What's Hot

    Explore CNY: Embrace the season in Old Forge

    September 28, 2023

    Fall Activities Guide

    September 28, 2023

    Best Spots for Fall Family Photos in Central New York

    September 28, 2023
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Explore CNY: Embrace the season in Old Forge
    • Fall Activities Guide
    • Best Spots for Fall Family Photos in Central New York
    • Eight Fall Theme Walks
    • 315 Bulletin
    • Treat Yourself: The 2023/24 Broadway in Syracuse season will feature Tony Award-winning musicals, movie adaptations
    • Tanya Reese, Program Coordinator for the Cancer Services Program
    • Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
    Family TimesFamily Times
    • Community Guide
    • Things to Do in CNY
      1. Central New York Events
      2. Activities
      3. Treat Yourself
      Featured

      Explore CNY: Embrace the season in Old Forge

      By Courtney KlessSeptember 28, 20230
      Recent

      Explore CNY: Embrace the season in Old Forge

      September 28, 2023

      Fall Activities Guide

      September 28, 2023

      Best Spots for Fall Family Photos in Central New York

      September 28, 2023
    • Parenting
      1. Pregnancy
      2. Babies
      3. Kids
      4. Preschoolers/Toddlers
      5. Special Needs
      6. Teens
      7. Pets
      8. View All

      The Power to Save a Life: Cord blood is being used to treat more than 80 diseases

      January 30, 2020

      It’s Not What It Looks Like: Reflections on motherhood’s changes, outside and inside

      July 29, 2019

      In Search of Sleep: 8 Strategies for coping with wakeful babies

      July 29, 2019

      A Surgical Birth: Many pregnant women are likely to deliver by cesarean

      July 29, 2019

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Hand to Mouth: How to help babies start to sample solid food

      August 1, 2020

      315 Bulletin

      August 1, 2020

      Name, Please? Expectant parents face another momentous decision

      August 1, 2020

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Rainbow Snowflakes: A colorful craft even little ones can make

      November 24, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      DIY Critter Magnets: Make cute clips for hanging reminders and more

      September 1, 2020

      Allergy Adjustments: Parents can support their food allergic child

      September 3, 2019

      Calming Commotion: How to deal with car sickness and more

      June 27, 2019

      Introducing Riff Rockit: Kindie artist to play jingles at Leon Fest

      June 1, 2017

      A History of Inclusion: The Jowonio School marked 50 years in 2019

      March 30, 2020

      Reaching a Milestone: Now the largest chapter in the country, Special Olympics New York is celebrating 50 years

      March 30, 2020

      Come Out and Play: Move Along offers adaptive sports for youth, adults

      March 30, 2020

      Let’s Get Together: Remaking classrooms so all students are included

      September 3, 2019

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      A Blooming Craft: These homemade flowers make a great centerpiece

      March 1, 2021

      Environmental Club: Auburn Junior High School

      January 30, 2020

      Furry Friends: What it takes to adopt a pet for the first time

      July 1, 2020

      Tail Wagging Fun: Lights on the Lake Dog Walk 2019

      November 14, 2019

      Uncommon Companions: Local pet store sticks to its niche

      May 30, 2019

      Dog Food for Thought: Trying to keep your pet from your plate

      May 30, 2019

      Homework Habits: How to Motivate Kids

      September 1, 2023

      After-School Activities and Programs in CNY

      September 1, 2023

      Fun, Educational Websites You Won’t Want Your Kids to Miss

      September 1, 2023

      Take the Stress Out of School Mornings

      August 31, 2023
    • Health
      1. Child Development
      2. Food
      3. Nutrition
      4. The “Recipe Doctor”
      5. View All

      Financial Literacy for Families: How parents can teach children, teens about money management

      April 1, 2022

      Strangers Bearing Advice: New babies bring out the expert in everyone

      August 1, 2021

      Choosing a Daycare: Learn As You Grow’s Joshua LaGrow offers some tips for finding the right fit

      August 1, 2021

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      Berries and Cream Croissant Breakfast Casserole

      June 1, 2023

      Prep Work: Keep your family’s food safe this summer

      June 1, 2022

      Nutrition in No Time: Are you always on the go? These tips will help you stay on track.

      January 1, 2022

      Easy Holiday Recipes: Are you searching for some new dishes this season? These are some of our favorites.

      November 1, 2021

      Nutrition in No Time: Are you always on the go? These tips will help you stay on track.

      January 1, 2022

      Liking Lunch: Best bets for serving kids a delicious, nutritious meal

      September 1, 2021

      A Little Jolt: Caffeine’s risks for kids and teens

      March 1, 2021

      Better Choices: How about a resolution to eat vegetables and other nutritious foods?

