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You know, recently I lost my day job. In this present economic climate, that’s a disaster. Especially when you’re at a certain age! I’m now at the stage where I check the over 50 age group box on most forms I fill out.

Anybody else in the same bracket as me, will understand what that means when it comes to finding an employer that will give you the opportunity to show them what you can do.

For example; I recently went for a job interview. I thought I was doing the right thing by turning out all smart and presentable. You know, the collar & tie, the well polished shoes etc. I turned out to be the only sap in the building wearing shoes and a collar and tie. The two people who interviewed me wore fashionably torn jeans, hoodies and sneakers! Needless to say, I never got the job. I guess I was just too traditional for them!

My full time job these days, is trying to find a job! When I’m not trying to find work, I’m sat in front of the computer, trying to find a way of replacing the income I lost when the job went. I’ve worked out that I’m putting in around 80+ hours per week. Twice the hours I was doing when I was working!

The real point I want to put across in this article though, isn’t about me or my search for an income. As important as it is, I recently discovered that there is something that is, at the very least equally as important, if not more so. I’m talking about family here! I’m particularly reaching out to Dads with this item, but it applies to parents of both sexes, period.

“This is fun Dad”

I just recently spent a complete weekend having a great time with my 7 year old daughter. It was over that weekend that the penny dropped. I had more or less forgotten that the poor kid existed in the previous few months. So engrossed was I in other things, that I didn’t put any time aside to be a Dad! Sure, I was being a father, but Daddy went missing!

It really hit home on a Saturday evening. Aimee and I were sitting on the sofa watching a DVD together. The day had been quite a full one. From early morning we done art and craft stuff together, which she loves. After lunch, we went out for a nice walk, where one of our stop offs was a park. Aimee had a ball there for over an hour, before we made our way back home.

Once at home and we had eaten, had a shower/bathed and got ourselves settled for the evening, the DVD went on (Shrek,again!). As it was starting, Aimee snuggled up to me, gave me a big hug and a kiss, looked into my eyes and said:

Today has been brilliant Daddy. It’s been a long time since we’ve had so much time to be able to do things together. I know you’ve been busy looking for a job, and I know that’s important. But I’d like us to do more stuff together, like we did today. I’m glad you didn’t go on the computer, because I always think I’m just getting in your way, and being a nuisance all the time when you’re on it.

What she said to me there will stay in my mind forever. It was like listening to the words of someone who is three times her age. She’s 7 for goodness sake! I gave the kid an extra special big hug in return, along with a promise that every Saturday, at the very least, will be me & her time. I intend to keep that promise, because before long, before you realise it, that time is lost forever!

I’m making this point on here, because I know that there’s many of you out there who are in the same position as me. I’m hoping that maybe this article will just give you a nudge in the right direction. We need to wind ourselves down a little sometimes, and be a Dad as well as a Father.

This article isn’t trying to lecture you in “How To Be A Dad“, but I would like to urge you to make the same promise I made, not just to the kids, but to yourselves, because it won’t be long until the kids have gone, and they’re on the same treadmill as we are.

Image Credit: Public Affairs Office Fort Wainwright

Until the next time, keep your chin up, and be wise!

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PS. I recently wrote a guest article on Playground Dad. It’s an excellent site, full of great stuff to help us dads out. Why not go over and take a look around. And if you like this site, don’t forget to share it. The buttons are in the side bar on the left. Thanks for looking in.

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