Aside from the given 18 years everyone hears about how much time do you people with families spend with them? Been thinking about the efforts involved and realize I am selfish to an extent and not sure I would want to change things.
Have to imagine that spending time with your kids provides a feeling that only a parent could know. I take families fishing all the time and see how they interact with each other and every once in awhile wish I could do the same.
I have 2 boys and I spend pretty much all my time with them,doing things they want to do.I also have 2 nephews that are like my sons cause they are with me as much as my 2 boys and I spend just as much time with them as I can.
Sometime I wish I could get a break for me time but I guess that’s part of being a parent.
I have a 4 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. Since I work 10 hour shifts in the heat Mon-Thurs, I am a bit limited on what I do with them on those evenings. I do usually read to my son out of The Hobbit or one of the Chronicles of Narnia books, or something similar. When he was younger we read to him from a children’s Bible as well. He basically has them memorized at this point lol.
I don’t have “scheduled” time with my daughter but she gets a lot of daddy-attention.
On the weekends, I spend usually 3/4 of a whole day with my son, either fishing or something similar. Also, I spend a half-day with the whole family doing something like beach swimming, picknick, etc. There are weekends where I end up doing a lot of carpentry work “on the side” because of financial necessity.
May I also add that if you are concerned with the self-investment that children require, you will not miss it if you are a good father. I could take my boat out further, fish in more remote and productive waters, if I didn’t take my son (ie, more dangerous stuff since my boat is small and slow), but watching him catch whiting and baby sharks is priceless. There’s no amount of catching bull reds that compare with this.
The other thing about family time. You think you can plan it. Sure, you can plan “events” and “regularly occurring activities”, but you’ll inevitably spend more time than you originally planned with your family. And, it’s worth every moment. It does NOT always feel all sentimental and lubby-dubby. Often times it’s endless hours of disciplining a hard-headed 4 year old, but still worth every moment to watch him grow into a maturing, thinking, intelligent creature that loves other people.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
Honestly, the gift of being a father is more than awesome, it’s unmentionable…so much so, I would gladly lay down my life for the safety and welfare/prosperity of my children. I am sure that you would feel the same, Fritz.I wouldn’t say that you have been selfish, but mostly rather careful. Just knocking up anyone is something you would likely regret, but planning a family with your wife, the woman of your dreams, is a bonus…
Have to imagine that spending time with your kids provides a feeling that only a parent could know. I take families fishing all the time and see how they interact with each other and every once in awhile wish I could do the same.
Honestly, the gift of being a father is more than awesome, it’s unmentionable…so much so, I would gladly lay down my life for the safety and welfare/prosperity of my children. I am sure that you would feel the same, Fritz.I wouldn’t say that you have been selfish, but mostly rather careful. Just knocking up anyone is something you would likely regret, but planning a family with your wife, the woman of your dreams, is a bonus…
Turkey… the other white meat.
^^^THIS!!! Well said, Turkey.
“Sire, it belongs in truth to the Church of God, in whose name I speak, to endure blows and not to inflict them. But it will also please your Majesty to remember that she is an anvil that has worn out many hammers.”…Theodore Beza
As the father of a 17 year old and a 20 year old, all I can say is not enough.
My kid’s mom and I divorced in 2001. We shared joint custody for many years and I went from seeing my boys 24/7 every day to 24/7 every other week. They are getting older and have lived with me, full-time, for a while. But as they get older, they no longer have time for dad. They are busy with their own lives. As they get older I miss, more and more, the times when we had “guy time” and went fishing and four-wheeling, hunting or just playing catch in the front yard.
And every father will tell you, it was worth every moment of sacrifice to spend time with your kids. When they get older, they can tag along and you get to teach them how to enjoy the things you enjoy. And then you get to tag along with them doing things that they enjoy as well as helping out with school projects. I’ve coached baseball and soccer and had a blast watching my kids play. They will always remain cherished memories.
“There is no hunting like the hunting of man, and those who have hunted armed men long enough and liked it, never care for anything else thereafter.”
Ernest Hemingway
My wife and I never really wanted kids. We always enjoyed being around kids, but at the end of the day we could go home and have our own life. If we wanted to travel or go somewhere last second we could. If we wanted to go drop a bunch of $$$ on something we could. There was definitly some selfishness involved.
We changed our minds about 2 years ago…after always hanging out with our friends and their children. We now have a 9 month old daughter that I could not imagine my life without. My wife is 37 and I am 36.
Obviously with a 9 month old…you spend a lot of time watching and caring for her and you do sacrifice those last minute trips to O’Brions for a cold beer with friends. But I still have time to go meet up with buddies and do some fishing or watch some sports.
I look forward as she grows up to be able to take her places and show her the world.
There is honestly nothing better in the world to hear her laugh or see her smile.
–Proud dad.
I think if you consider asking a question like this, then you need to keep your dick in your britches or visit Rosey Palm, he four sisters and cousin Thumbalina for some knuckle kids.
Mark
Pioneer 222 Sportfish Yamaha F300
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
After watching a family on vacation the other day, I remarked to Marla how much I missed raising the boys. I enjoyed spending lots of time with my boys, and I feel I raised good young men that will be very successful in life. I look forward to spending time with the grandkids now. Fritz, you will never feel any greater joy than watching the birth of your child.
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
