Cause the Sky is Blue!!!

2015-03-11T22:29:00.000-04:00

This a pretty interesting article.

Single Father Homes on the Rise

Prentice Powell - Daddy

2014-10-01T17:44:00.000-04:00

Some people don't understand what its like to be a father without the right to see their child and make the automatic assumption that they are losers and deadbeat fathers. Don't judge. Listen to the message from Prentice Powell.

Click this link and listen to his message!

I love him Daddy

2014-03-14T21:51:00.000-04:00

Before I start, this let me clarify that I do believe in Love at first sight. I believe that falling in love does not have a time limit. I also believe that love does not have a growth limit. Falling in love is an action of continual motion and growth and when it hits its limit, it is a fault of the carrier not love.

Love, the word that transcends cultures, generations and languages. It's also the most used and misused word. Everyone, "Wants to know what love is", or they would like to "Count the Ways". But when we really think about it, how many of us can tell the difference between true love or infatuation.

In most relationships we are too quick with the instant gratification of being in love that we mistakenly interpret infatuation with true love. We are so engulfed in the idea of the person or relationship that we often times fail to get to know the actual person. This leads to divorce, big break-ups and heartbreak the majority of the time.
The society of dating now a days have tainted the way we view relationships. Everything is about the instant gratification of finding the soul mate in a thirty day trial, or putting us in a box with who a dating site suggests for us to date.

Love cannot be "Matched" or correlated by checking boxes. Most of the greatest loves are on accident. Its when you're not looking and it punches you in the chest. It's that accidental meeting in the grocery store, or the bumped into at the post office. It happens so fast sometimes you look back and think, "How did you get here?" - Deborah Cox

There are many factors to consider when starting a relationship. If we’re truly honest with ourselves, most will say it starts with looks. The appearance of a person is what attracts us to them initially above all else. From across the room you can’t see someone’s personality, or if you can it’s probably not a really positive thing. What’s inside that person’s heart or mind is invisible to the eye and we must rely on repetitive conversation and interaction in order to unlock these clues.

When you're in love you know it. You feel it, as it becomes part of your soul and part of your everyday and being. You feel it in their words and in their sight. Love is a living thing, and is most present without words. Its in every Hello, Good morning and Good Night. Its in every kiss and touch. It warms your body and chills it at the same time. It confuses your mind but makes everything clear. It's everything and nothing. You cant explain why but you know!

I've heard it a thousand times......I love him/her. But do you really know them. Do you really love them or the idea of them?

One of the missing links in current relationships is what gets us from the first impression to becoming completely engulfed with a person. How well do you know the love of your life?

I'm back!!

2014-02-24T22:05:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I last wrote. I've been on quite the journey over the past two years. A lot has changed and some new adventures have started. In the upcoming posts, I hope to entertain, educate and share with you some of the challenges I've faced along the way.

To Edith (Nanny)

2012-09-10T03:25:00.000-04:00

When entering into a relationship, it is an unspoken understanding that you become part of their family. About two months ago, I had the fortunate experience of meeting Edith, better known to my fiance' as Nanny. When I met her she was sweet and wonderful and spoke to me as if she had always known me. This past Thursday we got the unfortunate news that Nanny passed away.

I've spent the past 4 days with Renee's family while they reminisce about Nanny and all the special times they had and all the fun memories. No, I may not have known her as well as they did. I may not have spent the time with her like they did, but just in these few days, I felt like I have. The strength and stability that she passed on through to her children and grandchildren shows in their speech and actions. It all makes me wish I had met her a lot sooner.

In death we have the fortunate opportunity to celebrate the life of a person. We have the opportunity to dedicate days and hours to remembering and laughing and sometimes crying. Tomorrow will be the most trying day as we all attend the memorial service for her. I want the family to know that this time has made me understand how close they were and how special Nanny was for them. My thoughts and prayers are with them all. But I hope they keep remembering the good times and the wonderful women she was like they have been these past few days.

Being a family is not about what we can do for each other, but what we can do with each other. Its not about the fights but the laughter and the tears. Families fight, love and laugh and as long as we can hold on to those things and always remember to call each other family, it will always be strong.

Nanny, I may not have known you they way everyone else does, but I know that you were loved and appreciated.

It reminds me of my family and all the good times we've had. All the memories and laughs we've shared. It makes me think about my Granny and how fortunate I am to have had her in my life. I know she won't get online to read this, but she is always in my prayers and on my mind.

Renee, Momma Robin, Christy, Bobby and Robbie, you're all in my prayers.

Discussion Point

2012-07-23T14:01:00.000-04:00

Discussion Time.

How important is education? To further that point, is the value of education different based on an individuals socioeconomic standing?

