Kelli has often said, whoever said just get them to eighteen was high on drugs! The idea that parenting is over when our child turns eighteen, or that we would even want it to be over, is ridiculous. Instead of worrying about diapers, we now worry about college. Instead of worrying about homework assignments, we worry about job interviews. Instead of worrying about curfews, we worry about their marriage. Just get them to eighteen – RIIIIGHT!

On the flip side – at eighteen it gets even better. We get to start talking about life and what God is doing in their life. At eighteen they start asking us about our life. We continue to pray for our kids long after they turn eighteen, but they also begin praying for us. What a privilege to live life with our adult children. This past weekend I had another reminder of that truth as I traveled to Pullman, Washington to spend dad’s weekend with my daughter Jordan. She is a junior at Washington State University. Because of following Tavita’s football career at Stanford and the fact dad’s weekend is always in the fall, this was my first ever dad’s weekend!

I coached my two high school boys on Friday night (we won and my freshman son actually got into the game!!!) and then a friend (another Cougar dad) of mine, Doug McDowell and I drove through the night to Pullman; about 5 hours away. OK to be fully accurate, Doug drove with me on ready alert! He dropped me off at Jordan’s apartment at 3:30 in the morning – I felt like a college student again (not really)! Then Jordan, Pam (her roommate) and I were up in the morning having breakfast, enjoying the weekend football game and festivities – but mostly we were just having fun, spending time together. If I can encourage you dads out there about anything it would be this – whatever you can do to foster your relationship with your kids (especially your daughters), do it. It is so worth it. For Jordan and me, spending time together was natural because we’d done it before – a lot! I was able to ask her how school was going and about boys. More importantly I was able to ask her about God and life – to do a daddy check up and check in. As we walked across campus toward the stadium and she reached over to hold my hand (this beautiful young college girl with her fat old dad!) I couldn’t help but be thankful for all the time invested in this relationship. In fact it made me wish I had done more – but there is no going back. There are no do overs (except with Jesus!!!). We move forward from here and thankfully, most times, if we are sincere in our desires, our kids are forgiving and willing to give us another chance. We can’t undo the past, but we can certainly set a different course for the future.

With Jordan at the stadium before the game - Go Cougs!

Deuteronomy 6 verse 7 says this, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” It’s talking specifically about teaching our kids God’s commandments, but it’s also a valuable lesson about parenting. We are always parenting – at home, on the road, at school, at night and in the morning. Teaching God’s commands and parenting take TIME! But from one dad who is still on the journey, trying to figure it out, the time is worth it. As I look back, I wish I had spent more time. As I look back I can promise you; I never, never, never wish I had spent less time!