It’s Father’s Day and as usual, I’m terrible about these events. I was traveling this week and although there’s a card in my office, I didn’t time it right – which is why it’s still sitting in my office. Clearly put, gifting is not my love language. In fact, when I took the Chapman survey, it’s my lowest value. But put differently, when I think about lessons as gifts, I suddenly become much more appreciative and find that I’m very willing to pass them along.
My Dad and My Grandma and the Bluebonnets of Texas
In honor of Father’s Day, here’s a look at ten things I learned from my dad:
1. God gives us a week. Give him back an hour on Sunday or whatever your designated day of worship.
2. Nothing unwinds the mind like the gentle roll of water over a favorite fishing hole. I don’t fish but my dad does and I grew up fishing. My husband and at least one of my kids enjoy it too. It’s worth a habit.
3. Stay active. Walk. Move. Do it everyday.
4. See the world. It seems that in the past 12 months my parents have gone from Panama to China to Israel. I may not have the timing right but they have built a wonderful cadre of memories.
5. The language of sports is a great equalizer. I didn’t understand this until I had kids since I’m not much of an athlete. Now regardless of where I travel with my oldest son, he knows other kids from soccer or lacrosse or baseball. And while he’s different from some of the other kids, he holds an appreciation for their RBI record, mean curve ball or amazing goalie skills.
6. Hot chiles kill germs and light up the flavor of most dishes. Yeah.
7. Work hard. I realize this isn’t nearly as sexy as the “4 hour work week” or the “working smarter” mantras. But, this is the one that I’ve figured out.
8. Remember your roots. We’re from farming stock; hard-working, dry-land farmers who put in long days in order to put food on American tables. Our family doesn’t farm any longer but we certainly have an appreciation for it.
9. Education is something that no one can take away from you. I was always encouraged to get as much education as I could and I work to pass this value along to my kids.
10. Don’t spend more than you have. Said another way, live within your means. We do and we always have and while it means that we don’t have some of the toys that others do, we’ve been able to weather the current storm pretty well.
There are more I’ve learned and there’ll be more lessons to come and I’m grateful for both. Thanks Dad!
Agrigirl's Blog 
Lynn Marcinkowski Woolf
/ June 19, 2011Excellent thoughts and beautiful photo. Thanks for sharing.
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011Thanks Lynn. I know that you can relate to those Kansas roots.
iDella
/ June 19, 2011Working on #4 diligently! Thanks for a great post.:-)
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011You are welcome Idella.
Auburn Meadow Farm
/ June 19, 2011I’ll bet you made your Dad cry with this one… only in the best way of course!
I love your love language analogy : )
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011Thanks Jackie. This really wasn’t at all what I intended to post today but it worked perfectly.
dayphoto
/ June 19, 2011Great post, they look perfect in the bluebonnets!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011Ahh. Bluebonnets! Yes, I need to fix that.
Debbie
/ June 19, 2011I loved all of these . . .and what a great way to honor and “gift” your dad, by doing a post about what he taught you. 🙂 You did good. So did he!
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011Thanks Debbie. The chore was whittling down the lessons.
nrhatch
/ June 19, 20117, 9, and 10 are lessons my parents instilled in us ~ get a good education, apply yourself in school and the workplace, play fair and work fair, and don’t spend everything you earn.
He also spent countless hours on “our roots” ~ with his geneology research.
Thanks, Tammy!
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011All good lessons Nancy. We’re both really lucky.
JR
/ June 19, 2011Thank you Tammy for sharing your lessons with us.
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011You’re welcome. This morning I shared your last higher education post with my boys to reinforce that more education can be better.
Diane Scholten
/ June 19, 2011zWonderful lessons!! Agree with Debbie – this post is a gift to your dad – and to us! Thanks, Tammy!
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011You’re welcome Diane. I know you have a special relationship with your dad too!
Mimi Meredith
/ June 19, 2011This was a much more personal extension of yourself than anything Hallmark could have offered up! I think your Dad did a great job and you are lucky to have each other!
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011Yes, I tend to screw up on the Hallmark aspect of any holiday.
theonlycin
/ June 19, 2011Really wonderful Tammy!
Tammy
/ June 19, 2011Thank you Cindy.
Hannah
/ June 19, 2011How lovely! I particularly like #9.
