Dad lessons

I became a step-father to teenagers when I was 30 years old.  Well, technically, Spencer was only 11 but Andrew was 15 so the median age was teenagers.

It has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

Because Beth and I had worked together at our Muskoka summer camp for so long, I had known the boys (or, as it relates to step-fathers… they had known me) for 10 years. We had had lots of shared experiences and had done many cool things together.

When we got married, Beth and I lived at camp and the boys lived with their dad in Waterloo.  This meant lots of trips down to watch hockey games, see horseback riding competitions, school plays, etc.   It was hard for both of us not living closer to them but it did mean that we got to offer them some great life experiences living in the country.   They would spend all of their summers, a big chunk of Christmas and March Breaks with us.

I was a rural kid. I grew up on a farm of a few hundred acres and we had a great bush that we could play in – sometimes for days.  I have always felt that I had an amazing childhood and I wanted a chance to share that with Andrew & Spencer.

I wanted to ensure that they got to experience some of the cool things that I had seen and done as a child.

We made sure that they learned to:

1. drive a snowmobile
2. operate a standard car
3. walk in the woods at night with no flashlight
4. skate on a frozen lake
5. be a great archer
6. appreciate the environment and the world around them
7. know how to use hand and power tools safely
8. take care of themselves and others (they’re both excellent summer camp staff members… and it’s not just me who says so!)

Thanks, boys, for making being a step-dad such a great experience for me.

Love,

Travis

(or T-daddy as Spencer has been calling me the past few years)

What childhood experiences have you passed on to your kids? Leave us your answer in the comments.

[If you are looking for a safe place for your child to experience things that they can't do at home: kayaking, archery, ziplines, music & drama and canoe tripping then you should check out our listing of excellent summer camps at Camps.ca]

Related posts:

1. A thanks to teachers who inspire
2. Lessons in Love
3. Series: 5 Questions… to Ask a Camp Director
4. Questions About Children's Classical Piano Lessons?
5. On Mother’s Day…