As my parents taught me these lessons, I am trying to teach them to my kids. At 1 and 2.5 they might not be able to fully grasp the concept, but I figure it can’t hurt to start teaching them. And as with all things, it is easier to teach your children by example instead of “do as I say, not as I do.”

So the events of last Friday night stung just a little bit more because of this.

Last Friday I went for my first group ride of the season. There are 4 of us who have met through Twitter and we get together once a week or so and go for a bike ride. As this was the first ride of the season I was scrambling to get everything together and ready to go as well as juggle the kids and get them ready as well.

It was a great ride, albeit a little chilly and windy, but we all made it in one piece and as I packed up to go home I realized how hungry I was. In the excitement of getting everything together I totally forgot to eat something and seeing as how it was now 8pm and I hadn’t had anything to eat since lunch, I was more than a little starving. And cold. And tired. So despite the wonderful ride, I was feeling a little miserable, especially when I saw the gas light come on when I started the car.

So I quickly loaded up my bike, hopped in, put the car in reverse, and as I was rolling back heard a sickening crunch.

I jump out to find the back wheel sitting atop my brand new helmet, inside of which were my cycling glasses and water bottle. All newly acquired items to get this season off to a good start. Luckily my front wheel (which I’d taken off to mount my bike on the roof rack) fell off to the side as I backed up so I didn’t crush it.

Helmet post-car

I just stood there feeling like such an idiot. I try hard to take good care of my stuff, and as it was something I was just working on with Bean as we were driving and he was throwing his cars around, it stung just that little bit more. I know better. I should have walked around the car before I left, something I usually do when packing up to go somewhere.

Now it wasn’t the end of the world and it was a good lesson, though a humbling one. My helmet, glasses, and water bottle are all replaceable. The lesson I learned will stick with me. It is important that we teach our children lessons that help build a solid foundation for the rest of their lives. It is important to teach them lessons with our words and to remember that they pick up far more than we give them credit for by watching our actions.

Today is the day in which we honor mom’s. When my wife and I first became parents and that first May rolled around I was left wondering, which mom do I celebrate? My mom or my wife? With our son only being 6 months old, there was no way he’d be able to do anything, so that means it is up to me to do something, right?

So I’ve tried to make today about both of these amazing women in my life. Being half-way across the country limits what I can do for my mom, but I make sure to always send her a card and give her a call to let her know how much I love her and appreciate what an awesome mom she has been. And since our kids are too young to do anything for my wife, I try and make today special for her as well.

My wife likes to call me a momma’s boy, and honestly, I’m okay with that. I love my mom. She’s been a huge influence in my life and what she has taught me affects everything from how I cook, clean, and parent. I like to think that she taught me how to do things practically and that these things have given me a pretty solid foundation for living my life. I’m sure I don’t do everything up to her standards like she taught me, but I’ve taken what she has taught me, incorporated it into my own life, merged it into my life as a husband and father, and made her lessons a part of my life. If I teach my kids half as many things as I learned from my mom, they will have a pretty good foundation for what they need to get through life.

My mom was the strongest female influence for the first 20 years of my life, and now that role has switched to my wife. My wife is absolutely amazing. Beyong amazing really. Anytime I need a reminder about how amazing she is I think about the fact that she gave birth to two children on our living room floor. Things just don’t get much more badass than that. I think this is why I go bear hunting with my bow or want to do things like go boar hunting with a knife, I can’t do anything quite as hardcore as give birth at home, so this is my attempt at competing. lol

My wife is the mother of my children, my rock, my everything. I couldn’t imagine being a parent alongside anyone else, and am thankful every day for what she brings to this relationship. One day our kids will be at the point where they can show her just how loved she is, but until that point I will coach their I love yous and Happy Mother’s Days.

My wife and my mom and the two most amazing women in my life and I am thankful for them each and every day.

I know it’s Nickelback, and most of y’all aren’t much in the way of Nickleback fans, but it’ll surprise you. (Yes, I’m generally a Nickelback fan, but even my wife, who despises them, cried.)

I couldn’t imagine being thrust into this role as a dad all alone. I couldn’t imagine losing my wife and at the same time having a newborn to take care of. I was lost when bean was born and I had my wife there to do this parenting thing together. The scene from 2:30-2:45 really broke my heart; I’ve been there. I know that feeling, as most parents do. The difference? I knew Mama Bean would be coming home. It might be hours, maybe a couple of days, but I knew what I was going through I didn’t have to do alone.

Shortly after Bean was born, and especially during the first year of Sprout’s life as she screamed for over an hour every night, my respect for single parents grew exponentially. I couldn’t possibly imagine doing this on my own, yet there are so many people that don’t have a choice in the matter.

Music is powerful stuff. After watching this video the first time I hugged my wife and kids a little tighter that night and was reminded at how blessed I am to have the family I do.