can imagine how pleased   to see my son doing tradesman type jobs for me.

My son is nearly a third year plumbing apprentice and to stand back and watch him do such skilled work as welding with such precision made my heart proud. I had the fresh realisation that my son has surpassed me as a handy man. I told him I was thrilled to have a tradesman as a son. (I think all of us dads would like to have a plumber, electrician, mechanic and dentist in the family wouldn’t we?)

I also realised that my son had surpassed me in some areas as have my other two sons.

For the teacher to be surpassed by their student, for a protegé to be surpassed by their mentor and for a tradesman to be surpassed by their apprentice is the goal.

To step back and see your son or daughter excel to such a degree that they have surpassed you is a true reward for years of personal investment in their lives.

How have your children surpassed you? Do you celebrate their excellence? Have you told them how proud you are of them lately? It’s good to be able to be specific about why we are proud of them isn’t it.

Feel free to add a comment to this blog so others can benefit from your thoughts and experiences as well.

PS. I am considering publishing a paperback version of my book “Good dads GREAT DADS” based on the success of the online version for iPads. I need to get some numbers together before I go to print.

Please email me at gooddadsgreatdads@gmail.com to let me know that you would be keen to buy an autographed copy or perhaps a few as gifts. If I have an indication of selling a few books early I will go ahead with confidence.  Please send this email to me now as I need numbers within the next 5 days.