      January 1, 2021

      Best Friend’s Treats: Bake up some special dog biscuits

      June 1, 2018

      Colorful Soup in a Jar: Give the gift of winter comfort

      December 1, 2015

      Berry Good! Use a summer favorite in this ice cream

      July 1, 2015

      Flapjack Fever: Even pancakes can be a healthy breakfast

      June 1, 2015

      Treat Yourself: The 2023/24 Broadway in Syracuse season will feature Tony Award-winning musicals, movie adaptations

      September 28, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Festa Italiana returns for its 25th year

      September 1, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Right Mind Syracuse hosts one-session art workshops at local venues

      August 1, 2023

      Treat Yourself: Oswego Harborfest returns with food, live music and children’s activities

      June 28, 2023
    • Travel
    • Education
      1. Educator of the Month
      2. Class of the Month
      3. Education News
      4. Reading
      5. Teaching
      Featured

      Tanya Reese, Program Coordinator for the Cancer Services Program

      By Janelle DavisSeptember 28, 20230
      Recent

      Tanya Reese, Program Coordinator for the Cancer Services Program

      September 28, 2023

      Kate Laissle, Director of Education at Syracuse Stage

      September 1, 2023

      Annie Gordon, Education Program Coordinator at the Sciencenter

      July 31, 2023
    • Crafts & DIY
      • Create
      • Holiday Crafts
    Family TimesFamily Times
    Home»Parenting»Lessons in Living: Passing on what I learned from my dad
    Parenting

    Lessons in Living: Passing on what I learned from my dad

    Maggie SimoneBy Maggie SimoneJune 1, 2016Updated:September 28, 2018No Comments4 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    W  hen I tell stories about my father from the old days, one of the most popular is about the time I broke a milk bottle in the sink and decided to stick my hand in to pull out the glass. Standing in the kitchen with my bloody hand wrapped in a dish towel, I listened to my father give a lengthy explanation of the downside of that decision. Then he took me to the hospital for stitches.

    That’s what I usually remember.

    Fast-forward to last week, when I was teaching my son to drive. I offered instruction and patient advice, never flinched or yelled, calmly pointed out traffic rules and driver courtesies, and overall was a perfect driving instructor. While I congratulated myself later, he brought up my limited patience when behind someone driving under the speed limit.

    Advertisement

    “Seriously?” I said to my husband in private. “I have one flaw, and that’s his takeaway? After years of modeling kindness, empathy, compassion, integrity—after trying to teach all of those values, what he remembers is that slow drivers tick me off?”

    My husband, still processing the “one flaw” part, said, “I don’t think so. I think the other stuff is more subtle. But that doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

    Later that same week, as we were waiting to board a bus for college visits in New York City, my son noticed a toddler leaving the bus completely unattended. He saw the danger, dropped his bags and ran over to the boy before he could run into traffic—or worse. Suddenly a relative emerged from the bus and claimed him.

    In the moment it took for that entire event to transpire, I couldn’t have been prouder of him. And I realized my husband was right: My son might remember my flaws, but it doesn’t matter, because he is living our values.

    That brought me to my father, and sticking my hand in the sink. As I thought more about growing up around him, I realized all that he had shown me about kindness, empathy, compassion and integrity, simply by living those values regardless of what life threw his way.

    I thought about when my uncle became ill with the AIDS virus, at a time when coming out of the closet carried the risk of rejection and outright danger, and my father invited him into our home to care for him. I thought about when my brother, in his 30s, told my parents he was gay, and my dad’s reaction was sadness that he had been afraid to tell them for so long. I realized that I had never once heard my father—who does not suffer fools quietly—utter a disparaging word about another human being’s race, gender, religion or sexual orientation.

    My dad taught me how to live an authentic life, flaws and all, and it occurs to me that neither of us has ever stopped to consider that impact. He wouldn’t because he’s too humble, and I wouldn’t because I’m too self-centered. But intentionally or not, he has shared with me all of the qualities I’ve hoped to instill in my own children.

    So when we shared the same type of cancer recently, I wasn’t even afraid.

    My dad had thyroid cancer several years ago. His thyroid was removed, he was treated with radioactive iodine, and he was fine for a long time. Last year it returned in his lungs; while he was preparing to undergo his second treatment, I was diagnosed with it. My thyroid gland and surrounding lymph nodes were removed the day he had his radioactive treatment, and my treatment followed after that.

    We talked to each other on the phone almost daily to check in and, in my case, get confirmation about side effects and how to manage them. Once again he created a path for me to follow as he has done since the day I was born.

    I am only now seeing how much the unspoken lessons of our parents affect who we are, and how those lessons then affect how we behave around our own children. I may remember the milk bottle and the kitchen, just as my son might remember the slow drivers, but I’m hopeful that my dad knows the lessons have not been lost.

    His grandchildren are living them.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
    Maggie Simone

    Related Posts

    Homework Habits: How to Motivate Kids

    September 1, 2023

    After-School Activities and Programs in CNY

    September 1, 2023

    Fun, Educational Websites You Won’t Want Your Kids to Miss

    September 1, 2023
    Flip Through Our Latest Issue!
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    Top Posts

    Summer Activities Guide

    June 1, 2023148 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020108 Views

    Wondrous Waterfalls

    June 1, 202374 Views

    Staying Safe This Summer

    June 28, 202366 Views
    Recent Posts
    • Explore CNY: Embrace the season in Old Forge
    • Fall Activities Guide
    • Best Spots for Fall Family Photos in Central New York
    • Eight Fall Theme Walks
    • 315 Bulletin

    Family Times Magazine publishes a digital magazine highlighting events, businesses, and content to inform and entertain families here in Central New York. Sign up for our twice monthly newsletter to have the magazine and other featured content.
    ____

    Email Us: [email protected]
    Contact: 1.315.422.7011

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn RSS
    Our Picks
    Most Popular

    Summer Activities Guide

    June 1, 2023148 Views

    DIY: Make your own vibrant, paper fans in only a few easy steps

    July 1, 2020108 Views

    Wondrous Waterfalls

    June 1, 202374 Views
    © 2023 Family Times, CNY. Designed by Crossroads Marketing.
    • Our Authors
    • Archives
    • Community Events Calendar
    • Advertising

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Go to mobile version