Punting footballs in the NFL is my job, but hunting is my passion. I love everything about spending time in the woods—the smells, the sounds. I smile just thinking about it. It’s probably because time in the woods is also family time for me. Some of my earliest memories are going to the deer stand with my dad and a rifle. Hunting was a way of life growing up in Mississippi, and the lessons I learned from it have followed me into adulthood. During the offseason, I try to get outdoors as often as possible and take my family along with me, just like my dad did. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
My wife, Mary, and I have two young boys, Cooper and Tate. We drag them everywhere with us, and not because it’s easier, but because more family time together means more open doors to influence our kids. That’s what I want most. A lot of guys I know use their hobbies as “an escape” from their family. I think that’s a missed opportunity. We get to take our kids places. You don’t have to take kids hunting like me. You can do anything for family time; just make sure you do it together. Here are 5 great benefits to taking your kids with you.
1. Quality Time
This feels like a given, but it’s worth restating. There’s no substitute for time with Dad. Your kids crave it. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. They just want to be close to you, especially when they’re little. I killed my first deer when I was five, and my dad was right there cheering me on. Cooper hasn’t done that yet, but he’s right beside me in the stand with his plastic rifle enjoying the hunting trip. Time is a gift. Give it often.
2. Opportunities for Patience
I took Cooper with me to plant trees on our property one day. He was holding the 12-inch saplings in a bucket while I dug holes. I turned around to the sound of a snapping tree. He’d bent it too far, and I knew it probably wasn’t going to make it. I couldn’t yell in the moment. I had to show patience, knowing the learning moment would come. We tried planting it anyway, but the damaged tree never recovered. We eventually had to replace it. When kids test our patience, we get to choose our reaction. We become better parents when we choose well.
3. Life Lessons
Attention to detail is huge when hunting. What you wear, where you walk, and even how you smell all matter. My dad would always ask me, “Where’s your safety?” I learned our rifles are tools, not toys, and the safety needs to be on when we aren’t shooting. I look for similar teachable moments with my son, and I think it’s helping him mature faster. I teach him that we don’t kill pointlessly. We shoot animals for food. It’s a way to feed our family. There is purpose in everything we do. Each new lesson builds on the last.
4. Setting the Example
When Cooper and I are walking in the woods, I tell him, “Step where Daddy steps.” It does a few things. It keeps him from making too much noise, which would scare off a deer, rabbit, or turkey. It also keeps him from going in the wrong direction. “Step where Daddy steps” extends far beyond the woods. I want to set an example as a husband, professional, friend, and father my kids will want to follow someday.
5. Flexibility
Cooper was in a blind at 8 weeks old, but it wasn’t an all-day trip. We’ve taken him fishing but took toys with us in the boat. I tell people not to take kids hunting when it’s going to be super cold or super hot because they will be miserable. If they’re uncomfortable, they may want to leave after five minutes, so be prepared to leave. The main goal is for them to have fun family time so they will want to go again. Having kids around forces you to be flexible. They are the top priority, not the event or my schedule. I think learning to be flexible helps you improve as a parent.
Sound off: What’s the biggest challenge to spending time with your kids?
Huddle up with your kids and ask, “If you could have a pillow fight, ride go-karts, or build a birdhouse, which would you choose?”