Why I Made Superman A Family Tradition (And An Important Message For Dads)

So What’s The Big Deal Anyway?

Today was a big deal for comic book fans everywhere as it was the start of DC Comics New 52. For those of you not in the comic book know (which I’m assuming is just about all of you 🙂 DC Comics is what you call a “big dog” when it comes to comic books.  They publish many of the big name titles like, Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Justice League of America, The Flash, and many more, and starting this month they are starting all of their 52 titles over…from the beginning….as in issue number 1.  This may not sound like a big deal to you, but it’s never been done before in the history of comic books.  Ever.

One  reason they are doing this is because comic book story lines have been going on for decades, which makes it hard for today’s teenagers to get into them.  There’s to much of a back story to catch up on.  So they are taking a gamble and rebooting their entire line up, and starting their story lines over, in hopes of attracting lots of new readers.

Here’s one of their first new readers, my son.  Baby Noah.

DC Comics, meet your newest fan.

Don’t Make A Tradition Of Having No Traditions

I’ve always been a fan of comic books and have been looking forward to the launch of the New 52 since I first heard about it.  I was especially excited to introduce Noah to one of my favorite super heroes (Superman) with issue number 1, and for all the monthly trips we would surely make to the comic book store to pick up the latest issue.!  It’d be a fun father and son tradition!

I think he's already a fan.

Sadly, my father and I didn’t have any traditions.  I have no memories of my father ever telling me a bedtime story, praying with me, or reading the Bible to me.  I’m not really sure why he never did those things, because he missed out on one of parenting’s greatest gifts; pouring into your kids.  I want to be a different kind of dad.  I want to pour into my child.  I want to have lots of fun traditions.  I want to pray over him every day.  I want to teach him something new and exciting about God every day.

I want to have the kind of relationship with my son that my dad never had with me.

I love being this little boys dad!

The great thing about starting a fun, new tradition is…it’s easy!  It’s never happened before, so essentially you could make anything you wanted into a tradition.  Since this was the fist time comic books have ever started over, I thought comic books would make for a perfect father and son tradition!  I have this idea in my mind of picking up Noah from school when he’s in the 3rd grade, and heading down to the local comic book shop to pick up the latest Superman comic so that we can go home and read it together.  On road trips we can talk about what our favorite issue was, what our favorite superman super power is, and what we think will happen in future issues.

I’m sure it will be great!

Looking forward to lots more of these trips!

It’s Not About The Comic Book

Of course it may not happen just like the image in my head. (When it comes to parenting, I don’t think anything does.)  Noah may grow up liking Batman more than Superman, or not liking comic books at all (shudder!)  That’s ok.  We’ll do something different.  We’ll start a different tradition.  I’ll find a different way to create fun experiences that we can share.

It’s not about the comic book.  It’s about the experience.

Parents, never forget that when it comes to your children, it’s always about the experience, and those experiences can often turn into traditions.  It’s never about the item, the vacation, the money, or the stuff.  It’s always about the experience.  Always.

I love spending time with this little boy.

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is a lifetime of wonderful, loving, experiences with their parents.  Depending on your child’s age it may seem that that’s not what they want…but it is.

Every. Single. Time.

The Greatest Tradition You Could Ever Start For Your Family

Your children aren’t yours. They are God’s.  He has loaned them to you, and you won’t have them forever.

Never forget that.

Make sure to keep the main thing the main thing, and daily look for ways to give your kids experiences.  Experiences are cheap, anyone can afford them. (Superman comics cost 2.99 cents a month.)  They can even be free.  You can go on a weekly walk with your child and talk to them about their week.  You could have a Friday-night-camp-out-in-the-living-room-night.  You could take your son or daughter to McDonalds for a 99 cent ice cream cone on Fridays.  Be creative.  You’re the parent. It’s up to you to do this.  I hope you will.

Comic book traditions are especially fun!

If you’re a Christian I hope that prayer is already a tradition in your house.  I hope you are daily taking your child in your arms and praying for them.  Thanking God for them. Asking God to protect them.  For their lives to reflect our great God for a lifetime.  This is perhaps the most important tradition a family could ever have.  This comes before Superman comics, walks, ice cream cones, and living room camp outs.  It’s the tradition that can have the greatest impact on the life of your family.

If prayer and Bible reading isn’t a tradition in your house, I’d urge you to make it one.  Today.  (We like to read to Noah from this awesome children’s storybook Bible.)

Special Note To Christian Dads

If you are a Christian dad, let me remind you that you are commanded to do this. I like what the Apostle Paul says to fathers in Ephesians 6:4:

“Fathers….take [your children] by the hand and lead them in the way of [God.]”

I’ve worked with teenagers for over a decade, and I can tell you that there aren’t many fathers doing this.  Fathers today are often harsh, angry, busy, mad, overworked, underpaid, and stressed.  They spend more time trying to grow their business, than growing in their relationship with God.  This is sad.  If you aren’t taking time to grow in your relationship with the Lord each day, you’re going to have a hard time leading your children in the way of God.  I assure you.  If you want to be the kind of dad that turns their children into world changers, you are going to have to cultivate your relationship with God. If you need help with this, please contact me.  I’m growing in this area just like you, but I can suggest some good books, or tools to help you in this area.

"With great power, comes great responsability." - Spiderman

Don’t Let My Story Be Your Story

I don’t recall my dad every praying or reading the Bible with me.  Ever.  I was short-changed by my dad.  He was supposed to “lead me in the way of God.”  Sadly, he didn’t.  Thankfully, the Lord put other men into my life that did what my dad should have.  And while I praise God for those men, my heart still hurts that those men weren’t my dad.  My dad passed away several years ago, and in a way we both lost.  He’ll never have another chance to do what God had called him to do, and I’ll never have one memory of my dad praying with me, or reading the Bible to me.  Ever.

Dads, I tell you this because for two reasons:

1. If you’re reading this you’re still alive! (Unless you are reading this from beyond the grave somehow.  And if that is the case, please leave a comment because the would be pretty cool!)
2. You still have time to do what you’re supposed to do.  It doesn’t matter how old your child is, or how long you haven’t done this.  Start today!   Make today the day you start praying with your children.  The day that you start reading the Bible to them.  The day that you start teaching them the way of God. Remember, you are a superhero to your son or daughter…!

Dads are super heroes to their kids!

A Final Warning To Dads

As dads we often think we have to be the tough guy all the time.  The guy who can fix anything (I’m actually ready to give up this role!).  The guy who never cries.  Blah, blah, blah. Don’t believe this garbage…!  The mostly manly man is the dad who gets on his knees with his son or daughter and prays.  Who can say he doesn’t know it all, but He knows the One who does.  A dad who holds a high regard for God, for pray, and for The Bible.

This is the sort of dad that wins with his kids!

Dads, I urge you to not let another day go by without taking time to pray for / with you child, and to teach them about God.  This may mean you have to start praying and reading the Bible yourself.  It may mean you need to start getting up a little earlier (or staying up a little later) so that you can make time for your own personal growth.  It may even require you to say “I’m sorry” to your children for not being the dad you were called to be. But it’s worth it. It’s so, so worth it.

Don’t let another dad be the dad you should have been!

What sort of traditions do you have your kids? If you don’t have one that’s ok.  What’s a tradition you’d like to start but never have; today’s a great day to start it!