Thom George: In so many ways our parents truly belonged to the Greatest Generation. My dad died October 21, 1987, 7 days before his 65th birthday. I made it back to his bedside and was with him when he died. During our last conversation he told me that despite growing up in a foster home, being injured in WW II, getting cancer at 38 years old, and losing a child when she was just 17, his only regret in life was that he didn't spend enough time with his children because he worked so much to provide for his wife and five children. Thanks to him I had an easy decision to make when my daughter was born in March 1991, I quit my job and stayed home to raise my children. I may not have the career I might have had, but I know I don't have the regret my dad did.

DFO: Fortunately, my job allowed me the wiggle room to always -- always! -- be there for my children, whether they were playing football in Orofino or performing in a high school play. My wife and I still joke about how we froze our tails off up and down the Idaho panhandle to watch Junior play football and baseball. When Sis played the femme lead in a Midsummer Night's Dream at Lake City her senior year, we attended six of the seven performances. Probably the only thing I missed was a certificate presentation in which she was named to the National Honor Society. And someone chided me for not being there. I pity any of you who put work or recreation before "being there" for your kids.

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