Today, Dan Webster, of Authentic Leadership, Inc, sent me a pre-release copy of his new book, KidUnique. As I perused it I stopped at a section subtitle: "dribbling with your head down."
I didn't play sports in school. I couldn't dribble or shoot a lay-up now or then. Too much coordination is required. My head would always be down watching the ball - and bad things would happen.
I get the meaning of dribbling with your head down.
Dan writes about a friend's experience with his teenage son. Coming back from a trip this friend picked up his son to grab some dinner and catch up. Throughout the meal he answered several work-related text messages. Finally one of those messages came from across the table, "Hey, Dad, how about putting your phone down." Doh. Dan points out - that's dribbling with your head down.
It's happened too often lately that it's not been our 16-year-old daughter who's been preoccupied with her phone at mealtime. I'm guilty.
Dan's book subtitled, Helping Kids Discover Who They Are, targets parents and youth leaders who want to invest in their kids, calling out the best God's created them to be. You can learn more here.
By the way - if I'm in a meeting with my staff, I'm taking calls and texts from my family. However, if I'm with my family, I can't guarantee the reverse will happen. Can't afford to dribble with my head down.
Use this holiday time to sort some priorities and look up into the eyes of the people you care most about.
I'm going to.
