My Dad's "Don't Stretch the Springs" Rule Goes 3 Generations Deep (It's So Clever!)
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In the early '90s, my mom and dad brought home these toys called Portable Parents, which were little battery-operated voice boxes — one for each parent — with buttons that cycle through typical parental sayings at the time. The 'mom' device would say things like, 'you're gonna put somebody's eye out with that thing!' or 'the answer is no!' while the 'dad' device would say things such as, 'when I was your age, I had to walk to school' or 'I'll give you something to cry about!'
Some of these phrases are desperately outdated, but if you're a millennial like me, you've probably heard all of them multiple times. In my case, though, my dad (Ray) had a few extra phrases he threw in there on repeat. While they were maybe a little annoying at the time, they are now valuable lessons I've brought with me into adulthood to guide me in running my own household. So, in honor of my dad and all the other dads out there, here are my dad's Ray-isms and what they mean to me.
I remember it like it was yesterday: A big comfy recliner for my dad was delivered to the house and set up in the family room. Of course my two siblings and I all wanted to sit in it — so we did. And as we each leaned back in the chair, I heard my dad quickly yell, 'Don't stretch the springs!'
That phrase showed up so often in our household that when we grew up and my niece and nephew were younger, we said it to them every time they sat in the recliner. 'Don't stretch the springs' has become a running joke in the family now, but whether it's silly or not, it's a really good point. And not just for the recliner, but for everything you spend a good chunk of change on.
Big purchases for your home (especially items that will be used daily) must be cared for. Otherwise, you'll find yourself either wasting money to rebuy everything or with a bunch of broken garbage that used to be something nice.
To be fair to Dad, we did pretty regularly use up all the batteries in the flashlights in the house, or take them out and use them for something else — and we rarely, if ever, replaced them. But what kid thinks far enough in advance to the next time you might need the flashlight? We certainly didn't. So every time the power went out or if someone just needed extra light, my dad would ask, 'Who killed the batteries on my flashlight?'
Today, this phrase is a reminder to me to be prepared for emergencies. Have an emergency kit and regularly check the items in it to ensure they're working. If you don't have items you need ready to go when you need them, you're setting yourself up for a disaster that will just compound whatever you're already experiencing.
To every exasperated child hearing this phrase for the millionth time, you should really listen! It's good advice.
Leaving the door open with your air conditioner or furnace running isn't just a waste of energy, it's a waste of money as well. Homes are destined to cost you money you weren't planning to spend (just ask my friends who recently learned their house is sinking).
If you don't proactively save your dollars by doing things like closing the door when the heat or air is on, or turning off lights when you're not in the room, you'll be paying so much in monthly bills that you won't be able to afford emergency repairs and necessities.I know my dad will love to hear this, so here goes: You were right. About a lot of things. And I'm forever grateful for the lessons I learned from you. And to kids today: Listen to your parental figures. They know what they're talking about (at least sometimes). Oh, and don't stretch the springs.
