Intentional Engagement, Part 1

Twice in the past week, I have been complimented on my intentional engagement as a dad with my two sons, who are 14 and 12, respectively. The first time was by my brother, who is six years older than I am, and who has always been a role model for me. The other was by a friend I’ve known since kindergarten. Her comment was prompted by this post on social media:

“M got his hair dyed today. I wanted to take a picture, and he resisted. Eventually, he consented. Then I explained why I’m always taking pictures of him and his brother.There isn’t an abundance of photos of my childhood to show them to demonstrate my upbringing and memories. I want it to be different for them. As we talked, and he looked at pictures on my FB account, he found himself lost in laughs and memories, just as I’d hoped.Here’s one from a few years ago, on this day. Grandpa isn’t as active as this anymore, and I want them to remember these things about him.”

When I was reminiscing with my brother last week, we recalled how our Dad, whom we love very much, connected with us differently than we have with our own sons. And my brother said to me that even he wasn’t as intentional with his boys as I’ve been with mine. I guess I have my own reasons for it, which mold and shape me as a father. I’m certainly not perfect! However, I have always had in it in my heart to be intentional in connecting with my sons so that when they are grown up they will remember their childhoods as times of positive interaction with their father (to go with the negative interactions that occur, too).