Father to Son: 5-Minute Manly Tales to Teach, Inspire and Connect

By Harland Pond

Father to Son: 5 Minute Tales to Teach, Inspire and Connect was born out of a desire to tell good, manly storeis to my son during night-time feedings. The goal is to make stories accessible to fathers and leaders, to share with their sons during bonding or teaching moments, such as on fishing trips, while camping, or in the car.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jul 30, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312352148

Book preview

Father to Son: 5-Minute Manly Tales to Teach, Inspire and Connect

Father to Son: 5-Minute Manly Tales to Teach, Inspire and Connect

Harland R Pond

One cannot always be a hero, but one can always be a man.

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Father to Son:

5-Minute Manly Tales to Teach Inspire and Connect

Copyright © 2014 Harland R Pond

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-312-35214-8

Dedication

To my wife, who inspires and indulges my ideas;

To my children, Grace, Abby and James, the fires who fuel me to be better

To the heroes in my life, who've taught me to be a man:

Reed, Dick, Lynn, Warick, Mike, Courtney, Dave, Allen, Borislaw and Michael

To my father, a solid example, for the chats on a split rail fence

And to Teddy...for the vigorous life

Introduction

Shortly after the birth of my son, James Theodore, I found myself sitting in the nursing chair of his room during the dark hours of the night. Dutifully taking my turn, bottle in hand, I would attend to this small creature, the unexpected boy. He would suck contentedly on his midnight snack as I pondered his hands, face and blue eyes. And I found myself irresistibly compelled to begin telling him stories.

Not the fantastical tales I read as a boy, and he would come to love, but tales of heroes. Manly epics of real role models and trailblazers that could teach him some of the qualities I desired in my son. Things like industry, honesty, curiosity and courage. Qualities that are timelessly priceless, and at times frighteningly rare.

I began with stories close to our bloodline. My grandfather in the jungle hills of Cebu during World War 2; a long line of pioneers, from across the Atlantic, across the plains with all the pain and toil that accompanies pilgrims; even a tale or two from my own life. It did not take long to reach out for other examples, first to his namesake, one of my own heroes, Theodore Roosevelt.

But as bottles were drained, I found myself struggling to find the next good story. Oh I knew about the person or tidbits of the tale, but did not know the details, the truth and the thread that enthralls. Many of my fond childhood memories with my father and grandfathers occurred in those stolen moments when, alone, we could share a story. I wanted to be prepared for a lifetime of such moments with James. Not just to connect, but to teach and inspire a noble man.

Thus this book emerged from these nighttime feedings. My desire is to pull together a series of intriguing stories and fascinating men. A selection of 5 minute tales a man could tell his son during stolen moments. Sitting on a split rail fence, traveling in the car, fishing in a boat or staring deeply into a campfire.

I have desired to pull together a variety of examples, from a selection of times, races and experiences. This book will essentially still be centric to my experience, culture and values, but I hope the lessons transcend these limitations.

Each man is ultimately flawed in some way. We are not perfect, and neither are the men of these tales. In some cases the nobleness of their story comes because of these weaknesses. I hope that their stories will still inspire in spite of their vanity, addictions, narrow-mindedness or whatever other character trait.

The stories are also selected based on specific manly virtues they convey. In an effort to settle on a common list of characteristics, I have borrowed the list of virtues from Brett and Kate McKay in The Art of Mannliness Manvotionals: Timeless Advice and Wisdom on Living the 7 Manly Virtues. This great collection of speeches, essays and poems inspires reflection and action on 7 virtues:

manliness

courage

industry

resolution

self-reliance

discipline

honor

As you read, I hope you will be inspired to share your version of the story to your son. Nothing is better than hearing such thoughts in the language of your father. Don't worry about details or perhaps an embellishment or two. A little fiction never hurts! What is important is that we share the meaning, the moral and the moment.

Good reading and cherished moments from father to son.

Harland R Pond

A note on the book format:

The book contains a collection of ten stories. Each one is identified, given a general category such as a leader or explorer. I have then assigned two virtues their story represents. These are by no means exhaustive.

At the end of each section you will find two resources that hopefully are of value. The first section is Essentials, the fundamental basics of each tale. These are things to remember when you tell the story on your outing. You can use them to refresh yourself prior to the campout. Or tear the, out and bring them