A father, a son, a kilt and a storm.

[Detroitpete]

Kind of touching, true story:

The father's 5 year old son was almost to tears because of his fear of thunderstorms and the current one was a real crasher. The father tells his son, "It's OK, everyone is afraid of something. What you need is a good war-chant!" And what good is a war chant if one is not dressed appropriately? So the father straps the child's kilt around his son's waist and pull his shirt off so he can be bare-chested for the upcoming rite.

The father says, "Now when doing this chant--it's VERY important to run around, jump, pound your chest and howl like a wolf, so you'll scare the fear away". The son agrees, mostly because he's willing to do anything to change his current cicumstances.

So, the father tilts his head back and roars the following chant with as much gusto as he can muster: "Thunder thunder thunder! Lightening, lightening, lightening! You might just wilt, because without your kilt, this could ALL be VERY frightening!!!" The two run in circles, howl like wolves, thump their chests and repeat the chant over and over until they are both laughing joyously.

This is repeated at each thunderstorm for the next year or so, but then things change as boys also change. Sometimes the chant is still given, while driving here and there---a smile passed between father and son.

The, the son is heading of to his first big, home football game. He's a bit undersized but loves the sport. His father tries not to worry but knows that his son is learning a little about life as he takes and recieves padded hits on the football field.

As the father goes to the son's room to see if he's ready to leave for the game. The son is strapping on the only kilt that he hasn't outgrown yet. The dad says, "Are you sure you want to wear that?"

The son replies, "Yeah dad, I'm thinking it just might storm tonight".

As the father drops his son off in front of the team locker room, the boy turns to his father, drums his chest and howls. He gives his dad a smile and says, "Fear is like thunder--and it's afraid of my kilt!"

[marvelredneck]

That's one of the best stories I've ever read!

[Kilted Rogue]

That is a great story, thank you for sharing that.

[Spartan Tartan]

That's a great story.

My son told me the other day, after a cartoon we were watching had a character in what was described as a warrior kilt, that he wantes his own kilt. I guess I'll just have to get matching kilts for the little man.

That is a touching story though. Thanks for sharing.

[ohiopiper]

Good story.

Reminds me a bit of some advice I got back when I was younger, dumber and led a far different life. I asked an "old guy" (probably younger than I am now) what advice he could give me in two sentences or less. His reply was "Never run out of ammo, smokes and luck all at the same time".

Ammo means the ability to fight. Smokes (maybe for you it's pickled herring) is the one thing that keeps you going at the moment. And in that business, luck is nearly a requirement.

Like the kilt, it's symbolic, but it gives one pause to remember what's really important and get the job done.

[Detroitpete]

Now that I'm firmly settled into middle age--everything I was told as a young man has come to pass Too bad I only listened to a fraction of it. Is it me, or have we somehow become less effective at teaching our younger men?

But then again, the above story would suggest., "The kids are alright!"

[MacMillans son]

Now that I'm firmly settled into middle age--everything I was told as a young man has come to pass Too bad I only listened to a fraction of it. Is it me, or have we somehow become less effective and teaching our younger men?

But then again, the above story would suggest., "The kids are alright!"

I love the story Pete, thanks!

In answer to to your question, I think that the multitude of competing influences make it more difficult for parents to have an affect on kids, but no less their responsibility to continue to try. The healthiest families that I encounter seem to be the ones that limit television, computer, and video game activities and spend that time with their children doing activities, reading, walking, making crafts or projects together etc. You can't influence children without spending time with them, and the less time we spend with them the less influence we have.

I don't have research in front of me to support it, but I am sure that there is a positive correlation between parent involvement and child/adolescent mental, emotional, behavioral health.