Last Saturday, my family and I watched the movie "The Game Plan" together.
This movie is about Boston Rebel quarterback Joe Kingman, portrayed by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, meeting his daughter Payton for the first time as the Rebels prepare for the playoffs.
During the course of the movie, Kingman finds out that being a father isn't quite as easy as throwing or running for touchdowns, but at the same time learns that nothing is better than being a dad.
The last part of that statement is true for me as well. There really is nothing better than being a dad.
I am the father of three children — Bobby, Jordanna and Aaron — who are 12, 9 and 4, respectively.
Many of you who see me at games often see either Bobby or Jordanna with me. I don't get to spend much time with them because of they go to school and I am at work. So when I get the chance, I bring them with me.
As for Aaron, he spends most of the time with me because my wife also works. My schedule is a bit more flexible, so I can have my four-year-old boy come along with me. In fact, he has become somewhat of a regular with me at the office and at times, I let him help with the layout of the paper.
It's pretty cool to have my children interested in what I do for a living. I get a kick out of them wanting to do what I do.
I can honestly say, however, that I never wanted to do what my dad did for a living.
My dad owns a construction company and has since about 1978 — Tommy's Backhoe Service in Georgetown, La.
Like my children with me, I often rode along with my dad in the big trucks on his long journeys. I remember going with him to Baton Rouge and Oklahoma City, hauling equipment across the state and going to work sites as well.
As a teenager in need of spending money, my dad put me to work with the company, often riding the bush hog and or doing manual labor. It was about 12 hours per day and I found out quickly it wasn't my cup of tea.
So when my dad took over ownership of a local convenience store, I jumped at that chance. Anything to get out of the heat of summer.
I used to work the cash register quite often, but my dad also made me work outside, pumping gas or diesel and also fixing a few tires. I could handle pumping fuel. The tires, on the other hand, weren't my friends.
As I moved on to college, I still worked on the weekends with my dad at the store, needing that extra bit of spending money. College meant lots of girls, therefore, money was needed.
Although I looked at work as a way of getting money for my selfish needs, I think my dad looked at it as time with his kids. My brother, Tom, worked at the store some as well, though didn't stick with it like I did.
The more I think about it, the more I believe my dad wanted to spend as much time with his children as he could and the workplace was where he could do it.
And now, I find myself with my children at my place of work. How ironic.
A couple of weeks ago, on Father's Day, my children, wife and I went to Alexandria to the zoo to spend time together. After the trip to the zoo, we met my dad and stepmother at Chili's for lunch, much to Bobby, Jordanna and Aaron's surprise.
They were so happy to see Paw and MiMi and I was happy to see my parents as well.
Although the time was short, it was really neat to have three generations of the Green family together. It was a great Father's Day celebration.
But every day can be Father's Day. Every day can be Mother's day. Every day can be Christmas.
To do that, however, you have to slow down and take the time to make it happen.
And "The Game Plan" for me is to do that even more.
Daniel Green is the sports editor of the Leesville Daily Leader. He can be reached at 337-239-3444 or sportsleader@cebridge.net.
Leesville, La. —
