If you are a 47-year-old man and go sledding with an 8-year-old boy...

[LuckyTheDog]

... count on going up and down that hill far more times than your body wants you to.

I am going to be sore tomorrow!

:hangover:

[mopinko]

1. as long as there are none of those

abrupt, object initiated stops, you should be ok. ;-P

[LuckyTheDog]

2. There were several close calls

But seriously.. when we adopted a baby when I was 39, I worried that I might be starting too late -- that I might be too old to really be a good dad. I still worry about that sometimes. But I am trying. That kid will either keep me young or send me to an early grave. But I love him like crazy either way.

[davsand]

4. It is the "love him like crazy..." part that makes you a good dad, IMO.

Kevsand was 42 when Material Girl was born, and he has (like you!) been a good dad. I don't think "good dad" is limited to just the sports stuff, or the physical endurance stuff, but more the emotional endurance that it takes.

Yeah, it is way cool to coach the ball team (yep, we've both done that) and it is way cool to ride the bikes together, play Frisbee, play light tag, fly kites, and all the other stuff, but to me the real parenting is an awful lot of sitting up with your kid at night and making sure they know they are valued and loved. There's an awful lot of loving that needs to be done, and chronological age has not got much to do with that.

:hug:

You sound like a great dad.



Laura

[stray cat]

9. You made my day. Thanks!

[Roon]

3. Awww, you're a wonderful Father for enduring that! eom

[Forkboy]

5. I wish there was someone important enough in my life that I'd do that for.

[MadMaddie]

10. Big brothers and the Big sisters program can always use

people that want to do do just that.

[Forkboy]

11. I wish I was any good to even them.

Trust me when I say I'm not. Your answer is probably the best there is (and i love you for it!), but until I can take care of myself I'm of no use to any others.

[MadMaddie]

12. My #1 advice to my mom and my fellow friends

You must ALWAYS take care of yourself first because if you are not sound and healthy you will not be able to take care of others you care about.

So you are doing the right thing and taking care of yourself! :hug:

[Forkboy]

14. I just had a long conversation about this with my counselor this week.

I can't help anyone in the state I'm in. I would love to reach out to these kids (and have wanted to for years), but I can't even take care of myself. In some ways I think I'd be great for many young males, as I've seen a LOT in life, but in other ways I'm a total failure and would set these kids back as much as help them.

I've wanted to be a Big Brother for years, I just don't feel I can bring these kids something worthwhile. If my life was set financially I'd do it in a heartbeat. It's something I've always wanted to do. :(

[baldguy]

6. Look on the bright side.

30 yrs from now, when he has his own kid, you can guilt-trip him into sledding with your grandchild.

[Odin2005]

7. LOL, kids!

:rofl:

[stray cat]

8. Sounds like you sacrificed for a good thing; Well done and take some preventive ibuprofin

[applegrove]

13. Stay at the top of the hill and give the 8 year old a score from 1 - 10.

They could fall for it.