Lesson 7, FOCUS on My Child’s Heart

[Tommy]

FOCUS on My Child’s Heart

•Objectives:
o Identify and discuss attitudes and actions of a visionary as seen in film clip
o Understand how those traits and actions relate to Circle of Control & Influence
o Understanding the importance of My vision for My child
o Construct “Blueprint” for my childs future

[Tommy]

Tom M's Class 'A' Week 7 Commentary

FOCUS 7 4/09/07


Dale, you’ve spoiled me and I miss you when you are gone. You mentors are my mentors too. If I spend a day with a vacancy like that I cannot re-live it. It’s just lost forever. However, since you were helping your son I’m willing to let you off the hook for that. I (as much as anyone) know what it’s like to look for opportunities to make up for lost time.

This was movie night again. However, the focus was on Braveheart and how William Wallace cast a vision for his people. Most of us dads have spent our lives fighting a battle with ourselves. There comes a time when we step back from other battles and focus on winning the hearts of our kids. We begin with a blueprint.

Like blueprints for a house this provides guidelines, vision and helps us make decisions along the way that contribute to the end result. This is a big enough challenge in a home that is in tact but compounded by limited (or total lack of access) to the kids. Tommy shared some real life stories that had happy endings between dad and child. Enough evidence that the fight is worth it.

As the blueprint activity began I could not help but wonder how many of us (and that includes us mentors and teachers) have ever done this for our wives, our marriage or ourselves? No wonder so many lives are at the mercy of circumstances.

William Wallace used a Claymore in the movie. It was the Scottish Sword with which he fought. One of the dads suggested that Wallace demonstrated all four qualities of a real man (Leader, Warrior, Companion & Servant). I cannot disagree with that. The Claymore is a symbol of those roles for him. I want one for myself. My ancestry is Scottish. I have been in counseling for about a year now – fighting to overcome my childhood wounds and the wounds I have inflicted on those close to me. I have chosen my battles for the remainder of my time and my family knows it. I want to go out swinging my Claymore.

Tom M