Restaurant Management|Restaurant Jobs|Employees|Advice

6
Jul

Sometimes a Restaurant Manager Sometimes a Father

Sometimes A Father Sometimes a Restaurant Manager

Not sure where to start this, being the week after fathers day, and July Fourth gets me thinking about being a father and our forefathers. What would our forefathers do? I am afraid that our nation is and has been under attack for quite some time Becoming a father is the fun part being a father is a lot like work. I am the father of 6 children I have run restaurants for over 25 years. what prepared me to being a father I will never know. I was not taught in school by my parents or by society. I will tell you that my wife is my best teacher, she leads 100% with her heart not her head! People always are in disbelief for some reason they feel the need to comment

“You know they know what causes that” or “How do you do that” or “Why” My response is always the same well which one do you think I should get rid of? Sound rough maybe, maybe not.

People say the dumbest things. My point is that there have been days, shifts where it seemed I spent more time counselling my staff then actually running a restaurant. I literally have left work drained from the worry, time energy and effort spent helping employees at sometime or another.

If you ask restaurant owners, managers the toughest part of the industry they will say managing employees. If you ask restaurant owners and managers the best part of their job they will say “restaurant employees” Image that, we do care we are not all draconian heartless bastards.

My gripe is well that the saddest sentence I hear is ” my babies daddy quit his job so he don’t got to pay no child support”, or my kids dad won’t pay his child support or provide any support whether it is time, money or energy. Get a job even if it is a restaurant job

We have become a nation of irresponsible people, our fore fathers and I do not use that term lightly gave everything to start this country, they new that it was God who guided and directed their efforts they believed in and took responsibility for their actions they new if caught the would be executed. They never fathered a country before, but that didn’t stop them they were driven. Driven like a father that feels the weight of responsibility of providing for his family and does anything he has to to make sure that their is food on the table and a roof over his families heads.

Our forefathers gave their personal fortunes to start this country. What have we given to ensure that it is here for our children and grandchildren? We complain, hold out our hand and expect the government to gives us hand out, we whine complain and blame others, sad.

“Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country”

John F. Kennedy

Now, it feels that the mind set is What can I get out of my country. Our politicians are irresponsible, our corporations are irresponsible, managers are irresponsible, fathers are irresponsible. So where did it start? Who cares There is only one place to end the lack of leadership our country has not seen in decades, if ever. it starts at home.

I know, I know, But my parents were mean, they were on drugs, they… they… they… Bullshit! You are Responsible for Your Decisions, you and only you. None of us took fathering classes, the our forefathers did not take “Revolution 101″ or “Intro to Starting a Country” course at the local community college! If you do not how to be a father and do not feel that you are capable of being father then either choose to keep your hands off of your women, or get a job and bust your ass to put food on the table for your child, for child’s mother, for you, for your country, for your God!

How many Fathers these days are willing to devote the lives let alone their fortunes to their families? How about their country? Thought so, waiting for a hand out? I am sorry if I am painting the rest of the awesome fathers with the ugly brush, this is not my intention, my intent is to begin a change in leadership starting within our own homes

“I do the very best I know how – the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end”

Abe Lincoln

Some politicians would like us to believe that it takes a village to raise a child, I believe it takes 2 parents not the government. Not every child has the opportunity to have both parents still here on this earth or at home. The great tragedy is the child with 2 parents and at least one not active in their lives or is abusive. The Father who does not pay his bills, support his children that does not go to work and do everything in his power to provide for his children.

“Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility”

Albert Sweitzer

One of the toughest parts of being a restaurant manager is when your employees come in to work or don’t because there “babies daddy” has hit them, beat them or somehow threatened them. I never ever regretted the time talking to counseling an employee in need, I hope and pray every day that this tsunami of irresponsible fathers in our country somehow reverses itself somehow moves in the other direction, becomes the exception not the norm.

When you need some help or have an employee, friend family and need resources below are a few lets start at work as well as at home. You are sometimes a restaurant manager and sometimes the restaurant father. Use the resource below add a few of your own.

Not every body has great role models as parents and I am not sure that any man that says he was not scared as hell at some time with the upcoming burden and responsibility of providing for a family is being truethful. I was a mess until you got it, the first moment I actually saw the ultrasound, then held my new- born daughter. My fears were lifted and was replaced with pure joy.

I wish for every father to feel this. If you are by chance in need of direction, guidance, education to learn more about becoming a father keep searching, it will be the hardest and best work of your life.

Caio

P.S. Baby food is pretty good!