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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I was going to fish this evening because a front was coming through, I have two really big fish located, and I knew the bite would be there, but when I went out to hook up the boat, my grandson was flipping a football around in the back yard, stopped, and sorta looked at me....
His grade school football is over for the year. He did pretty well.
I didn't mind staying home tonight.
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Posts: 1453
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | Good call. |
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Posts: 1057
Location: Medford, WI | Just an observation...but a very, very important one that goes unnoticed (or worse yet, uncared for) so often. As a teacher, I can't tell you the value of spending time with your kids, nephews/nieces, grandchildren, etc. Children don't typically know how to express their gratefulness for your time so many pass it off as them not caring...not the case. It's very easy to see the students who have an adult that gives them time everyday compared to those who are less fortunate and don't get much quality time with parents/guardians.
As I get older, I realize how much the time with my mom, dad and other family members really meant and means to me.
Don't overlook opportunities such as this - it means everything to kids.
-Jake
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | Good choice Steve. Kids grow up way too fast, but fish will always be there. You're a great grand dad ! |
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Posts: 132
Location: Missouri | I'm sure that time will be cherished more than any musky you may have caught that evening. |
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| Thank you for reminding all of us Muskie nuts that sometimes we need to think of others around us that we love. Karma and positive energy. |
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Posts: 2269
Location: SE, WI. | Maybe some day you will be watching him play in the BIG HOUSE!!! GO GRAMPS |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | It's amazing how much less you hate these fish as your kids grow up isn't it?
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | Great call, and one a lot of parents, grandparents, and even siblings don't make unfortunately. I am guilty of it on occasion, but strive to get better every day.
Thanks for the reminder to all of us. |
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Posts: 243
| Great jersey! |
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Kid are very understanding....but......
As a teenager my daughter was a 6' guard on her AAU basketball team. I missed only one game in 4 years, and that was because I was in the hospital.
There was one weekend tournament that I thought I would need to miss because of work. My daughter would have understood if I didn't make it, but I was able to unexpectantly get there directly from the airport. THe size of her smile was incredible.
The activities in kid's lives go by in an instant. You made the right call.
Edited by Steve Van Lieshout 10/9/2012 7:36 AM
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Posts: 908
Location: South-Central PA | Thanks for sharing Steve. Too often we have our priorities wrong, glad to see that you don't!
jeremy |
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Posts: 706
Location: Richland Center, WI. | Great call. Kids need that attention. He will remember tossing the ball with Grampa just like you will. Would maybe like to see a Badgers jersey though!
Ken |
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Posts: 94
| Wise choice Steve. Thanks so much for sharing your story. My oldest grandson has his first pee-wee football game this week!
I still look back fondly on the kids' HS sports days. It now seems like my son's sport's participation gave him the conditioning he "needed" to throw muskie baits which are now too big for me! I also think basketball improved his skills as a good muskie netman!
Kevin, MUSKIE Editor |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | Great post. Lucky for me my kids (son mostly) love to fish and hunt so that is what we usually do for our quality time. We are alternating after work/school this week musky fishing and bowhunting for him.
In the weekend reports thread my son is holding a musky we caught Sunday night and my 5 year old daughter was along for the trip. She went bonkers when the fish was on and in the net......yeah she got cold but warmed up quick seeing the action.
Tried having her reel the fish in but with the cold water even low 40" fish fight pretty good.....my 11 year old son was struggling a little with it.
All good times.
Edited by Hodag Hunter 10/9/2012 8:21 AM
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Posts: 1080
| Pretty cool to see how kids will not only change your priorities in life, but also your directions in life and your decisions in life. Me, now having two kids of my own, is the two reasons why I've spent far less time on the water in the past seven years. And now that they're growing up (far too quick might I add), as they get older and become more involved in sports, activities and with friends, I'll be spending that much less time on the water. I figure, I'll get back to the water and the fishing in....oooohhh...say...11 - 12 years when they're out of the house and off to college. That is...if they don't take an interest to fishing themselves that we could possibly spend time out on the water together. Every chance I get to expose them to the idea of fishing, I do take that opportunity. They do love fishing, for panfish. But still..at the ages of 7 and 5...their attention span is still pretty short. The few times I've had the wife and both kids out in the boat, as a family outing, to try muskie fishing, their attention span falls far too short for the hobby of muskie fishing at this point in their lives. I won't push the hobby of fishing on them, but if they naturally take to it, that will be awesome and make my day. All I can do is introduce them to it, let them try it, teach them things and let them figure out their own natural course of what their true, genuine interests are to become. Can't push it on them.
And right now, I know my time is better spent with them and following and supporting them with their interests. I can't believe that one is 7 and the other is 5 already! Time is already flying by and it's only going to start flying by just that much faster. I'll blink, and they'll be out of the house and my wife and I will be empty nesters. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Good call Steve, and one he'll likely make when he gets older. It's tough to see a lack of parenting (and grandparenting) these days, as it does get passed on to the next generation. I know I'm not perfect, but like others have mentioned, it's amazing to see how much childeren change you. Luckily, my kids both like fishing, and like "musky trolling" so I'm getting an opportunity to get them on the water and have some good Dad time with them.
When fishing the Pewaukee WMT this year, my 6 year old had her first ballet recital in the afternoon. Never thought I'd leave a tournament early, but that was an easy choice. Seeing that cutie holding a pile of roses was more then worth leaving early.
Keep up the good work grandpa!
Edited by tuffy1 10/9/2012 8:44 AM
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Posts: 880
Location: New Berlin,Wisconsin,53151 | Good looking kid and loves football. I also tried never to miss a game that the kids played from the time they were active in sports. The rewards are great watching them compete. Unfourtunately my Dad was to busy to make my games and I wasn't going to hear the kids say that about me. Keep fishing but don't let it interfere with raising the family.
Bruce |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | tell Keith his son looks like a wrestler!! i'll make sure and send our recruiting director (Steinmetz) to the house before the season starts!!
i love spending time with my kids and thank God they like to be with the old man. better yet is that their friends do too, it's the Holy Grail ... The Meaning of Life! |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | Just let me know where those two fish are Steve  We've all heard the song Cat's in the Cradle...it will pay you back tenfold. |
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| very cool, you are a godly man... |
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Posts: 136
Location: Dane Country | i always worked when my boys were growing up. I now have a 9 month old daughter. nothing comes before her. |
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| Well said everyone, with a 5 year old girl and a 3 year old son and a wife its hard to even get out after work on the weekdays. And yes life does fly by after having kids and its good to slow down with everything and enjoy the time with them because you will never get that time back. You can always try to get out the next night or day to go fishing. Josh |
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| Yep...eventually all 'hard-core' fisherman grow a little older, and our value systems change a bit---usually for the better. They'll always be another fish to catch. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | Those fish will be there tomorrow! |
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Posts: 4266
| You know where I stand on this subject Ol' Man.
Good Grandpa! |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Must be cool to be the kid that can say, "My Grandpa is sworrall. Yep, that's right, sworrall."
Haha. Good for you gramps.
Kevin |
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Posts: 66
| I'd say you spent some quality time with a "Keeper".
dave |
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