Off the wall ( & the cat's in the cradle)

Gordy

Jamie_6

To weird!

I just recently heard this song on the radio and found it quite interesting. Did some poking (turns out to be my father-in-laws favorite musician) and found out the man's name who wrote this song was a story teller named Harry Chapin.

I guess it struck me because I now have two children. And it looks like I am in the service industry! My father and I have been working very hard to obtain product. Hopefully one day soon we will achieve it. This sight has given us many models to duplicate and we discuss it daily.

I just don’t want to hear some day “I know we’ll have a good time then dad!”


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Leo

Time flys

Part of what he was saying is we as parents should spend more time with our kids. The other part to it is time goes by so quick. I see it with my oldest, once he got to the age of having his own social life I rarely see him. Jamie consider yourself lucky you spend so much time with your father even when you guys may be disagreeing. Spend more time with your kids. I remember my son driving me nuts only speaking tree, house, and car. Next month he will be 20.

Leo

Gordy

Time flies

Ditto that, as Dan says hug your kids. When they are babies, your goal is to get em outa diapers, off the bottle,and pottie trained so you can ditch the diaper bag.......Savor those moments because the time really flies from there on out. Next thing you know they are a senior in high school. Social life kicks in around Jr. High. So you only got about 13 years before they want to be with friends more than you. Thats nature though we were that way to.

Funny, I work with some guys with young children. They always wanna go to the bar after work. Time missed with the family I say.

"When you commin home Dad. I don't know when, we'll get together then. I'm sure we'll have a good time then."

Gordy

Steamhead (in transit)

That came out in the mid 1970s

Chapin is the same guy who wrote and sang "Taxi", "W.O.L.D." and others. Very talented man, killed in a car crash at the height of his powers.

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ScottMP

AHHH being a Dad ..

" Cart wheels turn to car wheels round the the town "

Jamie you got it right and its over whelming whne your realise it. Love em, hung em, just don't beat yourselve up to bad. Your doing great job.

I have been reading to my odlest at night. His teacher told me to read as much as I can because soon he won't want me to. This fall he'll be nine. I've only got three more years before the teens.

Scott

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Supply House Rick

Family-No \"cat's in the cradle here\"

We came from a home where we really believe our parents never wanted children, we had what we needed but no emotional ties ever.Childrem should be seen and not heard. I won't miss them when they are gone.

No criticism-no praise. They never contact us or our children (yes, we do call-visit etc.)

I am the opposite of my parents, we have 5 children and we do all we can to make sure they grow up knowing right down to their very soul that they were loved-cherish-respected-encouraged-disciplined and occasionally spoiled. Me and my wife practically invented "hug your kids" Ages 11,9,6,5,4 Which I am going to do now...
Peace-Out-Late

Rick

Brad White_52

At once sad

but how redeeming, Rick. It could well have been that you would have spawned another generation in the same mold but you and your wife did not; you chose not to (or rather could not do any differently than to show amazing, nurturing love).

Some folks are like that, perfunctory, little warmth. My own mother (Swedish, product of same) was like that in many ways. Perfunctory, neither cold nor warm. My dad made up for that, product of his mother. We are compelled to do better.

I find your posting inspiring in fact!

Jerry_15

I think Fred Neil penned that one Scott, one of my favorites though; I read to my kids often. It paid off, now they read to me, my daughter at 13 will go to bed and read till we pull the plug. My boy, just turning 8, is sailing through Harry Potter. Straight A's both. The down side is they got big mouths, a good sense of humor, and question authority. My wife is responsible for the bad stuff. Daaaad!!!!

Jeff Elston

My three girls

I read to my oldest every night befor bed and she loves it, sometimes my wife wants to but I say no way thats my time. I hope my senario never fits that song I know I try hard not to let it Good luck to all

Matt Clina

Cat's in the Cradle

Another favorite song of mine which is along this same topic is "The Best Day" by George Straight. It always makes me tear up a little. It's kind of the "boy" version of "Butterfly Kisses", which also has the same effect on me.

