A little bit Country, a little bit Rock and Roll.
Anyone who has visited here, or follows me in any social media capacity (or even Real Life for the true originals), knows that I am one super-proud father. When I think in those terms though, I almost always mean that I am proud of my daughters. Sure, every kid is a genius, an expert in their chosen sport, pursuit or passion. So I won’t belabor the obvious. But my kids are fantastic.
However tonight, I came to a somewhat selfish realization that for at least one thing, I am very proud of MYSELF as a father; let me share with you the reason why.
I have two children. Both girls, one 18 and the other 13. They each are individual in their nature and demeanor, but it was this one topic, which intrigued me tonight.
Religion.
One daughter is religious and openly practicing religion by attending church weekly, participating in “prayer discussion” and learning about the bible and Christianity. She seems to gravitate to larger groups, loves team sports, and gains energy from consensus and a feeling of belonging. She is a caretaker, and is always the first to try and find a common ground when the family is fighting (especially her parents).
The other is a non-believer by any standard, skeptical of organized religions, and although spiritual in some natural ways, has little time for any man-defined version of a “God”. But she loves the premise of humanity and us caring for those who are disadvantaged. She values equality, freedom and has a highly tuned sense of social consciousness. A future human rights lawyer; her dad hopes.
Jill and I have influenced neither in the area of religion; but I see bits of each of us in both of them. We have never attended a church service with our children, refuse to enforce any particular religious tradition or ideas on them, and yet strongly encourage open thinking.
Somehow we have a bible-thumper and atheist (maybe agnostic) in our midst. In the category of religion, we ended up with independent thinking, if not polar-opposite children. For this, I am proud.
My children know what I DO value. Authenticity, self-confidence, respect for diversity, and a wholesale demand for honesty with oneself– coupled with the demeanor to stand up for those things.
The fact that they can openly practice different beliefs, in our same one-house, means we are doing something right.
For that I am very proud.
Co-Founder of two beautiful daughters and 