Mormon Doctrine According to Dad

[doctorcoug]

I'm sensing some unresolved anger issues towards your father. You have mentioned his lack of financial resources multiple times yet I can't recall a single positive thing you have ever posted about him.

Thinking thinking thinking...oh, I got it. He taught me how not to act when you don't get what you want. When he threatened to sue, it never worked. So, when the mechanic broke my window last week, I just paid for the new window (I heard dad saying, "I'll see you in court"). That was very good of him.

[Art Vandelay]

Thinking thinking thinking...oh, I got it. He taught me how not to act when you don't get what you want. When he threatened to sue, it never worked. So, when the mechanic broke my window last week, I just paid for the new window (I heard dad saying, "I'll see you in court"). That was very good of him.

I'm curious where you and your sibling(s) get your self-motivation from. I think anyone who has ears to hear, knows Viking is at least "well off", you seem to be well on your way to following in his path. I seem to recall your older bro (rightfully so) bragging that you ran track or cross country at the Y. Yours and viking's description of padre makes him seem a little eccentric. Mom either has, or really likes money.

I'm not a psychologist, but I loved the original Bob Newhart show, especially the neurotic patient Elliott. I digress. From what little you've described I would expect rebellious slackers as children not motivated professionals. Where do you feel that comes from?

[doctorcoug]

I'm curious where you and your sibling(s) get your self-motivation from. I think anyone who has ears to hear, knows Viking is at least "well off", you seem to be well on your way to following in his path. I seem to recall your older bro (rightfully so) bragging that you ran track or cross country at the Y. Yours and viking's description of padre makes him seem a little eccentric. Mom either has, or really likes money.

I'm not a psychologist, but I loved the original Bob Newhart show, especially the neurotic patient Elliott. I digress. From what little you've described I would expect rebellious slackers as children not motivated professionals. Where do you feel that comes from?

Cue Star Wars, "It's a trap!"

First, we are offspring of a person who has a terminal degree. Our mother is the daughter of a surgeon. Many cousins are doctors. Uncles are attorneys, our grandpa was pretty famous in his days at BYU. That is ample example of how to be successful, regardless of how our dad kept his books and ran the house.

My drive to succeed comes from an absolute fear of being destitute, maybe brought on by a father that made me feel like we were a step away from losing everything.

Oh, and I ran XC at BYU for one season. I red shirted and never finished higher than seventh on our team during the races. I was not very competitive collegiately. I quit running to focus on school. So, that is not a good example of dedication or drive.

My brother, I've always looked up to him. He is a shark.

[Art Vandelay]

Cue Star Wars, "It's a trap!"

First, we are offspring of a person who has a terminal degree. Our mother is the daughter of a surgeon. Many cousins are doctors. Uncles are attorneys, our grandpa was pretty famous in his days at BYU. That is ample example of how to be successful, regardless of how our dad kept his books and ran the house.

My drive to succeed comes from an absolute fear of being destitute, maybe brought on by a father that made me feel like we were a step away from losing everything.

Oh, and I ran XC at BYU for one season. I red shirted and never finished higher than seventh on our team during the races. I was not very competitive collegiately. I quit running to focus on school. So, that is not a good example of dedication or drive.

My brother, I've always looked up to him. He is a shark.

thanks for sharing this.

[TripletDaddy]

I think it has been fairly apparent why you both are so driven, and also both so seemingly obsessed with money.

DU Ute was correct, this thread was a big piece to the puzzle.

I assume your resentment runs incredibly deep because you both trash your dad here to strangers that don't know him, but in so doing I assume you find some catharsis in it.

Seems unhealthy to me,. Your childhood fears of being destitute have lead both of you to what appears to be a warped view of wealth, status, and prosperity and unfortunately, you may likely always be unhappy with the money you have, thinking that it is never enough.

Anyway, go cougars! Beat the Rebels!

[clackamascoug]

My Dad is a never-ending fountain of his own Mormon doctrine.

The top five:

1. The general authorities teach in the temple that those who wear garments with shorts will not attain celestial glory
2. To not wear sunday attire all day on sunday is to break the sabbath (note the sabbath has nothing to do with sunday; it's saturday but whatever)
3. Only Disney movies or anything involving musical theatre elements made before 1975 are eligible for sunday viewing.
4. When on a plane and the flight seems to be at risk, raise your right arm to the square and take command of the elements using the power of the priesthood.
5. God visited Joseph Smith via wormholes.

Your Dad sounds like he may have a brain injury that kept him from his full potential. Realizing his inability to focus and succeed might have been a heavy burden on him, and with his limited skills, he acted less fantastic than you would have preferred.

All of us have our own problems in one way or another.

[Art Vandelay]

All of us have our own problems in one way or another.

As my children grow older, one of my great sources of guilt and foreboding is the realization that I'm not nearly the dad I thought I would be. I sincerely hope, and literally pray, my children will be understanding and forgiving over time.

[myboynoah]

As my children grow older, one of my great sources of guilt and foreboding is the realization that I'm not nearly the dad I thought I would be. I sincerely hope, and literally pray, my children will be understanding and forgiving over time.

I don't wait for "over time." I ask forgiveness now when I mess up. My kids are pretty good about giving it.

[RC Vikings]

1. The general authorities teach in the temple that those who wear garments with shorts will not attain celestial glory

They don't like the g's sticking out from the bottom look also. I think the jockeys with shorts exemption will be coming out this April at conference.

[Art Vandelay]

I don't wait for "over time." I ask forgiveness now when I mess up. My kids are pretty good about giving it.

Great advice from an experienced, and by all accounts great, parent. Thanks mbn.

[NorthShoreCoug]

As my children grow older, one of my great sources of guilt and foreboding is the realization that I'm not nearly the dad I thought I would be. I sincerely hope, and literally pray, my children will be understanding and forgiving over time.

When my father was given two weeks to live, my family and I drove to Utah to say our goodbyes. In one of the discussions we had over those final days, my father asked me to forgive him, that he felt he had been very inadequate as a father. I told him I thought he'd been a great dad, and one of my hopes was to be as good of a father as he had been.

As the years have gone by, I've become more aware of my shortcomings as a father, and I believe I have a better understanding of why my father asked for forgiveness.

[Sullyute]

"Mormon Doctrine According to Dad" could be a great idea for a Twitter account that could eventually become a book -- kind of like the Sh** My Dad Says thing.

This thread has great potential. We need to get Clackamas' and Grapevine's kids on here, they have to have a treasure trove of material.

[Art Vandelay]

This thread has great potential. We need to get Clackamas' and Grapevine's kids on here, they have to have a treasure trove of material.

GV has kids?

[clackamascoug]

This thread has great potential. We need to get Clackamas' and Grapevine's kids on here, they have to have a treasure trove of material.

As the bright hot spotlight descends from the upper reaches, it focus' it's light on the truth trying to hide in the corner. As Donald Fagan writes, "That shape is my shame, there, where I used to stand."

PS... I have some good kids... and I think it missed a generation.

[Jeff Lebowski]

As the bright hot spotlight descends from the upper reaches, it focus' it's light on the truth trying to hide in the corner. As Donald Fagan writes, "That shape is my shame, there, where I used to stand."

PS... I have some good kids... and I think it missed a generation.

Deacon Blues reference. I am impressed.