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Building Character

... in my Child.

I really don't want him to be a character ... I want to help him develop "strength of character."

 I have always enjoyed the challenges in my life, or more correctly I enjoy solving the issues that arise.  I love solving complex problems in situations that call forth my personal strengths ... ingenuity, imagination, teamwork, experienced judgment, persistence, and will power.  Every day at work, I solve problems through the exercise of these strengths.  I know that the greatest challenge I face will be raising my child well.

 Knowing this, I realize that there is no clear cut path that I can take when faced with the challenge of being a good father to Patrick as he grow and develops ... and no single correct path I need to take to "solve this problem."

 I need to remember, as Patrick grows up, to encourage him rather than being just a critic in his life.  I know that it is tempting at times to focus on the mistakes of others, while ignoring the successes that individual has achieved.  By encouraging, I hope to make the whole family situation better and develop a stronger relationship with my son.

Using the inter-personal communication skills I spent so many years developing and actually listening to him, to what he is saying, will show him how much I truly value having him in my life.  I don't want to miss any chance to be close to him by pushing my concerns and not listening to his.

I also need to remember fostering an environment of cooperation, as well as a healthy spirit of competition, in him.  He needs to be able to enjoy the activities he is involved with, sharing his activities, as well as being competitive without taking it too far.

Following God and my wife, Patrick is one of the greatest priorities in life.  I want to be able to show him how much I love him by being there as he develops and grows into the man I know he can be.  And, hopefully, he will develop as strong a love of God, Family, and Country as I have developed over the years.
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Location: Columbus, OH, USA

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