Fatherhood & Contra on Nintendo

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A Start.

Every guy who grew up in the 80s knows it. It's the secret code you enter to start with 30 lives in Super Contra or Super C. I needed those 30 lives.

We were lucky enough to have a Nintendo, but I had to rent Contra from Movies & More or Treasured Times (independent video stores had great names back in the day).

We were also lucky enough to have a mom that had an internal clock. She knew when we started the game. It was an instinct. An intuition. And just when we were about to turn into hopeless awkward nerds, she would intervene and make us go outside and play. Thanks mom! I'm now a hopeless awkward nerd who enjoys the outdoors!

Let's get back to that cheat code. For a dad, who is trying to lead his family in a biblical way, a special needs diagnosis is like a cheat code.

You know longer have to guess at what your mission is. You already know.

Give your special needs child the best life possible despite the inherent diagnosis/limitations.

In my experience, being a special needs dad provides clarity in my role as a provider and a leader.

It makes it easier to say no to things that don't serve us.

Each day is a reminder of my mission as a dad.

I don't have to think about what to do next.

I've got the cheat code.

I've got Jude.

Thank you Lord for helping fathers find their way. Help families find mission, purpose, and goals. Thanks for making my goal glaringly clear.