Home School Heartbeat Radio Program

Mike Smith:
Derek, dads who work outside the home all day or who travel frequently have much less time to spend with their children. But it is possible to proactively plan and work ahead for the times that we, as dads, are going to have to be gone. Would you explain the concept of having a presence in your absence?

Derek Carter:
Sure, Mike. You know, the whole idea of having a presence in your absence really came to me one day when I was in the gym on the treadmill, and it made me realize that as runners, or when you’re doing something aerobic, if you don’t really hydrate your body before, and drink a lot of water before, you’re really going to burn yourself out, then not really be able to complete it.

And I think the same thing with being a father. If we don’t spend time with our family and really hydrate them with our presence when we are there, when we are gone it really depletes them of our presence. So I really encourage dads to make that effort, when you’re at home with your family, to be proactive, to be interacting.

When we’re doing that, I think those times we’re away from our families are not quite as bad because we left them with a lot of our time, lot of our memories, and a lot of good things to hold them 'till we get back.

Mike:
Well Derek, that's a powerful approach to being a dad! Thank you for encouraging our listeners with this idea! Until next time, I’m Mike Smith.