The End is near Daddy

2012-07-19T21:16:00.001-04:00

Well, the end is near. If you haven't heard you can see it all over television; it's on the news, on the ticker at the bottom of our favorite television program and in commercials. The kids are talking about it, blogging about it, posting it on Facebook. Every time you turn around you read about it in the newspaper or in the latest magazine.

Life as we know it this year is almost over because the end of summer is coming and the beginning of Football season starts.

As an avid (sometimes rabid) sports fan, I live my life not by the calendar seasons, but by the sports season. My year starts with Football season (Redskins and Seminoles). The next season is Basketball (Wizards and Terps), followed by Hockey and NASCAR (Capitals and #88) and ending my year with Baseball (Go Orioles. The Nationals still remind me of the Expos).

Now if you're a sports fan of any of these seasons you can feel my dedication just by looking at the teams I root for. No, I’m not a fair-weathered fan. I stick by my teams like family. Through thick and thin, for better or worse all that good stuff. So yes, my season is about to change and I can't wait for it to start.

The end is near! "Are you ready for some football!!!"

As a celebration to the beginning of "My Year" I want to share something with you. It does involve a little bit of bragging. I have an amazing life, with a lot of great opportunities. There isn't much I can really complain about. One thing stands out for sure an that's the fact that I have an amazing woman who cares for me like no other. Usually, on occasions like birthdays and Christmas, and the gifts I get are great. This time she has really outdone herself. How many guys can say, "My girl designed my man-cave and it's the best ever?" She actually built me a bar for my man cave. Then took it upon herself to design it. Here are the Pictures:

That's my SI wall. Has the first sports illustrated featuring the Redskins from 1966. Each one is framed and in mint condition from their original production (No Reprints)

View from the steps. Yes the built that bar one 2x4 at a time. Hand painted the lettering and everything.

These are my fish tanks. I've never been a furry animal person. We do have a dog and a cat, but those are more for her and the kids. I like my fish tanks. She designed them with Redskins backgrounds and Burgundy and Gold gravel.

The Bar:

Accessories for the bar. She Painted the side tables and the Fridge.

I'm Dating Now Daddy!!

2011-10-18T14:45:00.000-04:00

Who dates anymore? Dating has become a lost art, replaced with social media and the internet. The term “dating” has been sorely taken out of content and is now used as a word for someone you like and talk to, text, or chat with on a regular basis. That sounds to me like a good friend, not someone I’m dating. Let me break it down for you. Good old Wikipedia states :

Dating is a form of courtship consisting of social activities done by two persons with the aim of each assessing the other's suitability as a partner in an intimate relationship or as a spouse. While the term has several senses, it usually refers to the act of meeting and engaging in some mutually agreed upon social activity in public, together, as a couple.

There is a saying I like to tell my daughter: “You can’t date him unless he has his own insurance”, meaning, he should have a job and his own vehicle. That way he can actually TAKE YOU OUT on a date.
I would say a great percentage of the kids today and most adults between the ages of 18-25 have no clue what it is to actually date someone. Just on a quick survey, 90% of them who claim to have a boyfriend or girlfriend have NEVER taken them on a date, unless you consider the quick semi-intimate moments in whatever room was available. But a true date, no.

So let me help you chat/text dependent youngsters out.

Dinner and Movie: This is when you make arrangements with your “friend” to go out at a particular time. Either you pick them up or you meet at a location - NOT McDonalds or Taco Bell, but something nice. You chat over dinner, not the computer, and get to know each other. Then you go to the pre-determined movie.

See, you got out of the house, had a social outing with another person. Enjoyed good food, good conversation, and a movie. Now that’s a date.

Text me, or hit me up on Facebook, and I’ll give you pointers on the second date.

What does dating mean to you?

Cause the Sky is Blue

2011-06-28T22:25:00.000-04:00

As a toddler my little girl would always ask questions. The questions never ended when the question was answered, but followed with why? Over and over again. One day she was asking a series of questions about wanting to get something at the store that I really couldn’t afford to get at the moment. And the “why” series continued. Frustrated I looked up and answered her why daddy with, “Cause the sky is blue”. She stopped looked up and it was almost as if she understood. There is no real reason why, it just is. So now when I get that whining why not daddy question my response is simply, “cause the sky is blue”.

I remember as a kid thinking that my father was Superman. There was nothing that he couldn’t do or nothing that he didn’t already know. I relied on this in many instances and I still rely on it for parental advice every now and then. This “value” is good and makes me think about children these days.

