Be a MaxOver Dad
What is a MaxOver Dad, you may wonder? Understanding the answer to that question requires that you know a little more about the man who served as the inspiration for our company name.
Max was a husband, father, and grandfather. A drug store clerk, grocery bagger, warehouse manager, city bus driver, and terminal manager at a trucking company. A family-loving, grandchildren-teasing, John-Deere-driving old man whose life spanned a century, from just before World War I to 2012.
To MaxOver’s founder, Jon Burrell, Max was Grandpa. He taught Jon how to fly fish and how to fix dishwashers, dryers, lawnmowers, cars, and more. Max had a laid-back, no-worries approach to life, which extended even to situations like a child driving his boat or getting a fishing hook stuck in his ear. When talking about Max, Jon often refers to a story about old men by Pat McManus. Pat said every kid needs an Old Man—for Jon, that was his grandpa.
Like Max, a MaxOver Dad is someone who is there for the kids in his life. He teaches them about life and gives them the courage to take risks. He doesn’t need grand gestures because he is there for the little things—the recitals and contests and ball games. He helps them develop confidence and demonstrates how to handle both success and failure.
A MaxOver Dad may or may not be a biological dad. Take a look around this week for the kids around you who might need a little extra encouragement. A little extra attention. A little extra dad presence in their lives.
For us at MaxOver, talking about a dad’s influence is a natural tie-in to our daily business, because we believe sports can be a great bonding experience for kids and their dads. Playing catch or going to games together offers opportunities for kids to learn about hard work, perseverance, teamwork, success and failure.
Through sports, dads have the opportunity teach a lot of lessons, but the most important thing they can do is show up. The Fuller Youth Institute found that the most important words a parent can tell a young athlete are actually very simple: “I love to watch you play.” That’s it.
What’s a #MaxOverDad? Someone who loves, teaches, and shows up. #BeAMaxOverDad. [Source: @MaxOverTees] (Click to Tweet!)
This month, we’re challenging dads to be there. Be a MaxOver Dad—to your own kids, to the other athletes on your kid’s team, to that neighborhood kid who’s always hanging around at the edge of the crowd.
We’d love to hear how it goes. If you’re a dad, share a pic of the kids you love, or if you’re a kid, share about the MaxOver Dad in your life. You can connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, or our website. And just as a little extra incentive, anyone who shares a photo with the hashtag #MaxOverDad or #BeAMaxOverDad will receive a 10% discount to use on your next purchase at MaxOver!
