In my last post, I talked a little bit about the fact that there's not very many people who can make a living playing poker. I do feel that way or I wouldn't have said it, however, poker can be a great recreational game that friends can enjoy together, and if you know how to read people better, and know your statistics & odds better than they do, you'll end up winning their money over the long run. (and hopefully everybody will have fun, while you do it) You don't have to be a world class player to make money at poker....You simply have to be better than the people that you're playing against.
That being said, I don't remember encouraging more than 2 or 3 people (in the entire time I played poker) to try and really get good at playing cards. Those 2 or 3 people were young people that I thought had a legitimate chance to do well and I thought they'd also be able to handle all the ups & downs involved in playing cards.
I rarely if ever talked about poker in front of my kids (or any kids) when they were little. I didn't want to do or say anything that would encourage them to take the route I'd decided to take in my life. I missed out on lots of things when my kids were growing up and there were plenty of parenting decisions that I wasn't there to make, when I should've been, and I think to this day that I (and/or they) continue to pay the price for that.
At the time, I'd justify it by letting people know that I could do things with my kids that other parents couldn't, because when I was home....I was there for 2-3 weeks at a time.... night and day....
That WAS true, but looking back, it's virtually impossible to do a good job of parenting, when a person's gone from home as much as I was.
I love all of my kids dearly, but it does make my gut hurt sometimes, when I see my kids making choices and decisions that I think are not good ones. I often think that if I were able to do the kid-raising/parenting thing over again, it would go quite a bit different than the first time.
I hope when it's all said and done, that each one of my kids will be able to say that I did a good job as a dad.... and if they can't honestly say that, I hope they WILL be able to say, with all sincerity, that I did a good job as a grand-parent for their kids. I do try to make up for some of my parenting mistakes with the way I interact with my grandkids and nieces & nephews.
It has been kind of a difficult week this past week. We've had several things go wrong with our business that we have no control over. For ex: we had one customer who had his $300 package stolen off from his doorstep. The package was left by the good ol' US Postal Service when it should've been taken back to the post office for the gentleman to pick up. It wasn't our fault it got stolen, but the USPS won't admit to any fault, so we'll work with this guy to make sure he's ultimately happy with the interaction he's had with us.
We also had an expensive pipe break when it was very near completion. I was able to fix it good so that the break was virtually unnoticeable, so the customer still took it, but we cut the price by $100.
The business stuff is relatively easy for me to deal with....but I've also had the opportunity to reflect on family stuff.... One of my kids seems intent on self-destruction in my opinion. I see this adult child making decisions that seem to defy sanity. I've seen this same child come within inches of his life in a car crash, due to alcohol abuse....and live to talk about it......only to start drinking again within a matter of weeks after recovering from injuries. One of my prayers continues to be that this child outlives me.... Sometimes I think the odds are stacked against it.
I have a brother and sister-in-law who are currently separated. A divorce seems imminent from what I understand. I haven't talked to either one for at least 2-3 weeks so I don't know for sure. This might not seem like that big of a deal to lots of people, but it's a big deal to me.... I watch or hear about how my nieces and nephew hurt inside... I know my parents hurt inside more than they ever should have to at this point in their life. I also know that my sister-in-law's family is hurting a lot....
I ponder in my mind how my big brother, who I always thought had lots of character and lots of integrity, seems to no longer have any of either.... It seems unfathomable to me that I had him read completely wrong over all these years. My gut hurts when I think about how our relationship will probably never be the same again, simply because I'll be looking at him in a different light...
Just seems like the week could've gone better....and I'm hopeful that this coming week will go better....
The weather has definitively started to turn...which is nice. I actually had a window open in the "studio" a couple of times this past week. It's really just a shop....but I kind of like the way that "studio" thing rolls off my tongue... Makes me sound like I'm better at what I do....than what I really am... :)
Spring is probably my favorite season. I'm looking forward to having a big garden again, cutting and splitting lots of wood for next winter, lots of good motorcycle riding, and spending lots of time with kids....and grandkids. Our daughter from Kansas City is coming to our place tomorrow, for a visit, and that's sure to be fun... It's our sons birthday on the 27th & our daughters birthday on 4/2 so we'll be having a little birthday dinner for both of them in a couple of days. We'll do Indian taco's & soup...and it'll be fun..
Hopefully the next time I write on here, I'll be able to share more good things with you.... I know that's more fun for everyone!
That being said, I don't remember encouraging more than 2 or 3 people (in the entire time I played poker) to try and really get good at playing cards. Those 2 or 3 people were young people that I thought had a legitimate chance to do well and I thought they'd also be able to handle all the ups & downs involved in playing cards.