I was told once that I have an opinion about everything (This wasn’t meant to be a compliment). It got me to thinking. I do have an opinion about everything because that’s what gets me by with raising my children. If I didn’t have an opinion where would my kids go to get advice? TV, the internet or maybe little Joey down the street who tortures the neighborhood animals. My point is growing up these are the type of learning moments and trust moments I had with my father because in my opinion, He knew it all!!!! I know that not to be exactly true now, but in every situation he let me believe that he had all the answers to my problems and was there to listen no matter the situation. What type of role as parents should we take with our kids? Should we independently let them make their own decisions or should we influence (guide) them in their everyday situations until they are old/responsible enough to make them on their own.

Your child is your legacy. Everything you leave behind in this world diminishes except your children. They carry on your beliefs, values, and sometimes opinions. At birth you are given the gift of being able to mold that untouched unscarred baby into whatever you want.

In my opinion it is the responsibility of the parents to make decisions for the kids. They should rely on your experience and somewhat expertise in certain situations. Could you imagine the decisions kids would make without our guidance. Something as little as what to make for dinner or how to spend money would go by the waste-side.

Happy Fathers Day

2011-06-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

So today we celebrate Fatherhood. On this day I celebrate the one man who has been the greatest influence in my life, My Father. Joseph Cooper has it all. He is charismatic, spiritual, strong, goal oriented, and has a mean back swing when I did something wrong.

We grew up in a very Church oriented family. Our family attended Church at the very least 3 times a week. My father, being a Minister was there more frequently. The dynamics of our family centered on church services and meetings. I wouldn’t say it was difficult growing up but it was different. There were a lot of rules, but we as kids really had it all. I knew my father worked hard, but it wasn’t until I became a father myself that I could look back and appreciate the things that he did. As kids we never wanted for anything. Birthdays, Holidays were all special because of the sacrifices my father would make. He would work long hours on his job and then go to service to serve the church we attended. It was hard being close to him because I knew the levels of commitments he had outside the family were tremendous. To me my father was like superman, he could REALLY do anything.

Through the past 10 years, I've grown to know my father in a much different light. He has become more of a friend in regards to how we communicate. Its always been know that I could talk to him about anything, but recently it has become much easier to do so. We talk about everything, from relationships, kids, and even recreational stuff like my vehicles and fishing. He has taught me that fatherhood is not this stern serious person who is a dictator over his kids, but rather someone who their sons can look up to and say, "When I grow up, I want to be just like my Father" Something I can truly say.

Dad, I love you, and thank you for all the lessons, hard work, love and attentiveness you've shown me over the past 35 years. In more ways than one I wouldn’t be here today without you!

Male Chauvinistic Daddy!!!!

2011-06-06T21:06:00.000-04:00

So, growing up, I come from a family where my father was the main “bread winner”. Dad worked and for the most part mom stayed home and took care of me and my 3 siblings. If mom did work, it wasn’t necessarily for the family but for other indulgences as she saw fit. Mom took care of the house, dinner, and all of the needs of the house. Not that my dad didn’t share in these chores. He was a regular in every one of those departments. The discipline was mostly handled through my father and there was a certain reverence given to him because of that. We knew who was in charge of our family. We knew who made the decisions and who the head of the household was. If ever there was a question as to what mom said do, the response was usually, “cause daddy said so” and that was the end of the conversation.

My father opened the door for my mother. He sent her flowers and held her umbrella while he got wet. He was the type to order for her at a restaurant and push in her chair. There was a certain respect the two had for each other and a willingness for my mom (on occasions) to surrender the last say so to my dad.

Now don’t get me wrong, by no means am I an advocate to go back to the middle ages with the rights and treatment of women. However when it comes to chivalry, I would say I support the notion. My mom is one of the strongest willed women I know. She is extremely independent and
did whatever she wanted. But, there was something in the relationship where you could see my mother display a willingness to show that dad was in charge and she loved the role he took.

I’m a self declared hopeless romantic. Not chauvinistic or caveman like, but one who still holds values like my father with a willingness and strength to want to provide care for and protect my family. I come from a line of men who still treat a woman the way it’s supposed to be done. Yes guys, I’m the jerk who buys flowers, and remembers and celebrates every birthday and anniversary like it’s the last. To me, it’s become a lost art amongst men. For the past couple years it’s more common for the man to take the backseat to everything instead of “being a man” and stepping up to the plate. A lot of it is the evolution of our relationships and more strong minded women. Many women these days are career driven and view relying on a man in any situation as a weakness. So I ask, is it wrong for a man to enter a relationship with this mindset? Is it considered too old fashion or chauvinistic for a man to consider himself the provider, the protector, and the head of his household? Do women feel threatened by this thought or do they welcome the strength that this type of man possesses? Is it a lost art or a casualty of the evolution of women’s rights and political correctness?

Who's THE Daddy!?!?!?

2011-05-29T18:36:00.000-04:00

Ever look at your kids, or at kids interacting with their parents out in public and wonder, “Which one of them is in charge”. I’m not sure if it’s the generation that we live in or if it’s just a product of a lazier society that has perpetuated this lack of respect, be it one or both ways.

