Doing the Dishes

Here's a link to a great letter-to-the-editor that makes a case for men to put their hands into hot water by doing the dishes.

Getting your Hands in Hot Water

Grilled Salmon

Bob’s Grilled Salmon

Salmon Fillet – with skin
Salt and pepper
Mayo – Low fat, if you prefer
Dill weed
Garlic clove

Place salmon skin down on a serving plate. Salt and pepper the salmon lightly. Mix dill weed and crushed garlic into Mayo. Spread a thin layer of the mayo mixture over the salmon meat. Grill, skin side down, using indirect method for 15 to 20 minutes.

Pretty darn simple huh? And it’s tastes great and looks like you are master chef. With the cost of salmon get just enough. However, leftovers tossed into a salad are good days later. Mix just enough dill and garlic to add flavor but not too much to be overpowering.

Spray the grill with PAM before firing up the grill. Once the salmon is on the grill don’t mess with it until you remove the fillet. Check for doneness by gently separating the flesh and checking for moisture. My wife Sherry likes the Salmon on the drier side. Be sure it’s cooked through; we don’t like raw or cold Salmon. Remove the salmon, skin and all with a large spatula.

Important – scrape or burn any salmon left on the grill. Don’t ruin your next steak with left over salmon flavor.

Seeing Relatives - When They're Alive!

I went to the memorial service for a friend's dad today. I heard a number of the family relatives talking about how long it has been since they had seen each other. It's curious how often it takes a death or serious tragedy for families to finally see each other.

Go visit someone you have seen for a while this weekend.

Being In Charge - Of Your Circumstances

Recently my son Jesse said "He is one hundred percent capable of changing his circumstances." I told Jesse he just summarized all self-help books and personal growth seminars in a few short words.

The funny thing was Jesse was referring to my dog who was being harassed by his dog. But it does not matter whether we are talking about dogs or people, it's still true.

Dads you can help stop the victim mentality that is so prevalent in this country. Just remember Jesse's profound words, "you are one percent capable of changing your circumstances."

Dads-Teach Boys Not to be Abusive

I read a short article on this topic in the USA Today Weekender Magazine. The message I took away was that abuse is a learned behavior. In the seminars I conducted with at-risk teen I certainly encountered this phenomena. Boys who were or saw abuse as a child in turn were abusive as they reached their teen years.

So dads what are you teaching your sons through your actions. Not just about abuse, but are you teaching your sons to be respectful? Talking to you sons is one things but the most effective teaching is through your own actions. How do you teach and talk to you wife, girl friend, daughter and women in general? Do you allow your young sons to watch some of the disrespectful TV shows and movie? What kind of music do your sons listen to?

You dads are the most influential factor in your sons lives!

Here is the link to the article:

http://www.usaweekend.com/09_issues/...each-boys.html

Dads Beings Leaders & Establishing Boundaries

John Rosemond's June 7 column (http://www.rosemond.com/view/389/21753/Weekly-Column---6909.html) touched on two areas that ran true for me.

First he said "... the 50's, the last decade during which parents were completely comfortable with their authority." I have personally run across way to many parents that are afraid of their kids and don't know how to say NO.

His second quote is "... the issue is boundaries. Parenting is a form of leadership,..." Dads you are not your kids friends. That's not your job. You can be friends with you children when they are 26, have moved out of the house and are supporting themselves. Your job, as you kids are growing up, is to provide your children with rules boundaries and limitations.

Dads Talking to their teens

I really need to clarify my previous post about abortion given all of the online responses to my letter to the editor.

http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2009/06/10/news/opinion/7edi04_hazletonletter060809.txt

What I really wanted to say is this; what can dads do so that their teenage sons and or daughters don't have unwanted pregnancies. That is what can a dad do or say so that there isn't a pregnancy in the first place or if there is a pregnancy that both parents raise their child.

June 5th, 2009

Below is a letter to the editor from the Corvallis GT about males and abortion follwoed by my response. I would like to see a discussion on getting to the root cause of the need for abortions rather that whether you agree or disagree with it.

June 3, 2009

Maybe, if there were a law that required the male half of a pregnancy to take half the responsibility for raising a child, there would be fewer abortions. Jane Sivetz, Corvallis

Here is the link to her letter and a number of responses;

http://www.gtconnect.com/articles/2009/06/06/news/opinion/5edi02_sivetzletter060309.txt

June 5, 2009

I would like to expand on Jane Sivetz’s letter about requiring “the male half of a pregnancy to take half responsibility for raising a child, there would be fewer abortions.” The supposed “debate” on the abortion issue is more each side stating why they are right and the other side is wrong. It’s been about clichés and one-liners that can fit on a bumper sticker.

Abortion is just the symptom. With all the talk and energy on abortion we are not dealing with the underlying issues. In my work with at-risk teens I personally witnessed girls who were deeply hurt and affected by having an abortion.

I invite anyone willing to actually discuss this situation and to state their position without blaming anyone to go to my blog www.dadsmatter.com.