I'm sure honored that you're doing this for me because I have a lot to tell you! I love you guys and I'm so proud of ALL of you. All my love,
Grandpa
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Dear Bethany (the baby in this picture) and all of you kids and grandkiddos out there,
I'm sure honored that you're doing this for me because I have a lot to tell you! I love you guys and I'm so proud of ALL of you. 
Dear Family,
I love that my kids have a book about 'Grandpa Clawson.' They know his face (the silly ones and otherwise), and can remember basic things about his life. But now some of the grand kids are at the age when they are ready for something more.
A few months ago Spencer (9) was having a really hard time in school with some kids. They were close friends to him, but they were saying all kinds of inappropriate things- jokes, swear words, sexual references, etc. Every day Spencer was coming home disturbed by the things he was hearing. He brought it up every day! It was hard for him because they were his closest friends in his class. After several weeks of trying to work through it with him, I was feeling frustrated myself. I had given him my opinion 100x, but it wasn't sinking in with Spencer.
Suddenly one night I remembered Dad's story about being offered a cigarette. Do you remember that story? Every day the same kid offered Dad a cigarette, and every day Dad said 'no.' Finally Dad was getting tired of having to say no, so one day when the kid offered him a cigarette... he said YES! The other kid was so surprised. He handed it to Dad in shock. Dad took the cigarette, tossed it on the ground, and smashed it with his foot. He was never offered another cigarette from that kid again. In fact, the kid would tell other people not to waste their cigarettes on Dad- that 'Lar Boy' didn't smoke. :)
Spencer was inspired by that story. He lit up when I told it to him, and even though he's heard it before, this time it was just what he needed to hear. He knows that Dad was good at standing up for what he believed in, and it gave him a tangible example of how to do something hard. (We were able to resolve the situation just fine- it took both Spence and I speaking up, but it worked out positively and I am proud of us both).
One time at dinner when Grant (6) refused to eat (he is my pickiest eater), I told him how Grandpa Clawson once went without sweets for a whole year AND he ate an onion! (That was my nice way of saying 'toughen up and eat your dinner kid!) He has mentioned both of these to me at various times since- a few times he's told me he wants to go off sweets for a year 'like your dad did.' I highly doubt he'll actually do that, but he is obviously thinking (even at 6 yrs old) about how you can develop self control- 'cause Grandpa Clawson did. And I love that!
Bottom line? Dad can still be a part of our kids' lives. They can learn from his stories about mistakes, successes, strengths, weaknesses, and can laugh at the things Dad would make them laugh about.
SO... who has a story they would like to see put in 'Dad Book 2?"
The purpose of this book is for our kids to read it and to feel a sense for what Dad would be telling/teaching THEM as they enter more difficult teenage years of life. He would want to inspire, uplift, maybe admit a few weaknesses, MAKE THEM LAUGH, and challenge them to do their best.
I've started a blog to get our ideas flowing for the book. Here is the link:
www.larrydeanclawson.blogspot.com
You will be receiving an invitation shortly that allows you to post your own stories, ideas, pictures and comments. OR you can email or call me or Tearsa with your ideas: bethanycory@gmail.com or tearsajoy@gmail.com.
Can each of you commit to posting at least 1 thing this week ... anything that comes to mind for this book ...? Tearsa and I have a goal to get it finished in time for the family reunion in July. So between now and dad's birthday let's think and write up a storm! The "Dad Binder" PDF is on myfamily.com in the "File Cabinet" to reference if you like.
-Looking for a list of your top 10 stories ...
-Or write up a new (true!) story ...
-Or re-write a story geared towards 8-14 year olds
-Or tell a story associated with a picture
-Or share how something dad did or taught you has helped you
-etc.
Deadline: June 15th!!!!
Thanks everybody for your help,
Love,
Bethany
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