Allowing kids to get distracted and just have fun at the lake makes the day more enjoyable for everyone. (Don Mulligan photo)
By Don Mulligan, OutdoorChannel.com
Years ago, while eavesdropping on my then 12-year old daughter’s conversation with her friends, I caught her bragging about a four-pound channel catfish she caught in a fishing derby.
Already like her father, she bumped up the actual size of the fish, and concluded with a fish-that-got-away story. Instead of interrupting and setting the record straight or encouraging a little more humility, I simply walked away, feeling like a good dad. I had devoted an entire day to her in my busy schedule, and it paid off with memories for both of us.
I am reminded almost every week in my practice as a child therapist that there is no substitute for actual face-to-face contact with...