My babies have become 8,9, and 10 in the blink of an eye. I can already see them going off to college and it's seems like we just got them. It's just not fair.

BillW@honeywell

I was lucky enough to have known Harry Chapin...

He was a fantastic guy. Just as down to earth and friendly as you would expect from listening to his music. No superstar tantrums and silliness from him! He wrote some powerful songs, only a few of which ever made it to the radio, namely Taxi, Cat's in the Cradle, W.O.L.D and Circle. Besides those, his other songs contained some memorable lyrics as well, but too long for me to put on this forum. My favorite of many was a 10 minute long opus called "Corey's Coming", a song about "an old man with a dream, and a young boy who buys it" that would bring tears to the eyes of anyone alive.

Like Jim Henson and many others, Harry was taken from us way too soon. His brother, Tom Chapin, still performs solo or with some or all of Harry's former band around NY City & Long Island on occasion. Well worth seeing if you get the chance. I took a carload of various small kids to see Tom's show a couple years ago, and it was a really fun experience. The kids had a blast, and you couldn't help but smile after you left the theatre.

Rodney Summers

Harry Chapin

Great artist!

My girl (aka, D' Bug) last year.

Robert O'Connor/NJ

Dave Yates (PAH)

That, long been a favorite..

and a warning I never forgot. My Dad was an accountant, so for three months of every year we never saw him. Come April 15th, he'd re-appear, but too worn out to play much.

The Eagles song "Hotel California" also had a line that was forever etched into my mind: You can spend all your time making money; you can spend all your love making time....."

As an empty nester, I can assure you it's an all-to-fleeting time that you'll be blessed with the "kids". I can also attest to the abounding joy you'll experience as they become productive members of society and I can absolutely attest to the incredible feelings you'll experience by becoming a grandparent - life is full of transitions and each passage is meant to be savored.

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Reed

I remeber

> We came from a home where we really believe our

> parents never wanted children, we had what we

> needed but no emotional ties ever.Childrem should

> be seen and not heard. I won't miss them when

> they are gone.

>

> No criticism-no praise. They

> never contact us or our children (yes, we do

> call-visit etc.)

>

> I am the opposite of my

> parents, we have 5 children and we do all we can

> to make sure they grow up knowing right down to

> their very soul that they were

> loved-cherish-respected-encouraged-disciplined

> and occasionally spoiled. Me and my wife

> practically invented "hug your kids" Ages

> 11,9,6,5,4 Which I am going to do

> now... Peace-Out-Late

>

> Rick



the day the horrific news came over the radio that Harry Chapin was killed in a car accident on the L.I.E. A great loss for his fans and for hunamity.

Reed

I remember

> We came from a home where we really believe our

> parents never wanted children, we had what we

> needed but no emotional ties ever.Childrem should

> be seen and not heard. I won't miss them when

> they are gone.

>

> No criticism-no praise. They

> never contact us or our children (yes, we do

> call-visit etc.)

>

> I am the opposite of my

> parents, we have 5 children and we do all we can

> to make sure they grow up knowing right down to

> their very soul that they were

> loved-cherish-respected-encouraged-disciplined

> and occasionally spoiled. Me and my wife

> practically invented "hug your kids" Ages

> 11,9,6,5,4 Which I am going to do

> now... Peace-Out-Late

>

> Rick



the day when the horrofic news came over the radio that Harry Chapin was killed in a car accident on the LIE. It was a terrible loss to us all. I have a fifteen year old daughter and lost some time with her when she was younger. Now that I've finally grown up I try ro spend as much time with her as she will let me,(being fifteen and all). Cats in the Cradle. Doesnt't matter,Son or Daughter, just Love , Hug ,Respect and spend as much TIME! with them as you can.