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Happy Father's Day - Training Sons to become responsible fathers
For Father's Day, make an effort to develop sons to become responsible fathers 'Read today and become better tomorrow'— Geary Reid LINDEN HIGHWAY, REGION 4, GUYANA, June 15, 2025 / / -- Parents must make every effort to train their sons to become responsible fathers. Geary Reid, as a father and husband, strives to impart important lessons to parents, encouraging them to invest in the development of their sons and become responsible fathers. Section A: Boyhood During the stage of boyhood, each parent should understand that boys will experiment with many things, which will provide them with personal life experiences and teach various lessons. This is a critical stage for every parent to train and develop their sons. Imparting good values, morals, manners, and other key life skills to sons during the early phase of their lives is essential, as it sets a solid foundation for their future. Boys need guidance. While external persons can provide some guidance, it is often good for them to receive advice from their parents and siblings. Parents usually recognize their children's strengths and weaknesses and know how to help them. Proper guidance and encouragement can lead to children quickly developing and, therefore, becoming valuable resources to their parents and society. Educating boys is essential for ensuring that they play important roles in our societies in the future. Education is unbiased, so parents must ensure that their sons are properly educated consistently. Sports and games are also important for boys, as they learn to be disciplined and cooperate with others. Through sports, team spirit and accountability will be understood, and boys can apply these qualities to their relationships when they become husbands. Parents must train their children to respect everyone. Boys may sometimes show resistance to this, but as parents constantly remind their sons, many of those boys will learn to respect everyone, and people will begin to talk about how mannerly they are. Having a relationship with the Creator is important for both adults and children. The example set by parents in this regard is one that their children will likely follow. Many children go on to have a continuous relationship with the Creator and eventually take on major roles within religious institutions. Moral values must be taught within the home. Both boys and girls must learn some important moral lessons so that when they have their own families, they will be able to pass these values on to their families. Most boys will learn about sex from schoolmates, neighbors, and other people, but the information they learn is sometimes incorrect. Therefore, parents must be one of the major teachers of sexual education within their homes. The experience that parents have is reasonable enough to guide their sons. Parents should guide their sons on being in a relationship, emphasizing that there are more important things than sex in a relationship. This guidance is especially important for boys of adolescent age. Family planning may be taught primarily to girls, but this practice needs to change, and both sons and daughters should become aware of family planning before entering into relationships. Section B: Manhood When sons move from boyhood to manhood, they have entered another important phase in their lives. They are expected to demonstrate many of the things that their parents taught them. There are some areas in which these men will still need to improve, since no parent can teach a child everything. During this phase of manhood, men will put to the test the things they have learned from their parents and friends. Sometimes, they want to explore life. They are willing to take on new challenges, even if they fail. Gaining experience for oneself will include both failure and success. Those who want to be successful must be willing to try, rather than spending most of their time only thinking of what it may be like. The money earned by men must be used wisely, so when they are ready to establish their own families, they have their portion of the money. To manage their finances effectively, people need to increase their earnings, make informed investments, and carefully control their spending. When men manage their money during their single life, they may be good stewards within their new family. When a woman is looking for a companion, she may seek a man who knows how to perform domestic tasks. While she does not expect him to be the only person doing the domestic activities at home, at least his contribution will have a significant impact on the family. Men who were taught by their parents to be involved in domestic activities must make great use of those skills, which will help their family to have more time for love and laughter. Finding a companion may not be as easy as finding a job. Those who are looking for companions must have values and seek those who have the potential to contribute to the growth of their family. There are many places to find a suitable companion. Once a person sees a companion and is reasonably satisfied with that individual, then it is time to consider marriage. Section C: Fatherhood Having a family is not a task for boys, but for men who are committed and want to make a positive contribution to their families and society. Some men are running away from family life, while others are running towards it. Not everyone knows that there is a great commitment for those who want to live with a companion and children. Those men who are fathers are expected to be good fathers to their children. Every child wants a father who sets a good example for them to follow, and many children use their fathers as role models. Fathers must also be willing to take their children to the clinics, watch movies with them, and play with them. When fathers attend Parent-Teacher Association meetings, they send a positive message to teachers that they are interested in their children's educational development. Protecting the family is a job entrusted to fathers, not to security companies, and the protection provided by fathers is more than just their physical strength. Women sometimes marry men because they need someone to protect them, and children love to know that they have a father who can protect them. Fathers and mothers can provide for the family. When fathers are the main source of financing for the family, they must be delighted to do so for their family. Fathers must be firm yet gentle with their children, although children may not always appreciate their fathers being firm. When fathers are firm, it helps boys to desist from doing the wrong things and following people who will not contribute to their success. Children must learn to respect their parents, friends, and neighbors. The respect shown to persons will cause those children to win friendships and give them great success. Parents, teach your children to respect everyone, and teach your sons to be responsible fathers so that their families will be happy in the future. For more information about Geary Reid and his books, please use the contact information below: Amazon: Website: Facebook: ReidnLearn, Email: [email protected], Mobile #: 592-645-2240. GEARY REID REID'S LEARNING INSTITUTE AND BUSINESS CONSULTANCY 592 645 2240 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
