Learned from the best

There are a few things I'm trying to focus on today, as I'm having a sad day and am missing my dad more than usual. He taught me a lot about being a good parent, even if I didn't recognize most of the "lessons" at the time. Here are some of those little and big things I hope to do for Ellie and any other children I have:

• Ride in the sled with her. It makes the ride down the hill so much faster!
• Stay up late rubbing her back if she's in pain from breaking her wrist — or any other body part (though hopefully that won't happen). I remember thinking my dad stayed up all night with me, but I think I fell asleep eventually and he probably went to bed.
• Insist on attendance at the father/daughter (or mother/son) dances and get excited about them... even if it's not "cool" at the time.
• Teach the value of a dollar. I suppose this is the nice way of remembering how cheap my dad was, but what else was he supposed to do with five kids? I'm still a huge bargain-hunter, and I learned all the tricks from both of my parents.
• At the same time, make sure she knows that we'll figure out a way to pay for college no matter where she wants to go or what she wants to study. Of course, I'll remind her what a great deal the state schools are. Go Illini!
• Make a big deal out of her birthdays, maybe even remind Brian to pick up a cheap bouquet of carnations as a surprise. Those carnations will seem like a dozen, long-stemmed roses to an eight-year-old.
• Always make her feel special, even if she's just "one of the pack" of kids. Yes, there are days when I'm still crazy enough to think it would be fun to have lots of kids.
• Forgive her when she messes up.
• And make sure she knows — always — how much I love her.

R.I.P.
James Carl Schneider
Jan. 26, 1947-Feb. 11, 2000
Beloved husband, father and grandfather