Reed

I remember

the day when the horrofic news came over the radio that Harry Chapin was killed in a car accident on the LIE. It was a terrible loss to us all. I have a fifteen year old daughter and lost some time with her when she was younger. Now that I've finally grown up I try ro spend as much time with her as she will let me,(being fifteen and all). Cats in the Cradle. Doesnt't matter,Son or Daughter, just Love , Hug ,Respect and spend as much TIME! with them as you can. Chris

Terry_14

I have a letter to charish

My Father worked hard most of his life but the love he shared with us as we grew up is priceless. We never had that much time with Dad untill he retired but he gave us a gift and set an example to look up to.

I charish a letter my Dad wrote (not typed) sharing with me how proud he was of me and the family I was raising.

Try as I might sometimes I live the song in my mind. but I have followed my Dad and written to my 31 year old Son Frank expresing some of the same Love and Pride to him. Frank & I also get together for coffee each Sunday morning around 7 am.to share joys, burdins and a hug and kiss. Memories we will carry in our heart for ever.

I share my Joy and receive the hugs I give right back
Terry

Steamhead (in transit)

Uhhh, Gramps

the line "You can spend all your time making money; you can spend all your love making time....." is from "Take it to the Limit" not "Hotel California".

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J Matthers_2

Harry

Either you are very young or I am getting old (the latter I think) not to know Harry Chapin. That song holds a place in many a father’s hearts and serves as a reminder of how important it is to spend the time with your children. In Harry’s case, as posted below, he died far to young and didn’t get to see his children grow up. His son has followed in his footsteps but has not made quite the same mark on the music world as Harry. Hug your kids and SPEND TIME WITH THEM no matter how old.

Harry knew what to do but didn’t get the chance.

PJO_5

Harry Chapin...

My sister met him backstage at a concert, and got a picture with him and he talked with her for about a minute.

I believe to this day it was one of the most precious gifts she has ever received.

He was dead a few weeks later...took her a long time to get over it.

On a lighter note; It's funny and really cool at the same time seeing my 14 year old listen to some of the same music I did at that age...of course he has an IPod when I had to drag that Panasonic blaster all over the place ;-)

As for the kids/parents/grandparents...here's a great quote from another quality (sometimes controversial) American musician.

"There is nothing more sad or glorius than the changing of generations"
...John Mellencamp (Inside the "Scarecrow" album)

Take Care, PJO

Wayco Wayne_2

Harry Chapin

I loved Harry Chapin songs. One of the most powerful albums was "Sniper, and other Love Stories." The lead song "Sniper is a song about the emotional make up of the archetypical assasins of the time in the late 50's and 70's. Like the texas tower assasin. Of course today we have terrorists to worry about. Another great song on the album is "A Better Place To Be. A song about lonely people. The chorus still gets to me. "If you want me to come with you, then thats all right with me, For I know I'm going nowhere, and anywhere's a better place to be. He gave most of his money to charities. I read that a radio station tried to sue him for using their call letters in the song "WOLD" and when the Judge heard all of the profits from the song had been given to charity he threw the case out of court. Sometimes Judges get it right. It's hard keeping with your kids when they are teens. Their social circle becomes more important to them than family, but you gotta be there like the foundaton of the house ready to cast a safety net beneath their endeavors. Sorry for the mixxed metaphor. WW

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JK_3

refuse to get old

I too was thinking that if you just discovered harry that you must be very young because I know I'm not getting old.My Girls are 8 and 9 and spending time with them is the best part of my day. Some days it's only enough time for us to read together and my system seems to be making it more interesting and stimulating for us all. We each read our own material (for me it's trade mags or dans books) fo ra set time then we each tell about what we read and ask each other questions about it. I try to take off 1 afternoon every week for us to do somthing special even if it's just to go for a bike ride or to the batting cages for pratice. I am the luckiest dad in the whole world.

Dave Yates (PAH)

Old timers disease!

I resemble that remark(G). Sorry bout that.

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