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Things Butch’s Dad Said to His Kids
There are certain things that fathers tell their kids over and over again, not only for good advice, but also to keep them on the straight and narrow. As I have said before, I had a great Dad, and he used some tried and true sayings at times when the situation warranted it, such as….
1. “God didn’t give you a brain just to keep your ears apart.”
2. “Maybe you should’ve thought of that ahead of time.”
3. “Your mother and I didn’t raise you to be stupid.”
4. “You’re not leaving the table until you eat everything on your plate. People in Africa are starving.”
5. “You should be glad you can work. Work never hurt anyone.”
6. “Wipe that smile off your face or I’m gonna wipe it off for you.”
7. “Sorry, son…I am not made out of money.”
8. ” Because I said so. “I’m your father. I don’t need a reason.”
9. “Do you want me to stop this car and pull over?”
10. “I’m not so sure about you. Sometimes I think your real father is the Fuller Brush man.” (Yes, Dad was kidding!)
Of course, Dad had a few other sayings which shaped my personality….
1. “Always try your best, but remember that sports are for fun.”
2. “Respect your teachers. They care about your future.”
3. “Wanting something and needing something are two different things.”
4. “Watch out who you hang around with.”
5. “Money is nice, but it’s more important to find a job you love.”
6. “You might try using your brain before opening your mouth.”
7. “If it was easy, everyone would do it.”
8. “Don’t do something that you will regret later on.”
9. “You can be anything you want to be.”
10. “Don’t do any thinking below your belt.”
…And of course this classic, “Ask your mother.”
I imagine many of you listened to the same sayings and advice when you were a youngster. And I would bet anything you have used those on your kids!
John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 36 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.