Father's Day

Tomorrow is Father's Day, always a very special day. I am lucky to have a son, a step son and a step daughter that all look to me in different ways as a Dad. For Tyler, my 5 year old son, he believes I walk on water and to be honest I really try to walk on water for him. He has been everything a father could ever want in a son. He is very loving and he never wants me to leave his side. We share a lot of things together, but our # 1 activity by a longshot is baseball.

Tyler first started picking up a bat at age 2. I guess it looked neat to him, a year later he was hitting a plastic ball and learning more and more about the game. At age 4 he spent three weeks over the summer learning about baseball from Jeff Schaefer at Carolinas Baseball Center. Jeff was holding camps for little kids and we wanted to let Tyler learn more about the game. Those three weeks did wonders for Tyler as he truly fell in love with the game, much the same way I had as a child. I can't even begin to describe the pride I feel when watching Tyler play baseball.

On this Father's Day I am happy to say that Tyler made an all-star team and continues to make Dad very proud.

Will, my 12 year old step son came into my life almost 8 years ago when his mother and I first met. I have been very proud to provide all the support and love I can possibly give him. I know life isn't easy as a step-child, but all I can do to make it a little easier, I do. He has caught onto the baseball fever his younger brother is experiencing and he returned from a 3 year layoff to play baseball this summer. Each game he gets a little better and its very cool to sit in the stands and watch him learn and grow with the sport.

Hannah, my 15 year old step-daughter just finished her ninth grade year of school. HOLY COW! Where did that little 7 year old girl go to that I first met? She has turned into a beautiful young lady that seems to learn and mature with each day. As many of you can relate, it's not easy for a Dad or Step-Dad to completely understand a teenager. You want nothing but the best for them, but it's hard to understand what they are going through at times. The best part is always when she comes back to me and says "You were right." At that point, I think she realizes, that I know a little bit about the way teenage boys behave. It's scary to know that in the next year she will hit the roads of South Charlotte behind the wheel of a car. My how time flies!

Being a Dad isn't easy, but I know deep in my heart, I try to be the best that I can be. I want to do all I can to give all my children the very best opportunity to succeed in life. If you are a Dad reading this, I am sure you can relate.

Happy Father's Day to all Dads, Step-Dads and Grand Dads across this great nation.