Excerpts from Manhood from the Hood

One of Manhood From The Hood’s most enthusiastic fans is Coach Denny Welter!

Here are more of his favorite excerpts from Manhood from the Hood:

16.) Never hate anyone.

17.) The value of being gainfully employed.

18.) Unconditionally help a family member or relative.  (Mother Teresa attitude)

19.) Parent’s values were lived by their kids – prizing education, reading, independence and self-reliance.

20.) Grandmothers love you every moment.

 

Keep checking in every Monday to read Coach Welter’s Favorite Quotes from Manhood From The Hood!

The Importance of Personal Values

In my opinion the world would be a better place if people had better “values.” According to the Ethics Resource Center (2009), the short definition for values is core beliefs that guide and motivate attitudes and actions.

Values are usually established early in life but over time an individuals values may change. Values help provide you with a strong foundation and give you guidance throughout your life. Values help you gain clarity about what you stand for. We express values in our relations with other people when we are honest, loyal, trusting, trustworthy, reliable, and feel a sense of responsibility for our family and friends.

A few personal values that I carry are: family, self-reliance, discipline, integrity, person growth, friendship, and much more. My values help me stay motivated and they give me guidance. Values are usually established in the home but it is up to the individual to keep those values. My son more than likely do not know this right now but I instill my values into him on a day to day basis. I am sure he will thank me later. By being a business owner I have also realized that my personal values are in alignment with my business values which is very important.

It should not be difficult to make decisions in life if you know what you value!

Cortez Wilson

My Son and T-Ball

It is t-ball season and my 6-year-old son is playing. We have played catch in the yard  and hit a few balls at the park but I had no idea how things would go. The first two practices went well but I was a little nervous about the first game which came after the second practice. When it comes to sports I can be a little competitive being that I played sports coming up. I had to calm myself down a few times while Cordell was out in the field playing around and not paying attention. It is okay to want your kids to succeed in sports but you have to realize that they are also out there to have fun and socialize with their friends, especially at age 6.

The first game went surprisingly well, Cordell hit two line drives into the grass, and seemed to have had a lot of fun. The second game I spotted him in center-field, squatting down, and playing in the sand. I looked around a little more a noticed that three or four more kids were doing the same. I just shook my head and reminded myself that he is here to have fun.

It is important to not put pressure on your kids when it comes to sports because that may cause them not to like the sport. Just remind yourself like I do, they are there to have fun and to socialize with their friends. The coaches are there for a reason, to coach, so if your kid isn’t doing something right, it is their job to correct them. I am looking forward to the next game!

 

Cortez Wilson

Parenting

Being a parent to my child is very important. My mother was a single mom. She did the best she could as a young parent to me and my two siblings, but the important things did not take place in our household. I love my mother and I appreciate the things that she did for my siblings and me and I believe it was my experiences within my household that have made me a great father.

I took my six-year-old son Cordell out to dinner Saturday night. Before we were done with dinner, a total stranger approached our table. “My friend and I are educators and we want to say that we appreciate that you are spending time alone with your son–it is very important.” I responded with “thank you” and it felt good to have someone recognize my son and I spending time together. It is not important for me to get “props” for being a father because it should be something that is expected. Sadly there are many kids today that do not have their father’s in their lives. I was one of those kids.

A child that doesn’t receive the proper parenting may not have the best life and as a parent you want your child to have the best life. There is not one perfect way to parent a child; it all depends on the child.

My son is only 6, so I have a long way to go, and I am still learning how to be a better parent every day. I believe the foundation of parenting starts when a child is born and it never ends even when they become adults. I created a structure for my son that has been the same for years and it seems to be very affective. We eat our meals together, we talk about how our days were, we do planned activities weekly, and I read to him. We also do a lot of educational activities together.

I cannot express how I’ve learned how important it is to show my child that I love and care for him. If I remember correctly, parenting is defined as the care, love, and guidance. Children have their slip-ups, which require some type of discipline. I chose early not to discipline my son physically; I chose the method of taking what he likes the most away from him, and explaining to him why it is not okay to do whatever he did. Like I mentioned earlier, you cannot parent every child the same way, my method of disciplining my son happens to work for us. I can give my son that look that he is familiar with and he gets back in line.

I can go on and on about parenting and the importance of it. I recommend that you find your best, most effective way of teaching your kids and master it.

~Cortez