http://www.aaronjen.org/dad/2002/12/good-intentions/ Wed, 20 Oct 2004 19:31:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 http://www.aaronjen.org/dad/2002/12/good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Wes Fri, 27 Dec 2002 20:58:47 +0000 http://www.aaronjen.org/dad/?p=53#comment-111 Kinda cool that you posted all that, I was thinking a couple weeks back about how much you have done for me since dad left. Just know that I appreciate it all. I love you bro Kinda cool that you posted all that, I was thinking a couple weeks back about how much you have done for me since dad left. Just know that I appreciate it all. I love you bro

]]> http://www.aaronjen.org/dad/2002/12/good-intentions/comment-page-1/#comment-110 Mom Thu, 26 Dec 2002 14:38:22 +0000 http://www.aaronjen.org/dad/?p=53#comment-110 We all get caught up in the should haves, wish I could haves etc. at Christmas. Please don't feel guilty about not spending Christmas morning at my house though. Christmas is about taking our guilt away!!! I love having little children around on Christmas morning, so don't get me wrong, I would love it if you and Jen and Liam were there first thing, but one of the sure things in life is that things will change. Some things change gradually and we make new traditions and some things change suddenly and unexpectedly, but they always change. The best thing we can do is just go with it!! I know I preach that better than I do it (I realize I can be pretty intense, but I am working on it). You and Jenna, and now Liam, coming in the afternoon and being there for dinner and maybe playing some games, is something to look forward to after the frenzy of Christmas morning gift opening. And next year I expect you will want to be in your own home for Christmas morning----then how do I choose between your house and Melanie's? As for being a presence in your brother's life since your dad left, you have done a good job. You can't be a dad to Wes, you're his brother and he needs that relationship. You can be a good example to him (and you are), you can encourage him but you can't fill the role of a father. You spend time with him and do guy things with him and I am grateful for that. He sees you being a good daddy to Liam and nurturing him. He is learning how to be a good dad from seeing you with your son. He sees you pray and try to lead your family in ways pleasing to God. You have him do jobs at your house that teach him about taking care of things and helping others. You can share your feelings with him about your dad leaving, and that helps him to share his with you as well. You are a good brother to Wes and that is important. No one, least of all me, expects you to be a dad to him. Just continue to spend time with him as a brother. And, thank you. I love you!!! We all get caught up in the should haves, wish I could haves etc. at Christmas. Please don’t feel guilty about not spending Christmas morning at my house though. Christmas is about taking our guilt away!!! I love having little children around on Christmas morning, so don’t get me wrong, I would love it if you and Jen and Liam were there first thing, but one of the sure things in life is that things will change. Some things change gradually and we make new traditions and some things change suddenly and unexpectedly, but they always change. The best thing we can do is just go with it!! I know I preach that better than I do it (I realize I can be pretty intense, but I am working on it). You and Jenna, and now Liam, coming in the afternoon and being there for dinner and maybe playing some games, is something to look forward to after the frenzy of Christmas morning gift opening. And next year I expect you will want to be in your own home for Christmas morning—-then how do I choose between your house and Melanie’s?
As for being a presence in your brother’s life since your dad left, you have done a good job. You can’t be a dad to Wes, you’re his brother and he needs that relationship. You can be a good example to him (and you are), you can encourage him but you can’t fill the role of a father. You spend time with him and do guy things with him and I am grateful for that. He sees you being a good daddy to Liam and nurturing him. He is learning how to be a good dad from seeing you with your son. He sees you pray and try to lead your family in ways pleasing to God. You have him do jobs at your house that teach him about taking care of things and helping others. You can share your feelings with him about your dad leaving, and that helps him to share his with you as well. You are a good brother to Wes and that is important. No one, least of all me, expects you to be a dad to him. Just continue to spend time with him as a brother. And, thank you. I love you!!!

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