Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative: All Pro Dad Breakfast

What dad doesn't enjoy breakfast? Especially when it is being prepared for you, and it has to taste better sitting with your child(ren)! On Thursday January 30th and Friday January 31st I had the distinct pleasure of sharing the importance of being an involved father with approximately 1,000 combined students and parents! It is also appropriate I believe at this time to add that the new Coshocton Elementary School is amazingly huge and beautiful!

Being a father of two young daughters myself, I am constantly trying to improve.  I often share during these keynotes what I need to hear myself, after all, we all need to be reminded and influenced.  I am a subscriber to the All Pro Dad daily email list, and receive links to their blog entries daily.  I would also recommend that you log onto their website allprodad.com  as it is a great place to visit  for the plethora of resources or if you would like to get more involved.

Using a sports analogy and being backed by Super Bowl winning coach and fatherhood advocate, Tony Dungy, the All Pro Dad Breakfast is just another avenue of getting dads into the schools.  With games and raffles, dads have the opportunity to be with their kids on “their turf”.  In this case, it was discussed that this may have been the first opportunity some dads had the ability to visit the brand new school that has just recently opened and is continuing to look better and better each day.

Incorporating the theme of sports and fundamentals, I challenge the fathers as Coach Dungy alludes to, “To Be the One”.  Challenged with the stats that show that there are far too many fatherless homes, and single mothers left to raise their children; we need to not only talk about, but show our child(ren) that we are their Hero.  Our child(ren) should have to look no further than their dad to see their hero.  I love the saying, and have it proudly displayed during my speaking, “A Dad is a son’s first Hero, and his Daughter’s first Love”.  I am not sure there is  a more true statement! With that now said, here are some highlights.

Being Your Kids Hero

• Just like in sports,  fundamentals are important in fatherhood!
• The two most important fundamentals of fatherhood are love and leadership!
• As fathers we spell love, T.I.M.E!
• To win in sports, we must execute the fundamentals!
• To be an All Pro Dad, those same principles apply!
• An All Pro Dad is no ordinary dad!
• An All Pro Dad makes the extra effort to be Extraordinary!

When fathers are involved in the education of their children:

•their children learn more

•perform better in school

•exhibit healthier behaviors

Just like in my closing thoughts at the breakfast,  I would like to leave you with this in mind.  The late Kentucky Highway Patrolman and motivational speaker Leo Mudd use to speak of  the 4T’s :Take time to Think.  Well, here are 4 things to take time to think about. 

•The Character of a Child is Rooted in the way he or she is raised

•My children are a product of my parenting

•Modeling is the Most Powerful of All teachers

•Children will hear half of what you say, but see 100% of what you do!

"THE BROOM"

Great fatherhood takes balance, stability and the ability to focus on the task at hand!

Thanks to the Coshocton Elementary staff, Coshocton City Schools, Coshocton Fatherhood Initiative and the many volunteers from the Coshocton community agency’s for making this event possible. Thank you to the students and fathers for allowing me to be a part of your day!