work

I know many are shocked by the recent turning of events regarding the entitlement of America’s young adults. As I consider returning to my university studies, I am worried about how some of my classmates might act and I can react positively if I have a civil conversation with one. I have to things I want every young person in my country should know.

One: The Law of the Harvest. In simplest terms, you eat the food you plant and grow. Seeds can’t grow if you don’t plant them, and fireplaces don’t give heat before you put in wood. There are things that must happen in order in life, and the first thing is work, then comes the reward.

Two: Cats aren’t worth it. Just kidding. This one is simple. No one can offend you. Being offended is a choice on your part, and I chose to not be offended. I don’t need a safe zone, or to threaten professors or administrators who say things that don’t fit my personal paradigm.

I am a thirty year old with a wife who has a chronic illness, a daughter who he loves, two less than part time jobs that both can be concidered ‘independent contractor’, and I am going back to college while being a husband, father, scout leader, business owner, and debt free. Toughen up buttercup. One of us is a locomotive powering ahead on its own power, the other I just coasting downhill, and your hill isn’t very steep.

Do you remember the old TGIF sitcoms from the 90’s? Family Matters, Full House, Step By Step. Many of them had the annoying friend or neighbor who just walked into the house and added to or was the cause of the episodes hijinks. Family Matters had Steve Urkle, Full House had Kimmy Gibbler, Step By Step had that one guy. The dad always hated that person, but in time they learned how to at least tolerate and work with the ‘Annoying One’.

In my home, CFS is the ‘Annoying One’ who just walks in and disrupts life, messing up plans. How many times has CFS wandered in, taken my wife, and left me to visit family in another state with Elle myself, or be the only Dad (and guy) at a birthday party, or a single dad with a toddler bent on giving herself a traumatic brain injury on the pew at church.

There were days on end where my wife was taken away by CFS, left in bed, and I returned from a full day of work and an hour drive each way, only to be the only adult contact my daughter had all day and still had to cook dinner and put the child to bed. Those days left me with an hour or two for anything personal including showering and anything else I wanted to do.

It still is a challenge, but we are getting by and we hope to share some tactics to help others who have their own Urkles barging in.