My old man used to say, between puffs on his unfiltered cigarette, that “Every day is Mother’s Day, but Father’s Day is only once a year”.
When we had our first kid I didn’t go into work that day, trying to be supportive to the missus. The next day my boss asked where I was? I said my wife had a baby yesterday. My boss said “I didn’t ask where your wife was, I asked where you were.” Ever since then I have been getting tuned up for trying to be a good father without really having a clue how to do it.
Times change. Back in the day paternity leave was someone skipping town when they heard their girlfriend was pregnant. Today paternity leave means you can take months off to bond with the joyful bundle, change diapers and warm bottles, and get tuned up for trying to be a good father without really having a clue how to do it. Maybe times haven’t changed all that much after all.
Kids grow up, but they’re still your kids. Key to maintaining a healthy relationship with your grown children is staying in touch. One approach is to send them regular emails or texts that start out with endearing comments like “Only 57 shopping days left till Father’s Day “. Or this more recent one “Only 35 shopping days left till Father’s Day.” Of course, add some small talk to the note as well, they like that.
The grand kids asked me what I wanted for Father’s Day and I said “Some peace and quiet, goddamn it.” They said “How about some anger management sessions instead?” That really pissed me off.
Next year, to make everyone’s life a little easier, and stop them from asking me annoying questions, I plan to set up a Father’s Day gift registry at the Beer Store and Canadian Tire.
Happy Father’s Day.
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