I have been extremely busy lately hence my absence.
I am on my local school districts planning committee for the Fatherhood Program. One of the founders of this program wanted to come up and have a family fun day at my kids school. We have been planning for this event for three months!
Everything was free for the parents and schools. We had breakfast and lunch. There were several activities planned that were specifically designed to promote interaction and teamwork between the kids and their parents (primarily the Dads, who tend to be less invloved in their kids lives than Mom's). We had a ton of door prizes to give away. And at the end of the day we sat everyone down and had them draw up contracts between the kids and their parents about fun things to do together, being more involved at school, etc.
It was a very successful day! We had all the local television stations and newspapers there. More importantly, we had almost 500 people from 12 different schools in attendance!! There was also another tv crew there recording the event for training purposes! They intend to use this recording as a training video to introduce the Fatherhood Program into schools across the country (you may see me in it :) ) As one who helped plan this event and represented the host school, I took a lot of pride in the success of the whole thing. I heard a lot of positive comments during that day and since.
Anyways, all that combined with being on the PTO Board and also working my usual 50 or so hours a week, I just haven't had time to be on the internet lately. Aside from a few more smaller events coming up, I should be back on more regularly. You have been warned!! :devil: :lol:

Wow Red!!!!

Congrats on all that you accomplished! It sounds like the area that you live in has a great number of positive role models for these kids. That kind of involvement is just what kids today really need....so that they KNOW that they are important!! Good for you....give yourself a pat on the back from me, as well as *huggles*...you did a great job!!

Glad to have you back! I was just about to email you!:D

You've been a busy guy. Now get yourself back here soon and feed the addiction. You know you want to. ;)

Wow Red!!! Let me reiterate....would that there were more parents like you!!!

Red, I wish there were more committed parents like you. :)Especially men. Around here, the mothers even have to be the boy scout troop leaders because the fathers aren't interested. Thank God my kid was never interested in joining.

Red, it is nice to see that fathers want to have some involvement with their children. As a single mother I play both roles I try my best to do the father things with them.. but of course it is not the same. It is important to be involved in your childs life. I wish all parents felt this way.
Thank you for making this world a better place to live. I hope one day a program like that will reach this area.

Thanks everyone. I'm still feeling the risidual effects of such a great day. The Fatherhood Program was started in San Antonio 3 years ago, so its still in its infancy. But, it has already been introduced in several parts of the state and in the Great Lakes area and in parts of Southern California with varying degrees of success. It really has taken off here. There was a lot of participation in planning this event. And it really was a great turnout.
My kids attend a bilingual school because a lot of the kids that go there come from homes where English is not spoken. The myth about Mexican men is that they are not at all involved in their kids lives. Judging from the turnout I'd say that is truly a myth. It was great to see everyone get up and present their answers to certain questions that were asked like what kinds of gifts do Dads give their childrens lives?
Give this program some time. It will become as entrenched in your local school system as the PTO is. If you are truly interested in it, let me know. I will get the information for you and get in touch with the right people.