Will my New Year's Choice Make Me a More Involved Parent?

Every year we seem to make extreme resolutions that are way beyond our control. To cut fat from our diet and to exercise more. On December 29, 2010 I made a resolution that will forever impact my role as an involved parent. I had gastric bypass surgery. Yes, this is taking New Year's Resolutions to the extreme but in my case, extreme is how it needed to happen. Many people have said to me why?; you don't look THAT big; do you really want to go through all that pain?

The answer is yes. I have been involved in every aspect of my children's lives up to a point. I will chair any PTA Committee, I will chair or assist with any school event, I will be Room Dad, and most recently Cookie Dad for my youngest daughter's Girl Scout Troop. I will chaperone church camp summer trips. I will fill in wherever needed. However, there comes a point where I can't do everything. I will go to amusement parks but will only ride the rides that I know I can fit in. Does my teenager understand when I have her ride "Griffon" by herself saying, "I don't feel well right now"? No, she only knows she has to stand in a long line by herself. Even the rides with the 'chubby' seats were getting too small. Vain? Probably. But to me this was one area that I couldn't share with my girls. Taking walks in the summer or at camp only seemed to make me sound more like Darth Vadar and look like I'd taken a shower fully clothed. Even riding a bicycle was difficult. Imagine going into your local store looking for lawn chairs that go PAST a certain weight limit? I did all I could to allow only face shots of pictures with me and my girls. I didn't want to be the 'fat' daddy in the pictures that are passed around. I want to ensure that I will be around to see my girls get married and eventually meet my grandchildren whom I can't wait to spoil.

So, will this choice make me a more involved parent? I can't say. Each day brings new challenges and while I will continue to be an involved parent in school and at home, this lifestyle will hopefully help me to be a more positive influence outside the home as the days, weeks, months and years go by. I can say that I will definitely cut fat from my diet AND exercise more. Be careful if you see a bicycle race past you on the road. It may just be me whizzing by.

How have you become a more involved parent this past year? Email me at parenting@vapta.org.

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Thanks and Regards,
Scott Rhyne
Parental Involvement, Virginia PTA
(757) 377-0091
www.vapta.org