Hey Dad,

I have to tell you I'm feeling very manly right now. Not only have I beaten back most of the dreaded fruit flies, but today we caught two mice in one mousetrap. That's right two in one! Of course we got 'em with our trusty, blood-stained Ol' Killer. I've got other mousetraps, but I've tweaked the catch on Ol' Killer so that if a mouse so much as breathes on it—SNAP! I pity the mouse that stumbles upon it.

If only the rest of life were so easy.

Outside of fruit flies and mice, the Wilson household has been in turmoil the last couple of days. If you homeschool, then you know it's because school just started back up, and well, my wife is already overwhelmed.

But look, up in the sky—faster than a speeding fruit fly, stronger than a strong-willed child, able to catch two mice with one trap!—it's me, the Familyman. The truth is I have the power to make or break the atmosphere in our home.

Yesterday, I got off to a shaky start. When my wife needed me to understand, I tried—for about two minutes, and then I told her it was her job and she needed to buck up.

I know, I know, not the right thing to say. If I had been a mouse, she would have thrown me on Ol' Killer right then and there. I tried to salvage it, but the more we talked, the madder I got and the uglier it got.

But after that shaky start, I finished victoriously. It wasn't easy. I had to ask forgiveness and sit and listen (when I'd rather be getting stuff done). And then do it all again and again.

In fact it took most of the day, evening, and night … but we won. Did you read that? We won.

And we won because I flexed my Familyman muscle and made it happen. I didn't give up (although I felt like it), I didn't let my pride or schedule get in the way (as I have in the past), and I took it to the end … the painful end. But we won!

I'm telling you, that's better than vanquishing fruit flies and killing two mice with one trap.

Shaky starts don't matter; it's all about finishing. So, Dad, if your family is in turmoil or if your wife is upset with you, do whatever it takes for as long as it takes; fall and get up, but finish it. Believe me, everybody wins.

You 'da dad,

© 2008 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

[09/05/2008]

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