RECOGNIZING SPECIAL DADS

This Father’s Day Recognize The Special Men In Your Life

article by Cindy G. Foust

Welcome readers, to the award winning, longest running column in BayouLife. Wait. I’ve got to fact check that statement. Yeah, I haven’t been given any awards and I’m not sure I am the longest running column, but I needed something to grab your attention, and that sounded pretty busy and important so here we are. It will be the first of June by the time BayouLife makes it to your driveway and summer will be in full swing. I’m not sure how things are in your homes, but at ours, we are in desperate need of a break. Like the screeching halt, take a breather, catch your breath, and RECAHRGE (yes, I am screaming in all caps.) I love this time of year because to me, there is nothing better than having my kids, our family and friends at our house, eating and enjoying the summer.

That’s life readers, being with the ones you love, making the most of your time together and eating my good food. I realize I just gave myself a compliment, which I rarely do, for as most of you know, it’s usually the opposite and I’m making fun of myself. But cooking? Naw…that is no silly joke where I am concerned because Cindy Foust can “get down cow” in the kitchen. It’s my only hobby and the only thing I study. Well, that’s not true, I also study fashion. Well, that’s not true either, most of the time I’m a walking dress code violation that has to be reeled in or coached by my 14-year old daughter (insert dramatic eye roll here.)

Are ya’ll having trouble following me this month, I mean, what in the world is this month’s column about except a little bit of nothing.  Well let’s turn that nothing into something and morph right into the month of June and a very special holiday, Father’s Day. Of course, this gets me all in my feels thinking about my own dad, as I am sure it does for many of you. I’m very lucky to still have my daddy, and I’m very privileged to watch my husband carve out that role for my children. In both cases, I’m one lucky girl. My husband reminded me at Mother’s Day (as he does every year) that I’m not his mother, Elsie Ophelia is his mother (and was she a good one, at that),and I get that philosophy (still doesn’t give him the green light to not give me a pedicure), but I think one of my greatest privileges is watching him be a father to our children. When I was growing up, like any typical kid, I don’t think I gave enough thought to how lucky I was to have the father I did. Strong, hard-working, funny, and someone who had high expectations for my behavior (insert clearing your throat here.) Let me tell you right now, the memory of sitting in church with my dad’s long 6’6 arm laying on the pew behind my head did it’s intimidating job, because I kept my lip buttoned up and my eyes toward Jesus.

My daddy has always carried himself with such integrity and was my first teacher in the lesson that there’s always two sides to every story. He has always been steadfast in the family that plays together, eats together and prays together stays together. He has been a father rich in tradition, especially at the holidays. What a gift, and what a role model to have when you become a parent. I write in this column frequently that parenting is the single hardest thing you will ever do in your life, not even building a space shuttle or climbing Mt. Everest is harder. We have consulted all of our parents, mine, his and ours, through the years, when we were conflicted, confused or just need reassurance that we were doing the right thing, or in some cases, after we did the wrong thing. This is life, readers, and this small village that we have insulated ourselves with could not have been more secure. We are lucky, and we know it.

As Father’s Day draws closer, most of us make special plans or send special cards or get special gifts, if we are lucky enough to still have our fathers with us. These rituals are important, I mean, every dad likes to get a new tie or a coffee mug with “World’s Greatest Dad” on it, right? But more importantly, if you ask our “dads” what it is they want for Father’s Day, I believe their answer would pretty much sound the same…they want time with their children…with their families. Time…it doesn’t cost anything, and yet, it’s the most valuable thing we have. And it’s the most valuable gift we can give.

From the parenting principles of Cindy G. Foust, I think children need to be taught early that life doesn’t have to revolve at a break neck speed. It’s okay to slow down, take a deep breath and make time for the really important things. Grandparents particularly, are going to love this column, because they live for those nuggets of time our kids give them. I wish I had a dollar for every time I’ve walked in my house and my dad said “Where’s Robert Scott?” Hello, what am I, chopped liver? Of course, I am, because after you have a baby, you no longer get to be the baby. And I’m totally okay with it.

So let’s do it, BayouLife friends, let’s get this holiday started. What an opportunity to honor the men in our life, dads, granddads, husbands (yes, Scott, that’s you)…make an extra effort perhaps, and I’m talking to myself, too. Have a surprise Father’s Day party, serve them breakfast in bed (usually a tradition for moms, but flip it), let the kids do the cooking (okay, that might be a stretch…unless the men in your life like Jell-O and microwave Mac-N-Cheese.) You are never too old to make homemade cards…or a homemade gift…grandparents live for that stuff. I know these recommendations are what many of you already do, or perhaps they are really simple and elementary, but guess what? They work. So let’s do like we have been doing for years now, readers, let’s celebrate together. I love that thought. The community that we are so fortunate to live in, all celebrating the most important men in our life…together. Happy Father’s Day and happy summer, beloved BayouLife community.  I hope it will be filled with all the love, good food and family that you can stuff into it…like a big ole BayouLife Oreo cookie. I can’t wait to be back next month with a great gardening column with my recommendations on the best eyewear for gardeners, how to weed your garden and where to stand with your camera for the best garden pictures. It should be titillating. What you’ve come to expect from “Bayou KidZ”, without a doubt.