Release Your Religious Baggage!

Thoughts, insights and ancedotes on growing up in a pastors home

Join Jeremy McAbee (the son of a preacher) and Stephen Saxton (a preacher and father) for a conversation about the unique experiences and sometimes-scarring realities of growing up in the home of a religious leader. Saturday, May 4, 2013 11:00 AM Islands Christian Church 4601 Hwy 80 East Savannah, GA islandschristian.org

Dads Toolbox
Constructing Healthy Kids

May 2013

Schedule Your Summer

by Stephen Saxton

@dadstoolbox

Dads Toolbox 8793 Hwy 80 East Savannah, GA 34601

Dadstoolbox.com

any of us live and die by our calendars, and I am no different. Everything gets scheduled on our smart phone devices. We schedule things weeks or sometimes months out. It seems that when it gets placed on that little screen in our hands, we have an obligation to the date. It really does work for most of us. Well, with summer coming, your kids will be out of school and probably bored. Summer is the time when the school system gives us our kids back. We get roughly ten weeks where they dont have to worry about anything other than being a happy, barefoot, and dirty faced kid.

During the summer months you have the opportunity to join them in their happy days of freedom.

Schedule it!

Make a point to look at your calendar and plan some time with your kids. Choose some Saturdays for the beach or lake, some Friday evenings for smores in the yard, and some random days during the week for surprise trips to the zoo or the park. If you dont take the time to schedule your summer it will go by fast, and you will have squandered a great opportunity to connect with your children. Yes, this takes some forethought and energy, but you do it for that

One Awesome Dad 42 Pearl Way St. Simons Island, GA 49303

Plan a trip to the park, dont expect it to just happen!

client youve been trying to land or that customer who is never happy. Why not do it for the people you love and care about the most? If you think about it, you only have 10 or 11 summers with your kids. In the beginning they are really small and have no idea its summer, and in the teen years they have friends and cars with their own activities planned.

Make it a team effort

Just making the plans is a great relationship building excercise. First, meet with your wife and talk about her calendar this summer. Make sure you merge her big events with yours. Is she attending a conference? Does she have an important work event during the summer? Does she have a special night planned with friends? Finding this out is important. After you two talk, sit down with

your children and listen to them. Ask them what they have going on this summer. If your children are older, they may have plans you dont know about. This meeting will provide an opportunity for them to communicate. On the other hand, your six year old may have her heart set on spending a week at grandmas. Talk to them about what they want this summer. You wont be able to do all their ideas, but listening may inspire you. Possibly the best ideas will come from them, so listen closely. Together, with your wife and kids, put some events on the calendar. The summer is short, dont miss it. What does your summer look like? -

y
= + = = = =

= Make homemade ice cream together

Go fishing Build a fort in some woods nearby Make a tire swing Play with dolls outside Picnic in the backyard Fly kites at the beach

Summer Fun Ideas

The greatest thing a FATHER can do to his children, is to love their mother.
- Anjaneth Garcia Untalan

Make Time for Whats Important

by Jeremy McAbee

eing a first-time father is tough on anyone. Young, old, married, single whatever stage of life you may be in, watching your first child come into the world and realizing the incredible responsibility that comes along with them can be overwhelming. As a full-time student married to a full-time student I know first-hand just how tough it can be to balance the responsibilities of school, work, maintaining a healthy marriage AND learning how to raise a child. With my daughters first birthday just a month away, I look back over the past year and reflect on how much my life has changed in such a short period of time. Two years ago, my wife and I only had to concern ourselves with each other making time for one another amidst our schoolwork and job schedules. Now, we have all that, plus the shared responsibility of another human life. Our daughter depends on us for everything, and we work hard to ensure that she has food, clothing and shelter. But truly being a family and creating loving, lasting bonds with your child goes beyond these basic needs we must make time for interaction and activities that will show our

daughter that we truly love her. As busy as my wife and I are with school and work, we set aside at least one hour a week for a family activity; this could be going to the park, strolling through the mall, or even going for a walk around the neighborhood. Although we usually have one day a week where we are able to spend all morning or afternoon together, there are weeks where this is just not feasible, and the one-hour rule comes into play. As long as we get that one hour of togetherness in, we know that we are making the effort, and it truly helps us stay connected. Although our lives are busy and stressful now, we dont hold any false notions that later on or after graduation things will slow down or get easier. Of course, we hope that once we move past school and transition into the working world that we will have a little more free time but we are also realists, and know that there will always be something going on and that life moves at a very fast pace. But, as long as we maintain our weekly family-time commitment, I know that we will be a happy family raising a happy child. -

UPCOMING EVENTS
Forsyth Famers Market, Every Saturday from 9-1 Savannah International Animation Festival, Trustees Theatre, May 13, 9-2 Free Concert, Forsyth Park May 17, 3pm BBQ and Bluegrass, Pier Pavillion, Tybee Island May 26, 1:00

Theyre only this age for a very short time, so take a break from the books and enjoy it!

S u r p r i s e h e r a t wo r k wi t h a p i c n i c

S urprise Idea For Mom

ba s k e t a n d t a k e h e r f o r l u n c h . Y o u r wi f e wi l l l o v e t h i s r o ma n t i c i d e a . I f s h e d o e s n t wo r k o u t s i d e t h e h o me , arrange childcare for the kids and do the same thing!