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011Me too Hannah. I guess I should’ve known that it would resonate with you academic types. 😉
kateshrewsday
/ June 19, 2011Some great lessons and a lovely blogging gift for your Dad, Tammy 🙂
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011Thanks Kate. Speaking of blogging and Dads, I need to head over and see what your dad is up to on his.
Kathleen
/ June 20, 2011Love this post! Those bluebonnets are one of our favorite things to see when we travel through that way to get to Galveston. I have planted a ton of bluebonnet seed here, hoping that my acres will soon look like that. We are so dry, that only a few have popped up. Love reading this! blessings,Kathleen
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011My parents don’t live far from Galveston so you are definitely talking about the same area.
souldipper
/ June 20, 2011Tammy – what greater gift to give a parent than acknowledgement of the success of their efforts and love given to you?
I am so delighted you exist. This is so incredibly “my language” that I feel I’ve been given a new Cowboy’s Prayer.
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011What a lovely thing to say Amy. Thanks so much.
Tokeloshe
/ June 20, 2011What a beautiful photo!
Great lessons.
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011Thanks Toke.
Kath (My Funny Little Life)
/ June 20, 2011Aww, this is a wonderful post again, Tammy! 🙂
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011Thanks Kath. Appreciate your readership.
Heather
/ June 20, 2011Tammy you made my day! This is my second fathers day without my father and you made me think of one of the things I learned from my dad. He always said “If you raise a good family no one can ask for anything else”. Looks like your dad accomplished that with you! Happy Fathers Day!
Tammy
/ June 20, 2011And same to you Heather! I’m glad this brought you a good memory and clearly, you took the lesson seriously.
b r
/ June 21, 2011Posts like this remind me how truly connected we all are. Thanks for the reminder lessons ! I especially relate to the farming bit. I think it was Ghandi who mentioned the best machines are our bodies…what does that say about us when we live lives tied down to our computers, cellphones, televisions?
Tammy
/ June 21, 2011Yeah, it says we need to disconnect sometimes. I do believe that. Think I’ll head to yoga just now.
Rukmini Roy
/ June 22, 2011Heart point 9 and working on 10. Great post Tammy…makes me want to call my parents and my grandma and tell them that i can never really thank them enough for making me what I am today. In retrospect, there are some more houseplants that I have posted in my blog, thought you’d like to check it out.
Tammy
/ June 22, 2011Do call them Rukmini! I love your flower post.
nursemyra
/ June 26, 2011I don’t know if we have bluebonnets in Australia, but whatever they are they make a lovely display
Tammy
/ June 27, 2011They are lovely and I have no idea where else they grow.
Naomi Estment
/ June 26, 2011Oh what a gorgeous post and photograph, Tammy! I’ve never seen bluebonnets before 🙂 Love the wisdom imparted from your Dad and enhanced by your special brand of sharing. Thank you.
Tammy
/ June 27, 2011Thank you Naomi.
Kathy
/ June 26, 2011What lovely lessons! It is so good to appreciate our parents, to truly think about the gifts they’ve passed down. You’ve done a good job gifting your dad with this blog, Tammy.
Tammy
/ June 27, 2011And I’m inspired by your parenting Kathy. Clearly you’ve passed your lessons along.
nancy at good food matters
/ June 27, 2011I am sure that your dad would think that the list is the best gift of all. I’m sure he, like my dad, doesn’t really want or need another Thing. Love and acknowledgement —those are the greatest.
Tammy
/ June 27, 2011Yes, I’m with you Nancy. That’s all I need.
truels
/ June 28, 2011Great post – and a wonderful photo of your Dad and Grandma and the Bluebonnets!
Tammy
/ June 28, 2011Thanks Truels. I love the photo too.
OysterCulture
/ July 2, 2011Great lessons that some of the best things in life are not planned or forced but simply what comes naturally.
Basketball Artistry
/ July 6, 2011Glad to hear there are others equally bad at gifting as me. I’ve also taken the love language test and scored very low there, while my wife scored very high there. I like how you think about lessons as gifts.
Tammy
/ July 6, 2011Thanks for your comment Dave. I am forever challenged with the gifting concept so I have to come up with an alternative means for looking at it.
Steve Schwartzman
/ September 19, 2011Ah, now if we could just get our governments to live within their means….
Given the drought in Texas, 2011 was a poor year for bluebonnets, but there are other native plants that have had no trouble thriving despite the continuing lack of rain. If you’re curious, you can see some of them at
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com