Father's Day Tribute from a son...

This is Voula, Jim's wife writing on his blog. Our son surprised us with this guest opinion column (see link below) appearing online today in the Duluth News Tribune. Jim deserves this sweet tribute from our son. He is now-and was back when the kids were young-a great dad. 

This Sunday is when we honor dads and those men who have mentored kids everywhere. My own dad was pretty special and his legacy is with me forever. And we notice how giving and supportive our own son and son-in-law are in their roles as dads to our six grandkids. We are surrounded by awesome dads!

I did research in my grad school education on dads who parent kids with special needs and learned through that process the significance of dads in children's lives, whether they are living with them or not. Dads give so much to our kids and we appreciate you all. Kids need you in their lives!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL YOU MEN OUT THERE WHO ARE SPECIAL TO KIDS!

Click HERE to read the DNT column: Behind the Wheel With a "Local Celebrity" by Patrick Heffernan.

Happy Father's Day!

Tomorrow we will celebrate Father's Day. I'll be with my son and my son-in-law, all of us fathers. We'll be surrounded by six little ones–all five years of age and younger. It should be a busy but fun day. It got me thinking back to the evolution of my life as a father–now grandfather–and all the changes that I've made and those changes in society over those years for men/fathers as well.

My son-in-law provides the day-to-day care of the children while my daughter works full time. Her work allows some "work at home" time that gives flexibility to this young family. My daughter-in-law works in an office at home while my son works in an office away from home. My son shares the load pretty evenly for care of their three children, working out many details together.

Today's NY Times (click HERE) includes an interesting story about this transformation of dads. Dads don't have an easy job in today's world, it turns out. And... neither do moms.

Happy Father's Day to all those hard-working dads out there!