Category: Poem

‘Twas the Night Daddy Saved Christmas!

12/12/2022

'Twas the Night Daddy Saved Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas,
And this is no joke.
The kids were excited.
And the parents were broke!

The fireplace was gas,
And no keyhole in sight.
No way for Santa,
To come in tonight!

The children were worried!
How would Santa get in?
To place presents under the tree,
Set up in the den.

Dad, they asked puzzled,
What should we do?
To get in safely,
Santa will, for sure, need a clue.

Dad scratched his head slowly.
And gave it some thought.
“How can Santa get credit?
For the presents I bought.”

The lights in the tree
Had gone out again.
Dad said some bad words,
That made us all grin.

“I’m sorry”, said Daddy.
For those words that I said.
Let me think for a minute
While you get ready for bed.

He thought as he checked out
A new Christmas light strand.
Then “Eureka!” he said.
I now have a plan.

Write Santa a note,
And place it in the yard.
I’ll give him directions,
That won’t be too hard.

The note will tell him,
“Open the garage door”.
With a secret code for the combo,
That he can’t ignore.

The list he keeps has birthdays,
I’m certainly hopin’.
By entering your ages,
The garage door will open.

Malia is oldest,
That would be seven.
No tight chimney for Santa,
Will be just like heaven!

Ryan is second.
His age is three.
How much easier for Santa,
Can this possibly be?

Rosie is next.
Her number is two.
Not much else
For Santa to do.

Juliette is one.
The last code Santa needs.
To do another,
Of Santa’s good deeds.

Seven, Three, Two, One.
Are the numbers to enter.
Santa will be thrilled.
He’ll remember this winter.

Our daddy’s a genius!
Our presents will be here.
But having a daddy who helps us,
Will make our Christmas this year!

Merry Christmas!

Michael Byron Smith
12/24/2015

#powerofdadhood

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A Beautiful Way to Parent

11/1/2021

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“Beauty is only skin deep.”
That’s what they say, and it’s true.
Substance is what’s most important,
But one should give beauty its due.

mbs

If you make breakfast for your kids, you're being a parent. If you make pancakes with strawberry eyes and a whipped cream smile, that's beautiful parenting. It's that little extra effort that stands out.

To me, beauty is the truest sign of caring! The beauty I'm referring to can be visual, of course, but it can also be an act, a thought, or an introduction of soul into a lifeless situation.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited Europe a few times. What really stuns me about that part of the world is the splendor of its architecture. There seems to be an appreciation for beauty there that is lacking in many US cities and towns. Cinder blocks can do an excellent job if all one needs is a reliable, safe structure, but it gives nothing to the soul. Any church, mosque, or synagogue will serve its congregation. But those structures that are magnificent bring a depth of meaning to worshipers that a converted strip-mall, storefront ‘house of worship’ cannot.

I visit coffee shops and see people come and go. I can’t judge them or know what they may have accomplished. I do notice, however, how they dress and carry themselves. I particularly appreciate a senior man or woman who takes pride in their appearance. It tells me something positive about them.

When watching homes being rehabbed on TV, I notice the rehabbers check the structure, heating, and cooling, etc. to be sure the house is safe and sound. The house is worthless if not safe and livable. But the house will go unsold until a designer makes it visually and emotionally appealing.

Art may serve to convey a message or capture a scene, but without beauty, or an attention-getting setting, any message will be lost , any scene unnoticed. Art serves beauty, and beauty serves art.

A rainbow has no substance outside of water molecules -- but rainbows are noticed! We can’t touch or use a rainbow; yet we watch them, sing and write about them, and see them as symbols of goodness.

The beauty of nature captures us all! The duty of a flower is simply to be pleasing to the eye. There is beauty in a desert, a wheat field, a canyon, or a mountain. But the more beautiful the scene, the more people search for and write about it.

There can be beauty in the spoken or written word. A speaker or author without this talent will go unnoticed. “I walk in the park,” gets across an action. But, “I often go to the park to watch people, to smell the grass, and throw rocks in the pond,” is deeper. The first sentence is the substance, but the second sentence places beauty within the substance.