I rarely if ever talked about poker in front of my kids (or any kids) when they were little. I didn't want to do or say anything that would encourage them to take the route I'd decided to take in my life. I missed out on lots of things when my kids were growing up and there were plenty of parenting decisions that I wasn't there to make, when I should've been, and I think to this day that I (and/or they) continue to pay the price for that.
At the time, I'd justify it by letting people know that I could do things with my kids that other parents couldn't, because when I was home....I was there for 2-3 weeks at a time.... night and day....
That WAS true, but looking back, it's virtually impossible to do a good job of parenting, when a person's gone from home as much as I was.
I love all of my kids dearly, but it does make my gut hurt sometimes, when I see my kids making choices and decisions that I think are not good ones. I often think that if I were able to do the kid-raising/parenting thing over again, it would go quite a bit different than the first time.
I hope when it's all said and done, that each one of my kids will be able to say that I did a good job as a dad.... and if they can't honestly say that, I hope they WILL be able to say, with all sincerity, that I did a good job as a grand-parent for their kids. I do try to make up for some of my parenting mistakes with the way I interact with my grandkids and nieces & nephews.
It has been kind of a difficult week this past week. We've had several things go wrong with our business that we have no control over. For ex: we had one customer who had his $300 package stolen off from his doorstep. The package was left by the good ol' US Postal Service when it should've been taken back to the post office for the gentleman to pick up. It wasn't our fault it got stolen, but the USPS won't admit to any fault, so we'll work with this guy to make sure he's ultimately happy with the interaction he's had with us.
We also had an expensive pipe break when it was very near completion. I was able to fix it good so that the break was virtually unnoticeable, so the customer still took it, but we cut the price by $100.
The business stuff is relatively easy for me to deal with....but I've also had the opportunity to reflect on family stuff.... One of my kids seems intent on self-destruction in my opinion. I see this adult child making decisions that seem to defy sanity. I've seen this same child come within inches of his life in a car crash, due to alcohol abuse....and live to talk about it......only to start drinking again within a matter of weeks after recovering from injuries. One of my prayers continues to be that this child outlives me.... Sometimes I think the odds are stacked against it.
I have a brother and sister-in-law who are currently separated. A divorce seems imminent from what I understand. I haven't talked to either one for at least 2-3 weeks so I don't know for sure. This might not seem like that big of a deal to lots of people, but it's a big deal to me.... I watch or hear about how my nieces and nephew hurt inside... I know my parents hurt inside more than they ever should have to at this point in their life. I also know that my sister-in-law's family is hurting a lot....
I ponder in my mind how my big brother, who I always thought had lots of character and lots of integrity, seems to no longer have any of either.... It seems unfathomable to me that I had him read completely wrong over all these years. My gut hurts when I think about how our relationship will probably never be the same again, simply because I'll be looking at him in a different light...
Just seems like the week could've gone better....and I'm hopeful that this coming week will go better....
The weather has definitively started to turn...which is nice. I actually had a window open in the "studio" a couple of times this past week. It's really just a shop....but I kind of like the way that "studio" thing rolls off my tongue... Makes me sound like I'm better at what I do....than what I really am... :)
Spring is probably my favorite season. I'm looking forward to having a big garden again, cutting and splitting lots of wood for next winter, lots of good motorcycle riding, and spending lots of time with kids....and grandkids. Our daughter from Kansas City is coming to our place tomorrow, for a visit, and that's sure to be fun... It's our sons birthday on the 27th & our daughters birthday on 4/2 so we'll be having a little birthday dinner for both of them in a couple of days. We'll do Indian taco's & soup...and it'll be fun..
Hopefully the next time I write on here, I'll be able to share more good things with you.... I know that's more fun for everyone!
I think you are the best dad I could possibly have. I look at some of the people around me and I feel bad that they didn't have parents as good as mine. Even tho you weren't there when I was little I feel like I wouldn't have been where I am today if it weren't for you. I am happier than I ever thought I would be,... And that is because you have showed me what to expect in a man. Love you lots and can't wait to see you tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteMy devotional today was about dark clouds and shadows being instrumental in drawing a person nearer to God. Clouds are the fabrics out of which beautiful sunsets are woven. That is true not only in the realm of nature; it is true also in the realm of human life. Clouds and shadows, if accepted with humbleness of spirit, may prove to be the very fabrics through which the glory and grace of God shine to make life beautiful and useful in His service. When the clouds of life, settle around, look the sunshine of God's love to shine thru. The sunset of such a life will be beautiful! We hope that those we love, may have just enough clouds that their sunset will be beautiful. (taken from DEVOTIONS FROM THE HEARTLAND) You are a great uncle & brother too :)
ReplyDeleteI think you're my favorite uncle right now, and I've never even known you that well. I am jealous that you're not my dad. I can see your happiness with your kids and grandkids.
ReplyDeleteWords speak lot and mean a lot. Thank you.