Hey Kid: Letters from a Dad - Softcover

Packer, Alan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967277000 ISBN 13: 9780967277004

Publisher: Integrity House, 1999

Synopsis

"Hey Kid: Letters from a Dad" offers a glimpse into a real family dealing with tough everyday issues. Its unique love story proves that truth, respect, and compassion can be passed on to our children. This book is a collection of 50 letters that Alan Packer wrote to his daughter while she was in college. The letters will make you laugh and cry, and force you to look at the relationships in your life.

About this title

About the Author

Alan Packer grew up in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He has a B.S. in Business/Economics from Greenville College in Illinois. Alan served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam which he calls the "Great Values Clarrification Course." He has worked intensely with young people in programs that he created. Although working most of his life as a roofing contractor, Alan currently owns a retail business and lives in Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

From the Back Cover

"Powerful and inspirational without being preachy...could easily be used in class for round table discussion to provoke thought and opinion."

Amy Gamble, Teacher "This should be a college students encyclopedia to life! I love the flow - can't put it down.!"

Laura Sherrington, College Senior "In recent years we, as a nation, watched in shock and disbelief as many of our children acted in ways we can not understand. Alan's efforts to teach his "kid" what he has learned is a wonderful model for parents who desire to reach out to their children. Letter writing allows us time to process and edit the words we wish to convey. By risking this form of communication, we may start to reverse the sad events that we have become accustomed to."

Gary Gordon, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor "It is too bad that more parents don't share their lives with their children...in today's world of violence, parents need to communicate and relate. This books shows you how it can be done."

Deborah D'Ambrogi, Parole Officer "As a coach, I feel if parents spent more time with their children instilling values and love, our kids would be able to cope in this difficult world. They would be better able to achieve in sports as well as life. This book portrays a perfect example of always keeping in touch with your children."

Lisa Morris, High School Coach "What a vital and necessary piece of writing for families today! Having a daughter who is starting to college, I found my eyes filled with tears by the relationship Alan has maintained with his 'little' girl. I applaud him for sharing this touching and moving recollection."

Scott Stephen, MS, High School English Teacher

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Hey Kid, Congrats on the summer job babysitting. Since you are going to live with them, does that make you a nanny? Three children that young ought to keep you out of trouble. Since I know you want to make some kind of impact on these kids, I want to share some thoughts with you about children. I know we have touched on some of these before, and you will recognize most from the way you were treated. I just want to formalize them because of your desire to positively touch these children's lives. My approach to children of any age is that they are simply small, inexperienced people. When you see them this way you cannot treat them the way many people do. For instance, I never baby-talked you and would not let anyone else. Baby talk assumes that the child's mind does not function as an adult's, and it teaches a lesson that has to be retaught later. Even worse, however, is the lack of respect for that child as a person. I always tried to talk to you as I would any person based on their level of experience. I think this instills a sense of value in the child. They know they are important to you and that what you say to them is valuable. This can be serious or just fun, but the result is the same. They know they are not just some dumb kid. Children may be ignorant, but they are not stupid. You were just two years old when you asked me if I was angry or frustrated. When I asked if you knew the difference, you said you thought so. I told you I was frustrated, and you said, "Okay" and walked away. People are never surprised when a two-year-old says "elephant," but they are if that same child uses big "adult" words. I think a child attains her vocabulary and knowledge based on how she is spoken to and respected as an intelligent person. That little mind works as well as an adult mind - it just needs to be treated that way. Children also have a high recognition of integrity and truth within their limited world. When I was very young, I wondered how my mother found out about a broken lamp. She said a little birdy told her. I remember getting really angry because I knew she was lying to me about that bird. She would never say that to Dad, and I knew it. We have to deal with children with as much as integrity as we do adults, and maybe even more because they are so honest at that point. It is we adults that teach them to be deceitful by how we act and speak to them. If you take their emotions seriously, you will deal with their problems seriously. The result is that they will trust you. As a parent you will need this trust to help them when they hit the bigger problems in adolescense and beyond. Trust does not just develope automatically between parent and child. I know you are only going to be with these children for one summer, but it is critical that they feel these things form you.

Love, Dad

Edition details

• Publisher: Integrity House
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0967277000
• ISBN 13: 9780967277004
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112
• Editor: Packer Dawn