Okay, okay so I know I am a little late with my latest blog...I identify with anyone who writes.  It’s hard to keep coming up with great stuff and you feel like this one needs to be better than the last.

I have much to Blog about. Many things have happened since the loss in Shreveport. I’ll get to that later. For now I will work backward to some significant things that we have experienced since that time.

We just sent our youngest child to college.  Having kids around for 25 years has been a blast.  Now the last one is leaving so Misti and I will have some adjusting to do.  I passed this list on to our staff as they have young ones still at home (I’m envious).  I’ll get back on the blog schedule.

- PEACE, Hawk

AFTER BEING IN THE KID BUSINESS FOR 25 YEARS
AND WATCHING THE LAST ONE GRADUATE
(Things I’ve done and things wish I’d done more of or better) 

1. Treat every event like it’s the last one, because soon it will be.
2. Make memories, DO things rather than HAVE things.
3. Get them to play a musical instrument- it will be a great developer of the mind and a way to express themselves
4. Encourage them to get a job (have a chore list).  Let them learn how to earn the things they want.
5. Less is more.
6. Boy/Girl Scouts is an awesome program – most Eagle scouts are remarkable people.
7. Hug your kids often/everyday-tell them you love them often/everyday.
8. Leave your coaching hat at the office, if they have questions they will ask.  They need a dad, not another coach.
9. After the kids’ games, be concerned about “did you learn something”? And “did you have positive experience” (then go eat some pizza and ice cream)?
10. Teach them to solve their own problems- and let them do it. 
11. Keep the computer out where you can see it and monitor it.
12. Teach your kids to love each other.  Make them hold hands when they fight, make them say ten nice things to each other when they are mean to each other.
13. Siblings in the same bedroom are better than separate rooms.
14. Your kids will follow more what you do, and less what you say.
15. Allow your family be around and involved in your work.
16. Dad’s talk to your girls early about sex and boys early- and keep doing it regularly.
17. Avoid the sock basket!
18. Talk to your kids regularly about sex, drugs, and alcohol use and abuse – regularly.
19. Use every example in life to point out to your children the consequences of behavior (good and bad) – use the paper, TV or your own.  Like spaghetti, keep throwin’ it against the wall until it sticks.
20. Eat dinner together as a family (regularly).
21. Take your kids fishing, teach them how to fix a bike, and how to maintain a lawnmower.
22. Take some long road trips together and leave the IPods, video games, and DVD players at home.  They will come up with better interactive games that are more fun and will last a lifetime (take at least one long train trip J).
23. Encourage them to take risks and extend themselves.  It’s okay to fail, that’s how they grow.
24. The apple does not fall far from the tree (emphasize your strengths; improve your weaknesses).
25. Limit video game time.
26. Limit TV time.
27. Establish homework time, and guidelines for school (easier for girls than boys).
28. Be just a vigilant with the last one as you were for the first.
29. Go to church as a family (more importantly reinforce the things you learn there).
30. Sometimes you’re a potter, other times a blacksmith J.
31. Moving your kids during junior high and high school is tough ... it is doable ... but EXTRA care is needed.  It can ultimately teach them to be flexible and adapt, but be careful.
32. Keep them in touch with their extended family.  Roots are good.  Loving grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles are a priceless addition.
33. Enjoy every moment, have no regrets, don’t wish them out of diapers.  Next thing you know you’re an empty nester L.

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