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Written by Derek Meche
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Well, summer is almost over and most of us have had a chance to spend
some extra time with our children. My time does not start for another
week, so I'll let you in on what a few Louisiana Dads have done with
their kids.
"Dr. Mike" took his two boys on a train trip to California to
see his family. Mike took two weeks and decided that the train was the
best way to get there. The boys seamed to like the adventure and
really got a sense of exactly how big this country of ours is. From
Louisiana, it is a 2-day and 3 night, or 3 day and two nights ride,
depending on which train you get. My father and grandparents took this
ride often. I have an uncle who lives in California, and that is the
cheapest way to get there...
Well, summer is almost over and most of
us have had a chance to spend some extra time with our children.
My time does not start for another week, so I'll let you in on what a
few Louisiana Dads have done with their kids.
"Dr. Mike" took his two boys on a
train trip to California to see his family. Mike took two weeks
and decided that the train was the best way to get there. The
boys seamed to like the adventure and really got a sense of exactly how
big this country of ours is. From Louisiana, it is a 2-day and 3
night, or 3 day and two nights ride, depending on which train you
get. My father and grandparents took this ride often. I
have an uncle who lives in California, and that is the cheapest way to
get there.
"Rick" had his children for the
first two months of the summer. He often brought them to
work. He manages of a funeral parlor. Yes, they stayed in
front, and watched TV and drew a lot. They seamed really
happy. Every time I went to visit, his daughter was always asking
me if I wanted something to eat. They really wanted to help out.
Zachary and I have been doing a
lot this summer. I took him with me to work a couple of
days. He learned how to punch cable onto a telephone block, and I
treated him to lunch. I also paid him $10 for his day's
work. He was not about to let me slide on that one. He is
saving for a new bow, or no wait, maybe a .22, no this week it is a
portable play station. He has not made up his mind what he wants
for his birthday.
Travis and I have lunch
together a few times a week. I go to the Boys and Girls Club to
see him. This is a really good place to have some private time
with him for at least an hour. He almost tackled me last week
when I came over. He saw me pass a room he was in and came out,
and threw a bear hug around me while at a full run. If he can get
his grades up, he is going to make one heck of a football player.
Our family has not had a chance
for a real vacation this summer. Usually we try to get away to
Houston or Florida. This year, we have just been too busy.
Most experts will tell you that you have to take time for yourself, but
this year, we just had too much going on with work and our
health. I think we may plan something around November. The
off season sometimes is the best time to travel.
The summer is a time when children
are off from school and most fathers have extended visitation.
Some fathers have the whole summer, if they are lucky. Some of
the guys in Louisiana Dads are teachers, so this makes the summer even
more special. Rick was thinking he could do a lot more with his
kids, but his settlement did not take into account his extra time with
the children in the summer. He has to pay his full child support
to their mother for June and July when he has them all month.
Granted, it is not really fair, but that is what the courts say.
He spends a lot of time in the parks, and bike riding. I have
been swamped with work, thank God, but I always manage a little free
time when it counts.
Summer day care is often a
challenge to some dads. Zac is watched by his grandmother during the
week. If you do not live close to relatives, some older women
watch children in their homes. When Travis was young, we found a sitter
for $9.00 a day. Some will come into your home and clean too, but
probably for quite a bit more.
When our company downsized last year,
our secretary was laid off. She came in for a fair well and told us
that she called her son who just had a baby. They were planning to
spend $450 a month on day care. Karen said, if I can get $350, I'll do
it in my home, and I can start my side business. Her son and his wife
JUMPED at the chance to have Grandma watch their new son.
One of my neighbors brought one
child to day care and left his older son at home. He would tell me
stories of how his work computer was set up to see whenever his son got
on line, so he would write him back to get off and free the phone
line. I can just see him popping up on the buddy list asking what
he was doing.
I hope that everyone is
having a great summer and that you all find extra time to spend with
your children. You may have to make time where you can, but it is
worth it. Get out there and have fun while you still can.
Summer is almost over and they are only young once.
---
By Derek Meche
President: <a href="http://www.ladads.org" target="_blank">Louisiana Dads</a>
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