Quantity quality time

The best Father's Day reward is to enjoy your kids while you can | Steven J. Cole

A couple of years ago, around the time of her 16th birthday, my middle daughter said to me, "Dad, do you remember how you used to take each of us somewhere special for our birthday, just time alone with you?" I remembered, of course. Not every year, but on three or four of the kids' birthdays, I had set aside a Saturday, or sometimes a Friday night through Saturday night, where just that child and I would do something together.

She continued, "Well, do you think that for my birthday we could go down to Sedona and look through some art galleries, since you and I both like doing that? And, maybe we could take a hike, too?"

"Sure," I said, "that sounds like fun!" And just a few Saturdays later we were able to do just that.