Its not just with their parents, but for some, it's a considerable lack of respect for adults period.

One day I was taking my boys fishing. Anyone who has fished knows it’s a quiet and fun time you can really enjoy with your kids. There are also certain unwritten rules on the shore when fishing. One of these is that you don’t cast your line into another person’s spot! Well, while we were fishing in a small section of the lake, this kid about the same age as my boys (10-12) walked in the middle of us and threw his line in between where we were fishing. So, of course I asked him politely, “son, do you know you just crossed my line where I’m fishing?” His replied indignantly with, “So, it’s a public pond and I can fish where I want! Why don’t you move your line?” Well, in my head the Angels started singing and we were about to have church with a “Coming to Jesus moment” (He was about to meet his maker). It got me to thinking, if this kid talks to a complete stranger with no respect, how does he talk with his own parents?

What would have happened in your house if you had stomped or raised your voice at your parents? What would have happened if you were asked to do something by your father and your response was to either ignore them or blatantly say NO!!?

Some people may think this next statement is brutal or some may actually relate (the fact that I have to quantify that statement tells me we live in a different world). I remember growing up being scared to death to speak in a disrespectful way to my parents. I knew if I did, a visit to the dentist was inevitable! This wasn’t a fear like you fear the junk yard dog, but it was a more reverent fear. I had a different respect for my parents than what is displayed these days.

I’m not a big TV person, but when I’ve watched TV, I’ve noticed most of the television shows are like what I see in public. Most of the shows have the kids yelling at their parents, stomping and throwing fits. In some cases, they were being completely defiant with the excuse of “just being a kid”. Is this actually the way that we want to raise our kids? Is this the example we want to give? Now don’t get me wrong, while I don’t advocate this, I’m also of the mindset that parents raise their kids and not the TV. Allowing kids to watch what they want is not a direct permission to act out what they see. It takes a strong dedicated parent to use what children see as a learning tool.

Maybe it’s the methods of discipline. My parents, as were most when I was a child, were of the definite mindset, “Spare the Rod Spoil the Child”. Most parents now are into having conversations or timeout. Is one better than the other? Are they related to the level of respect we have for our parents as oppose to the respect children now days have with theirs?

So why is it like that these days? What has changed in the rules of parenting that has diminished Who the Daddy is?

Who's Your Daddy????

2011-05-24T22:43:00.000-04:00

Let me start this first blog by stating, never do I claim anything I say to be “The Gospel According To John”. This is strictly my opinion and meant to be taken as that in order to provoke an adult discussion. If your conversational skills aren’t of the maturity of an adult, then refrain from commenting or just comment to my personal email. Those using profanity or derogatory adjectives will be removed.

So every person walking this Earth has one - some call him Daddy, Dad, Pops or Father. But how many of you actually call him your father? Most men are given the ability to procreate. It’s a gift that is used for both pleasure and the benefit of giving life. In the event the two cross, (pleasure and life) life is the one that is sometimes taken for granted as a gift. Herein lies the distinction between being called a father or a daddy. It’s the actions after these two cross that makes the distinction.

My definitions are as follows: daddies are the ones who have the ability to create but not the intestinal fortitude to care for a child. A father has the same ability but seems to be able to use his natural sense of responsibility to take care of the child both financially and emotionally. Statistically, daddies are on the rise, while fathers seem to decline. Now I don’t like to be on a soapbox (actually I do like the attention), but over the past few years there are many mothers who are single - not by choice but by circumstance - while the “daddy” lives his own life in the absence of being a father.

One of the most irritating terms to me is, “my baby's daddy”. To me, it indicates that the “man” (that word is debatable for a later discussion) is a donor. Someone who participated in the pregnancy, but not in the fatherhood of the child. It takes a considerable amount more to be a father then a daddy. While most of you think I’m splitting hairs, think about it! Which term do you take more seriously? Which would you like to be called?

Greetings

2011-05-23T14:23:00.001-04:00

So thanks for stopping by and checking out my weekly rants and questions to ponder throughout your day. First things first, for those who don’t know me, my name is John Cooper and that pretty face in front of me (in my profile picture) belongs to my fiancé Renee.

The purpose of this blog is to get you (the reader) to start thinking about the different aspects of life that some of us tend to take for granted. There will be broad areas of discussion, to include, relationships, parenthood, education, and socio-economic standing. We’ll try to refrain from religion as to not offend anyone! I’ve had many life experiences that have brought me to a point in life where I’d like to share those thoughts with others and see how the opinions vary.

I strongly encourage everyone to reply either by post or by email, and for those of you cursed to know me personally, by phone.