Tools..lots of them

I once met a coworker and good friend. We went to Sears and did a bit of manly browsing. Yes, guys do that too. We walk to the tools section and I know he has more tools than lots of people that I know of. He pick out a wrench of some sort and brought it. I ask him, what is with another tool? Don't you have a collection already? He chuckled and said, you will always need a tool; a tool for different purpose and function. So I said, ever thought of a universal tool that does it all? He said in respond, one day you'll see.

I have my own house and prior to fully living at my house. I never have thought of tool usage at all; I guess if you are never home, what is there to fixed. I was dead wrong. I work locally now and I have been home everyday for the past 2.5 years. Let's say I stop by Lowes a lot these days looking at tools. I realized how right was his comment. I can always use additional tool for home fixing. Although I may not know of all the names to all my tools, but I am so glad they were there when I needed them. More tools the merrier and guess what I am getting for Christmas this year.

Walk the walk...

This is probably the simpliest lesson but hardest to practice. I am forced to learn this lesson of making promises and keeping them. My children are quite forceful, especially my daughter. Whenever Sarah approaches me with the cute smile and hugging mode, I know I am in trouble. I know she wants something from me. This is my most difficult part of being a Dad, saying no to my daughter when she ask for toys that you know it is a waste. The best part is that she said "Please" daddy. Hmmm....
Many times I have delivered on my end of the promise, but there are times I cannot. The guilt on my end and the disappointment on her face breaks my heart. I realized we can't always give our children everyhting they want But if you promised; it is better to keep than make excuses. Just think of the number of times your dad didn't keep their promises. Ah..to even think of it means you have not forgotten, so expect the same results from your kids. The phrase "what comes around goes around" makes lot more sense now. Isn't it?

Challenges of Life

The phrase "sometime you feel like a nut" seems to apply well in my life. I am guessing most people are similar to my situation. You work all you life since you graduated from college or before college and you enjoyed most of those times also. Life changes as I got married and having children. It is different, there seems to be a different purpose to my life now and more than ever in comparison to the good old college days. The word "Responsibilities" comes to mind and lots of them. By accepting the two new roles, husband and dad; I find that my priorities needs to be shift in a 360 degree matter. For example, from time to time, I am thinking my time is my time; I can't waste it to spend playing with my kids and talking to my wife (single life thinking). There are days I just want to pack my backpack and "head south". Such selfish thinking and I am ashamed. This is an area which I need to work harder myself to correct my selfish thoughts. My families is my number priorities and there has to be no other replacements. With this note, I can't seem to understand some of the hard working folks including myself, we put so many hours in the office in hope to move up and "show" our self that we are more than capable. At the end of the year, you got the 3.5% raised and you are thinking the time you have stolen from your families is only worth 3.5%. What a shamed! The worst is that the times lost with your families far more outweighs than 3.5% and there is no way to gain it back. Unfortunate and Sad!

Perhaps this is just my thoughts echoing, but for the sake of families, may want to think twice before you begin moving your families down on the priority list.