If you’ve followed my column for a while, you know that I’m raising my children alone. While I’ve come to accept that for my family, I am refreshed each time I discover a man who enthusiastically supports homeschooling and is actively involved with his wife in raising their children. This month I’d like to introduce you to one such father.

Tim Connor is the president of Rodeo! Performance Group, Inc., a consulting firm that works both with individuals and businesses. He and his wife, Barbara, have three sons. Josiah is 23 and works in a hospital computer department, Jonathan is 20 and is training with his father in the family business. Tim and Barb were both past 40 when Barb found out she was pregnant with Timmy, their youngest child. They put up with some smart-aleck comments about Abraham and Sarah from the older boys, until Tim reminded them that it was a privilege to sleep in the house! Timmy is now 9, and his father says, "I haven’t been able to get him to take a job yet."

The Connors started home schooling their sons beginning with kindergarten, and they homeschooled through high school. Once the older boys finished high school, they drew up a contract that they may live at home as long as they are in college or working on some sort of work-oriented certification. Josiah is finishing a computer engineering degree through Excelsior College in New York, and Jonathan is finishing prerequisites for an online degree in business administration at the University of Florida. Timmy, the youngest, begins fourth grade this month.

The Connors are part of ABCD (the Academy of Biblical Character Development) in Ocala, Florida. They helped start the school back in the early eighties, when Tim was working in the public education system and saw firsthand some of the philosophies presented, which revealed to him the wisdom of home schooling. Tim says of home schooling, "We’ve seen that while the education part is really good, the benefit to families in relationships and learning responsibility is even better. After 18 years, we’re pretty sure we can recommend it!"

Since 1984, Barbara Connor has been an advisor on curriculum for new parent/teachers besides home schooling her sons. She also specializes in the Rising Stars leadership development curriculum for use with middle and high school students.

In addition to his other talents, Tim is a poet! He has graciously given us permission to share a condensed version of the following poem, "A Ode to Fathers." Its grammatically incorrect title is not an accident, as you will discover as you read on. You can contact Tim by E-mail at TimConnor@rodeopg.com or visit his business website at www.rodeopg.com .

A Ode to Fathers

by Tim Connor

Recited by Rufus T. Hogwaller, Mountain Storyteller

Well the question we must ask is why the Lord came up with fathers

Did He really have specific plans in mind?

Or are fathers simply fellas who can scare kids with their bellas

And apply a well-aimed switch to their behinds?

I mean, some dads are real busy - run around till they get dizzy

Work all day and half the night, if they’re allowed.

Other’n’s sit and watch the TV till their vision gets real weavy

Seems they’re livin’ most of life inside a cloud.

Now them feministry women say that girls was dealt a lemon

When they married up and with him had some kids.

They say gals can raise a young-un by themselves and shou’nt get hung on

Whether that guy’s there to help or on the skids.

And there’s men who have their chillun - then it seems that they’re not willin’

To stand up and take re-spons-i-bil-i-ty.

But as soon’s that squirt starts yellin’ they get like that guy Magellan

An’ they’re off because the world they got to see.

Now the purpose of this pome, is to help all dads at home

And to lend ’em some encourg’ment on the way,

So just set back and relax, put aside the plow and axe

Pay some mind to what God has to dads to say.

When we look for what’s important in this great big scheme o’ things

Seems to love those young-un’s Momma’s at the start.

‘Cause there’s not much more encourgin’ than to see your two hearts mergin’;

And kids need to know their pa and ma won’t part.

As a dad you keep on chasin’ her and get her heart a-racin’

Even after you’ve been hitched for quite a spell.

It’ll make her children happy though they’ll tell ya you look sappy,

When it’s their turn, your example’s good will tell.

Now, the Lord He’s always lookin’ for His people to be hookin’

up their ways in line with His’n from the first.

So a father’s got to work to get his chillin’s hearts a-burnin’

for the Lord - and for His Word to build their thirst.

And that job? It isn’t easy! Kinda makes my stomach queasy,

‘Cause there’s lots of other things to turn their heads;

But the Dad who walks with God while at rest or bustin’ sod

Sets a lesson they’ll remember on their beds.

And there’s even more to this’n, ‘cause the serpent’s out there hissin’

And he’d love to get his coils round your kids;

And the world is out there pullin’, and those earthly pleasures dullin’

Fire for God, and for kids’ souls they make their bids.

So a dad must be a guard and stay awake, although it’s hard

And means a mess o’ sleepless nights upon his knees;

But the time will be real worth it - hidden sin? God will unearth it!

And the young-uns hearts ol’ Satan cannot seize.

Folks, thank you fer yer kind attention, and fer not chuckin’ tomaters and things at me during this here readin’.

Column Copyright 2003 by Brenda B. Covert