Dates

For the past few weeks, Hannah, my 6-year-old daughter, has been asking me if we could go on a date. From time to time, I try to take her out so we can spend time together. It's a wonderful father/daughter time. In addition to this being a nice time for us, I also want her to learn what it's like to be treated with respect with the hopes that when she's older she will recall these times together and hold the guys she dates to a higher standard. (This will also help me not to have to destroy them for being idiots).

I'm taking Hannah to see Santa Clause 3 and then to Johnny Rocket's for some food (and strawberry shakes, of course).

Later tonight, I have a Monday night tradition with my 4-year-old son, Jay. On Monday nights, he is allowed to stay up past his bedtime and watch Monday Night Football with me. We let him stay up until halftime. It's a blast. Before each game begins, he always wants to know who the coaches are. He tests my coaching knowledge.

I have learned that when you have children, it's easy for them to get lost in the shuffle of busy days unless you take time to spend with them individually. With my wife's help, I'm setting up some of these routines so I can look back over each week and know that I've worked hard to be a good Dad to each of them.