I like to notice things. When the day is over, and beauty was a part of it, I am a much happier, richer person. So I say, “YES”! Beauty is only skin deep, but beauty is the icing on the cake, the sun shining through the flag, the glimmer of the lake, the smile on a child’s face, and the spice of my life.

So why do I talk about beauty?

This may not seem like a discussion about parenting and fatherhood. But it remains a lesson for this reason. There are practical and necessary responsibilities of parents that are basic and vitally important. However, to be a successful family you must bring beauty into your home! It is essential to show both substance and splendor as a parent. You should avoid being a 'rainbow mother' -- beauty with no substance. Nor should you be a 'cinder-block father' – protective, practical, and stoic. Instead, be that ‘work of art’ parent with a substantial and beautiful message to share. Or be a solidly built home with character and appeal making it a pleasant place to be. Write or speak words to your kids that excite them, challenge them, and encourage them. Mix those beautiful messages in with those soul-less messages such as, “Do your homework,” or “Clean up your room.” Balance!

Summary

Balance is a key maxim in parenting. As an example, a dad can be stern and maintain the love of his children if he has also revealed the beauty of his character. Being cheerful and fun is the beautiful side of parenting. Every facet of parenting has a responsible, substantive aspect that can be more effective with some beauty mixed in. We’ve seen and read too many stories where a father is at odds with his child, a child that he loves dearly. This occurs when there is no balance to the substantive parenting the father sees as his duty, resulting in a weak connection between the two. Without some beauty and love expressed in a family, the necessary and less enjoyable responsibilities of parenting will be much more difficult.

#powerofdadhood

Read, The Power of Dadhood, by Michael Byron Smith

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Keeping An Oath

7/27/2020

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Keeping An Oath

It’s Sunday night and here I sit,
Trying to engage my wit.
For seven years I’ve kept a vow.
Some words are needed, here and now.

Last minute words to share with all,
‘Cause bad parenting comes before a fall.
Near 400 straight Mondays, my thoughts have been due.
Sometimes, a Tuesday. Since I missed a few.

A new topic I search for every week.
It’s not easy, even for a parenting geek.
Sometimes life just gets in the way.
Mowing, reading - a graduation today.

And the baseball season finally began.
Everyone knows, I’m a big fan!
So here I sit, looking for a good theme.
Because today, I just ran out of steam.

Just remember your kids need you so much!
So always remember to love, praise and touch.
I hope this suffices in keeping my oath.
Encouraging parents, Moms and Dads, both!

Michael Byron Smith
#powerofdadhood

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A Sleeping Child

2/25/2019

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Sleeping grandchildren!

A week ago, my oldest daughter sent me a photo of my middle granddaughter sleeping. I took one look of her perfection in that moment and was challenged to capture the feelings of a parent/grandparent when they look upon their sleeping child. Words fail to express, properly, that moment, that love!

My daughter's photo she sent of my granddaughter Rosie.

A Sleeping Child
by Michael Byron Smith

God bless a sleeping child,
So serene, so alluring.
A parents’ quiet respite,
Renewing passions, so enduring.

The pose of angels.
God’s work of art.
The reward of our burdens,
And the sighs of our hearts.

Observed with adoring eyes,
Their hair somewhat tangled.
Curled fingers to our lips.
Our heads slightly angled.

Misbehaviors are forgotten,
Love is full of grace.
That couldn’t have happened,
So precious is that face.

Grateful for our miracles.
Addicted to our devotion.
Exhaustion recompensed,
With waves of emotion.

The innocence is palpable.
The lips are so sweet.
The blankets disheveled,
Revealing small feet.

The matters that haunt us,
As troubles persist,
Shrink into Neverland,
While this blessed moment exists!

Now revel in this sight,
For you know it won’t last.
Children are ephemeral.
They grow up so fast!

Author of “The Power of Dadhood”

1 Comment

‘Twas the Night Daddy Saved Christmas!

A Beautiful Way to Parent

Keeping An Oath

A Sleeping Child

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‘Twas the Night Daddy Saved Christmas!

​A Beautiful Way to Parent

Keeping An Oath

A Sleeping Child

Archives

Categories

A Beautiful Way to Parent