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Tales from the Dad Side
Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from nine to 29. His experiences being a single parent, co-parent, and leader, provide a unique perspective to a wide array of issues families face in our modern times. Fulfilling roles as a youth director, elected mayor, educator, county sheriff and business owner adds to his experiences and bolsters his light-hearted approach to life. Tales from the Dad Side is a journey depicted through one man’s experiences penned through written stories and tales which modern families can relate to as they traverse this life.
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Letting your true self be seen
Posted Friday, November 15, 2024, at 3:52 PMThe seriousness of the conversation was shattered with one seemingly innocent statement. As we traveled along with the girls, Leona and I were engaged in a conversation about videos, and which were appropriate for the girls to watch and how some are not. ... -
The power of community
Posted Friday, November 8, 2024, at 8:47 AMAs I sit, writing this week’s column, memories from days gone by rush through my mind. Seven years ago, the little town of Van Buren transformed into the epicenter of travel for a time as a seemingly endless convoy of vehicles entered our city. ... -
Remembering the people and stories of the past
Posted Friday, November 1, 2024, at 4:13 PMRemembering the people and stories of yesterday As our family engaged in routine conversation my wife said the name “Billy the Kid.” His name was included for no reason other than being included in the topic we were speaking about, historical figures. As Lilli routinely did, she was listening in on her mother and my conversation and she quickly interjected, saying, “Billy the Kid… who is that?”... -
True friendship is up to the challenge
Posted Friday, October 25, 2024, at 2:25 PMAs I watched Riyann practicing her new beloved sport, jiu jitsu, it was evident she was doing her best at two things. First, she was striving to pay attention and learn what her instructor was teaching and secondly, she was careful not to embarrass her new best friend she was partnering with. Knowing my child, it was evident she could do much better but, in the moment, she found joy in simply doing what she loved with someone she revered... -
Looking is not always seeing
Posted Friday, September 6, 2024, at 9:56 AMChildhood and the act of parenting are many times filled with countless moments of thrill seeking and adventure. Although reserved by nature, I have been known over the years to join my children as they engage their adventurous side, holding on with all I had, in an attempt to bolster their exploration while simultaneously maintaining a grip on my own sanity ensuring that no outward signs of fear or apprehension were evident. ... -
Refuse to give up
Posted Friday, August 23, 2024, at 4:03 PMAs I drove behind my child just like I had countless times, following her while she trained, I felt the pride within me growing. The pride didn’t stem from her outward actions. What she was doing was her routine. Often, over the past four years, she would get up early or head out after her chores and run. ... -
Time flies
Posted Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 12:00 AM“You won’t believe what your daughter said.” As those words left my wife’s lips, my mind raced. For a moment I was trying to figure out if the words were meant to prepare me for something bad or just something silly. The smile on my wife’s face seemed to hint that what I was about to hear would brighten my day, so I eagerly inquired as to what was said. ... -
It’s not about me
Posted Saturday, August 3, 2024, at 12:00 AMI remember the day well. It was a day I had dreamt about for many years. The day I speak of was the moment my child would make an entrance to this world. As a young man, my desire was to be the best father ever and now it was my turn to prove my worth. ... -
Mistakes repeated are choices
Posted Saturday, July 27, 2024, at 12:00 AMAs voices were raised and good old Dad was pretty sure the girls were going to begin brawling over the most minuscule thing, I knew it was time to step in. Like two rabid racoons, the girls had begun moving towards each other, arms extended, chests poked out, each displaying a determination to show her sister who the boss was. It was quite a sight to see... -
Hairbands and outstretched hands
Posted Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 4:10 PMWhile seated in the congregation, several years ago, listing to a Sunday sermon from my pastor, my child was having a difficult time concentrating. As I carried out my routine fatherly duties of attempting to keep my children focused on learning and not hampering other people’s worship, my youngest child moved to a position in front of me. She quickly asked me to braid her hair and considering the alternative of pure utter disruption, I gladly agreed... -
Encouragement from all sides
Posted Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 12:00 AMThere is an old adage I often heard about growing older. It simply said that we should always strive to better our education and keep our mind working hard so we don’t fall into a cavern of forgetfulness and experience a lagging of the mind. I wish I could say that was the absolute reasoning behind my latest educational adventure. ... -
A strategy for success
Posted Saturday, July 6, 2024, at 12:00 AMAs I sat in a defensive tactics class several years ago, the instructor spoke about how we carry ourselves as professionals and how we should constantly exhibit behaviors which were above reproach. The instructor told a story about how during one specific training course he attended, he and some of his friends had been joking around, catching the eye of the master instructor. ... -
A change in mindset
Posted Monday, July 1, 2024, at 11:00 AMA sense of excitement filled the air as the girls arrived at the Van Buren Baptist Camp for their first children’s church camp experience. The thought of a week full of playing, learning, and hanging out with their friends added to their already energized minds. ... -
Loving thy neighbor breaks barriers
Posted Friday, April 19, 2024, at 5:11 PMThis week, as I read the words in the daily motivational book I try to keep up with, I was reminded of the importance of kindness. Seemingly, every time I’ve opened a book, went to a study, or self-reflected the past few weeks, I have been reminded about being neighborly and showing others the same kindness we see demonstrated in the faith of spiritual believers. ... -
Old friendships foster new relationships
Posted Friday, February 23, 2024, at 4:27 PMAs the skyline from Dallas came into sight a silence overtook the car. The 10-hour trip to visit friends had been uneventful yet exhausting for the girls. Seeing the sprawling urban jungle brought out a sense of relief to me. The sight of buildings signaled the near-end of my driving responsibilities, with rest on the horizon. Before long the silence was broken with Lilli asking, “Holy cow, do you see how tall those buildings are?”... -
When you fall, get up
Posted Friday, February 9, 2024, at 4:18 PMAs the girls prepare for their involvement in sports, I have enjoyed tagging along as they train. Last week I followed behind Lilli as she did her best to maintain her running cross country and bolster her endurance. As the child works hard to mix her training up, I have found myself being the normal, overprotective parent. ... -
The power of words in young ears
Posted Friday, February 2, 2024, at 4:45 PMThe moment the snow and ice cleared my family jumped into our vehicle and headed off the hill. Being cooped up for two days wasn’t uncommon but this time it seemed to wear on the girls a little more than normal. Seemingly, with each hour passing, it appeared that time had come to a stop, leaving the girls longing for anything to do as long as it was outside the confines of our home. ... -
Longing for acceptance
Posted Friday, January 26, 2024, at 2:38 PMSitting in the living room, my wife and I could hear the faint sound of one of the cats meowing. As our eyes met, the cat’s tone was as if she was calling out for someone to simply notice her. With smiles affixed to our faces, both my wife and I knew what was soon to come... -
Sometimes recipes lie
Posted Friday, January 12, 2024, at 3:08 PMThe sound of my telephone’s alert tone startled me, shifting me from the relaxed cloud I was sitting in. As I reached for my phone, I noticed that my daughter had texted. The text was a bit confusing. Before me was a list of rather unconventional items, arranged in a recipe style manner. ... -
Hard lessons are lessons learned
Posted Friday, December 22, 2023, at 12:00 AMMistakes happen. We fall short on occasion and fail to meet expectations. It appears throughout life these two facts ring supreme for all of us. It’s unavoidable. No matter how hard we try, how straight of a path we walk, or how determined we are we often stumble, sometimes over the silliest things, left with only the consequences of our actions. The girls learned this the hard way recently...
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