Used to cause bad back problems. j'ne regret rien.

My daughter is less than a half-year from 17, then one more year and she's gone to college. Thanks be to God, we did spend a lot of time together in her very young years and we are very close now. In many ways she truly is my best friend.

The post reminds me of a poem which I take the liberty of pasting here, "If I had to raise my child all over again." You parents of young kids, pay attention!

IF I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often,

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

--Diane Looman

Nah! By the time she gets to Dad she'll drop that knee. They've done this before. Besides, Dad looks to me like he could stop a freight train.

This picture took my breath away! The joy on the little girl's face is to true and so real. And that comes from the trust. It's beautiful. Thanks!

She'll drop that knee all right and get him in the goolies. And he'll wince, not care and say nothing.

I had boys, who also use sticks and balls, bicycles, skis and other implements to assault their fathers.

They're grown up and gone now, and I'd give a lot to take one more ski to the leg, one more line drive to the chest.

My little girl is five years old. Every day when I get home from work, she runs full steam and leaps into my arms, and then proceeds to tug me to another room so that I can play with her. I'll be honest and say that some days when I get home, all I want to do is sit quietly for a few minutes to recover from the day. However, I almost always follow obediently and do whatever it is she has in mind for me. While it typically leaves me more physically exhausted, I have to say that I feel better overall.

The joy on the little girl's face is to true and so real. And that comes from the trust. It's beautiful. Thanks!