Featured Fathers

For Jack, being grandfather to Wyatt, 8, Madison, 4, Justin, 2, and Sean Patrick, 1, is a chance to continue his relationships with his three sons and
daughters-in-law. Jack, a farmer and retired ISU
Extension education director, farms "long-distance" with all three sons, who also have off-farm careers.

"Now that I can share the emotional work of farming, it's easier to take a breath and enjoy the grandkids. Young families need help so they can slow down some. I can give that patience and time. I have time to stop and explain things to my grandkids - like why a bullhead lives longer than a trout after you catch it, or what I know about raptors. I need to take grandchildren fishing more."

"Sometimes when I see characteristics of my own boys in my grandchildren, I think about a line in a Statler Brothers song, 'I'm more like my Daddy than myself!' My dad died when I was a baby and one of my uncles was a father to me as I grew up. My uncles were 'grandfathers' to our sons. We had a great family reunion this summer at our farm. We had a petting zoo and hayrides and lots of family companionship with seven generations."

"We try not to ever interfere with the grandchildren's parents. We check to make sure that our rules aren't under-mining theirs. But we do expect that the grandchildren follow our rules when they stay with us. We're lucky because farming with our sons involves us in activities that keep us in close contact, even though we live a ways away. It's really important to us to spend as much time as we can and to give the kids opportunities to be a part of a big extended family." Jack and wife, Patti, added a family room so there is space for everyone at their house.

"My advice to other grandfathers is just to take time. It's not meddling to let your grandkids and kids know you are there and that they are really important to you. Sometimes that means making an extra effort to help. For example, if we want to keep the children for a few days we arrange with a neighbor family to baby-sit if we have a schedule conflict."

"One of the hardest things about being a dad and a grand-dad is suffering with your children when there are challenges in their lives. Today's young families have difficult situations with careers and the workplace. I want our children and grandchildren to know that patience and good people skills will help them do the best they can. Eventually even the hard things will change and work out for the best."