Father’s Day Fiasco

We went to a park for Father’s Day… it was a beautiful day and that was what the Dad wanted to do: go for a simple walk in the park. The trouble is that a walk in the park is usually what the Mom wants to do, and what the kids are habitually bummed out about. ( Remember that word “habitually” as the story unfolds). It shouldn’t matter that this is what Mom likes to do…. it shouldn’t matter that Dad wanted to do this simple, yet ( for most) enjoyable and healthy thing to do. But kids today have their preferred entertainments. And a walk in the park doesn’t seem among them.

As the attitudes drooped, the parents shared a wry laugh or two… ” It seems that teenage “rolling eyes” phenomenon is pretty common, Joyce Meyer’s described it : you know, “like they’re going to pass out”” “HA HA! That’s funny…I’ll have to remember that”. [I’m so going to blog that] “Yeah, it’s like we’re the Christian “Addam’s family”

I know this is the Munsters- but it made me think of the Addam’s family, and I don’t have a pic of that right now

But then, the mood changed. I think maybe that last thought had triggered it, I don’t know… or maybe the kids moving off to wait by the car and the pressure created to prematurely, and maybe unpleasantly, end the outing, or maybe the fact that for years we had weathered this sort of teenage rain on our parade… I don’t know. But it was bum-out time. And that was a shame.

I decided it was teaching moment, because too often we just let attitudes have their way, and allow what is simply “the culture” hold sway. So I had the little talk where the obvious gets pointed out: that even if you are tired or bored, or it isn’t something you want to do…sometimes you make the effort to participate and be a companion to a person just for their sake. Sometimes for a father…on Father’s day… you just try to not complain and spend an hour or two with what he has decided to enjoy. Just be with him, and remember the times he has done that for you. He doesn’t always feel like driving you to the youth events you like to go to…. but makes the effort because it is something you would like. That’s what people do as they mature- care about what matters to others, more.

You know… stuff like that.

I wish I could say the day turned around. It really didn’t, although it ameliorated, and I think some lessons were listened to. We enjoyed some fried chicken and spinach salad with fresh sliced bread on the side. and that was nice, but family life is life, you know? It has its ups and downs and we aren’t always the Pleasantville picture we wish we were, but I guess the good part is we are together. that counts for something, right?