Calling all Genea-Musings Fans:
It’s Saturday Night again—
Time for some more Genealogy Fun!!
Here is your assignment, should you decide to accept it (you ARE reading this, so I assume you really want to play along—cue the Mission Impossible music!):
- Sunday is Father’s Day in the USA, a time for memories and gratitude as we remember our fathers and father figures.
- For this week’s SNGF, tell us three things about your father that are special and memorable to you.
While I have many memories of my dad, I’m going to share three lessons he taught me that have stayed with me throughout my life.
Be an Observer
The first lesson was to be an observer.
Rather than teaching my brothers and me scientific terms from a textbook, Dad preferred to let us discover things for ourselves. One day he placed a white tulip in a clear vase filled with water tinted with food coloring. Then he challenged us to simply observe what happened over the next few days.
As the tulip absorbed the colored water, the veins in the flower gradually changed color. At the time, we were too young to realize that Dad was demonstrating how water and nutrients move through a plant. We could have learned the concept from a lecture or a book, but the lesson stuck because we were encouraged to watch, wonder, and draw our own conclusions.
That simple experiment taught me the importance of careful observation—a skill that has proven valuable not only in science but also in genealogy research.
Work Through the Struggle
The second lesson was to work through the struggle rather than give up when something seemed difficult.
In fourth grade, I was introduced to “new math.” Suddenly mathematics involved sets, logic, and concepts that seemed very strange to my young mind. I remember Dad patiently sitting with me as I worked my way through those unfamiliar ideas.
Years later, as a high school senior, I found myself struggling with a concept in chemistry. Once again, Dad was there to help me work through the problem, joined this time by my younger brother.
The irony is that I eventually became a chemistry teacher myself. Even today, I find myself using those same concepts of sets and logic when organizing information and searching for answers on the Internet. Dad taught me that learning isn’t always easy, but persistence often leads to understanding.
Learn from Others
The third lesson was the value of professional organizations and lifelong learning.
Dad led by example. He was an active member of the National Science Teachers Association and served as president of the Kansas Association of Teachers of Science. During my early years as a teacher, he often provided transportation so I could attend regional NSTA meetings.
Those experiences showed me the value of learning from colleagues, sharing ideas, and staying connected with others in your profession. Because of Dad’s example, I continued to participate in statewide organizations for librarians, technology coordinators, and PowerSchool users throughout my career.
His involvement demonstrated that learning doesn’t end when formal education is complete. There is always something new to learn and someone willing to share their knowledge.
As I look back, I realize that many of the things I value most—curiosity, perseverance, and lifelong learning—came from the example my father set. For that, I remain grateful.
