Happy Father's Day from the 'Raising CEO Kids' Dad

Guest blog by Jerry Cook:

Growing up on a farm during my childhood years, I learned a lot of great “life lessons.”  Work hard.  Pay attention.  We depend on you.  I learned early that my work mattered.

This Father’s Day, if there is one message I’d like to share with fathers, it is this: You matter.  Sometimes that message may be hard to believe, but it’s certainly true.  You are working hard, and doing what you can to help your children be happy.  You are teaching them the values that are most important to you.

Over the last few decades, there has been a progression by the media to make fun of dads, or even to view them as unnecessary.  This is ironic, and unfortunate, because scientific studies continue to show that you are vital to your child’s well-being.  Children who grow up in a home where the father is involved are statistically less likely to live in poverty and participate in drug and alcohol use, while they are more likely to develop appropriate emotional regulation and perform better in school.

Over the last couple years, Sarah (founder of Raising CEO Kids) and I have found that youth entrepreneurship is an incredible tool for fathers and mothers who want to help their children succeed.  Whether your child’s business is a current or future reality, the characteristics of youth entrepreneurs are values that all fathers want for their children.

• They love learning.
• They are not afraid to fail.
• They believe in themselves.

After analyzing hundreds of interviews that Sarah conducted, I believe the main reason these youth have these incredible attributes is that fathers and mothers support their child’s dreams.  They’re not afraid of their children failing, and believe they will learn from those mistakes.  They believe that learning is a gift that extends far beyond the school system.  And they are clear that their child is of great value, and they know that helping their child fulfill their entrepreneurial dreams not only strengthens their child, but it also strengthens the parent-child bond.

Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers, and we applaud you for your incredible efforts and accomplishments.  We invite you to join us at Raising CEO Kids (www.raisingceokids.com) to celebrate the role of parents and to learn more about how they help their children accomplish their dreams.

About DrJC:  Dr. Jerry Cook is a husband, father, educator, and co-author of "The Parents Guide to Raising CEO Kids". When not working on campus, you can find him enjoying his family, gardening, kayaking, cooking, reading, or watching a good movie. He loves indulging his wife in dark chocolate with chili peppers and an occasional chick flick (both of which make her happy)! Dr. Cook is passionate about strong marriages and strong families and his new book, "Growing Your Marriage By Leaps and Boundaries" will debut in 2012.