[Onto]

When my Son was around 4 yrs old we were walking around in the neighborhood. Being a boy, he collected a huge amount of sticks on our walk. Towards the end he came across a stick that really caught his attention. It was perfect.

As he bent over to pickup the stick, the others he was carrying would escape and fall to the ground. Not wanting to lose them he would stop his efforts for the big stick and start picking up the little sticks that had fallen. Once they were all back in his arms he tried again to squat and pick up that great stick off the ground, and again the others he was carrying would start to fall.

He went back and forth like this several times and I was chuckling and marveling to myself as I watched this dilemma of his unfold. It was like watching a robot who had walked into a corner. Then it hit me, as I was standing behind him I said, "Son, in life if we want something greater we often have to let go of all the other things we've been carrying around with us."

He paused, thought for a few seconds, and then dropped all the little sticks in one fell swoop. Picked up that great new, powerful stick and was happy as can be.

When I think back on it, I didn't plan for the lesson to happen, and I don't know why I said what I did. The words just came out on their own.

That day I learned as much as he did. I hope he'll remember it someday when it matters most. And I hope I don't forget it either.

[ShotgunUppercuts]

Great posts in here .

I met my pops when I was 13 and we have never lived with each other but when ever I'd speak to him on the phone and I had a problem he'd just say "handle your business ".

Would love to read more you all's post.

[Turnus]

I try to show my sons (through my actions) how to treat people with respect, how to behave in public, and how to stand up for themselves.

I do this by spending quality time with them as much as possible. Raising quality children my primary role in life right now.

[vonSudeten]

My Grandfather told me, probably many times "Here helps only bulldozer and Kalashnikov." - regarding the state of the country or Europa.

On a lighter note another Grandfather told me this "Don't stand here with your hands in your pockets like a nigger from Bronx."

Also I remember my Father telling his girlfriend when we had a conversation together and she interrupted "Silence, men talk right now." and on another occasion he proclaimed "Remember son, every woman is a whore.". Also when I was fat in my early teens and I could not keep up with him running up the hill "You are a fat piece of shit."

I would also give a credit to my mother, when I was about 8 and I was crying she told me "You show your emotions too much, that's not smart." It stuck with me for a long time.