Another Father's Day is done. We sit here in my backyard, ice melting in our scotch glasses as they rest on the arm of our Muskoka chairs and you and I get to reflect on how we did as fathers this year.
I know you did well. Your kids are doing great and I love the pics your kids posted. I really like the one you posted of your Dad. I miss that guy.
I had a good year too. My Dad is still with me and I am so lucky to able to say that. My kids have made me proud but that has more to do with their Mom than it does with me.
But I don't know. I think we could have done better. I keep getting this nagging feeling. Do you feel it? I do. I don't want to call too much attention to it but I feel like collectively, it wasn't the best year for "Dad" the brand. I think as a group, we may be dropping the ball a bit. Let me explain.
Have you ever had a kid grab on to you, or jump up into your lap at a party because they thought you were their Dad? The kid might be sleepy or distracted, sees the legs, the Dad jeans, and then just climbs right up. Sometimes the kid is shocked and gets down immediately but sometimes the kid shrugs and just snuggles in figuring, that, well, you look like a Dad and you will look after me.
Funny, as many times as I have seen that happen, I've never seen a man, whether he is young or old, whether he is a father or not, whether he is in mid conversation or sitting quietly in the corner, reject the kid. The sleepy kid climbs up. We look around for the "real" Dad and if he isn't there, then OK kid, you stay right there, safe and sound until your Dad comes back.
You had a good year and so did your kids. I did too but I don't know, Dads as a group, we've failed.
If we hadn't, one of us would've helped the kid in the picture.
