In recent weeks I've had many readers e-mail me about how their own lives have been touched by my words.  I'm humbled.  Truly.  But I will say this.  If I wasn't doing so well after divorce, everything I had to share would mean crap.  I had to be blunt.

Let me share how life is good. In fact how my life is great. 

Last year I managed my son's little league team.  This year I returned to the managers role.  I manage the same team too, in name that is.  We lost our first game of the season.   Last year we lost our first game too.  In fact we lost our second.  But we ended the season with a winning record.  We not only finished with a winning record, we finished in second place.  We made the play-offs too. 

This year after losing our first game we have now won seven in a row.  We are now 7-1 in first place.

http://www.eteamz.com/canallittleleague/standings/index.cfm?season=489376&division=3596614

Now for my second son.. my youngest.  He too plays in the league.  I assistant coach on his team.  And I've found for him ...just getting started in organized ball I found that his love for the game is greater than I knew.  The first game of his season... he put his uniform on at breakfast and wore it the next three days.  I'm not kidding.  And yes, I washed it.

We are a small family and in life, I've learned it throws you curve balls.  You just have to learn how to hit em.  I said that today by accident in front of sales woman and she stopped me and said... "Wow... that is so true."   While baseball is not my life, I've learned a lot of life's lessons are played out on that baseball field.

And for you folks looking for just slice of advice today...  Here is something I was talking about at length today.  If you have children... do not lean on them emotionally.  At least not TO them.  You can let them build you up and of course they are great distractions, but don't lean on them.  Why?  Well have you ever seen the movie Deep End of the Ocean?  It's a movie about a family that has their three year old son abducted and the life they live in his absence.  The husband seems stoic and unfeeling and the wife one day lashes out at him... "Why?"  He answers after years of silence.  He answers, "Somebody has to be strong for us.  I had to be strong for you and the kids." 

Couple that with what a counselor once told me, "Don't lean on your kids emotionally.  Don't let them see you cry.  You are their father and if you are not strong they will live in fear."

So be strong if you have children.  Be honest with them, but don't let them see you when you are weak.   Don't cry on their shoulder because yours is to be the one they need to cry and rely on.

I'm two years into divorce.   The hardest time was honestly the first two months.  By month four I was feeling good about life again.  And frankly a day came when I felt nothing about my ex because of things that got back to me.  And whatever you feel, remember that no matter how bad that person may be or what the have or WILL do to you, don't forget this is the father or mother of your child.  If they are not a good person, let your child grow up to learn the truth on their own.  Sadly but fortunately I have an 11 year old that went through that many years ago and now going through a second child parent separation situation I've found it is much easier to let children decide who in life is good or bad for them self.  All you can do is love them.  What you care about will become evident to them on it's own.

As my life moves on, I wake up some mornings just kicking the sheets with joy.   I get giddy from time to time because my life and my children are so damn happy.   We have a wonderful summer planned.  And that is where I think you should take another que.  Plan things.  Children or not.  Get out and about.  Remember to do things that made you a fun person before you were married.  While I wish you all find love, remember that setting your own life straight first is what makes you so worthwhile to someone else.