Dad, Tell Me About the Time (54)

Monday, June 16, 2025

Do you have a family moto? What is it?

We don’t really have a family motto, but we do have a family cheer. As soon as Kira was able to talk, we started a family cheer. Every time we said our family prayers, we would kneel in a circle and then after the prayer, we would put our hands in the center of the circle and while raising our hands in the air we would shout, “The Leavitt’s Forever”. We all loved it.

What has brought you the most joy as a parent?

I tell everyone that will listen that your children will bring you the greatest joy and the greatest misery. When you see your children achieve something great or do something that brings them great joy, then your heart swells every bit as much as theirs do. If your child is sad or hurting, then you feel their pain as strongly as they do. If I had to sum that up into a single statement, then I guess the thing about being a parent that brings me the greatest joy is seeing my children succeed.

What significant illnesses have you had to deal with as a family?

The only significant illness that I can think of that we have had to deal with as a family would be Sarah’s IBS. We think it was instigated by a viral infection when Sarah was around fourteen or fifteen, but shortly after she got over a bad bout of the flu, she started getting gastrointestinal problems. She would get bad stomach aches and then she would get the runs and then she would get constipated. Her stomach pains were so great that it was debilitating for her.  

She then started through test after test eliminating Crohn’s disease, colitis, allergies, gluten intolerance, parasites, everything. They even sent a scope down her throat to see what it looked like inside her stomach. I think it is quite beautiful myself. Finally, they diagnosed her with irritable bowel syndrome. I’m pretty sure that is what they call an irritated bowl when they have no clue what is causing it.

To this day we have no idea what is causing it but while it still gives her problems, she has managed to keep it under control through diet.

While not a disease, three of our girls have had to deal with infertility, which was hard on the whole family. Kira, Sharley and Sarah all struggled to conceive, but through medical advances and divine intervention they have all been blessed to be able to conceive and bear children.

What is a trait your child or children have that you wish you possessed?

Let me answer this question for each of my kids.

Kira – is very patient and able to deal with difficult human relationships without offending or hurting the other person. She knows how to express her feelings in the least offensive way. Although what she says can be offensive, she is rarely more offensive than she needs to be.

Brandon – is very eloquent, and can put his thoughts down in writing better than just about anyone I know

Ben – is the gentle giant. Ben is slow to anger and even though he is susceptible to personal emotional hurt, I have never seen him react in a hurtful way. Even as a young child he rarely got into shouting matches or cruel arguments.

Alycia – somehow, is able to brighten any room that she enters. People gather around her and want to be her friend. She can relate to just about anybody.

Alex – is a leader. People want to be with him, and they want to follow him.

Sarah – has a kind heart. Even if she has been hurt by people she trusts, she is quick to forgive. She has a naturally sweet personality that can melt your heart.

If I could somehow incorporate each of these traits into my life, I would be a really good person. Some of the traits, however, are so foreign to me I have no idea where to start.