MY Daddy!
Sometimes, I forget that I’m a dad.
I don’t forget that I have a child, there’s too many toys on my floor to ever forget a child lives here. But usually when I think of me, I see myself as the same ole’ Dave – a dreamer, writer, sometimes moody, sometimes goofy, cookie-loving, woefully unskilled at fixing things sorta guy I’ve been forever.
And then there’s moments which remind me of my newest role in life. Like this moment.
I picked up my son from daycare Thursday. When I arrived, there were only two kids on the playground, my two year old son, E, and his friend/classmate, Ryan.
The minute E saw me coming up the sidewalk towards the playground, he started running with his arms open, saying, “Daddy!”
Only he wasn’t running alone. Ryan was also running and saying, “Daddy.”
I’m not sure if Ryan was being playful or if he thought his dad was also there. Kid logic dictates that if E’s daddy is there, so must his. At any rate, just as I reached the fence where both boys were, they lined up to get to me. E put his hands up to Ryan, pushing him backwards (though not down) and shook his head and said …
“No, not YOUR daddy, MY daddy.”
I opened the gate and he ran up and hugged me saying, “my daddy.”
It was an adorable reminder that yes, I am a daddy. I am E’s daddy. And I felt a bit of pride swell up, and maybe even a tear or two (which I immediately fought back in a manly way by punching myself in the face).
That night, my wife, E and I were sitting in the living room and I asked E for a hug, to which he responded with a shake of his head as he went about the business of playing. Hey, these cars aren’t going to drive themselves, are they?
“Okay, I guess I’ll just ask Ry Ry to hug me,” I teased.
Yeah, not my proudest moment, guilt tripping my son into loving me. I hate guilt trips – both pulling them and having them pulled on me. I consider that the providence of over-attentive/protective mothers. Or perhaps myself in another 12 years in attempts trying to deal with a teenager.
E looked up at me, the wheels spinning in his head as he processed what I said, then hugged me, saying, “My daddy, not Ry-Ry’s.”
Aww, I know, right?
Saturday, we were all in the living room again. It had been a few days since we’d spoken of Ryan or “my daddy.” Out of the blue, E came up to me, wrapped his hands around me, laying his head on my belly and looked up at me, saying, “My daddy, not Ry-Ry’s.”
My heart melted and this time, it was I who felt a bit guilty. Wait a second, did my son just learn to guilt trip me?
Here are some recent pictures from when I took my son to the local fire station and asked the guys to show him around. Click and of the pics to enlarge.
A firefighter/paramedic shows E some of the gear in his truck.
A firefighter/paramedic shows E some of the gear in his truck.
E, the honorary Fire Chief. Now that he's earning a chief's salary, he can get some more toys.
Come back tomorrow when I talk about my proudest accomplishment on the web – and it has to to do with My Little Pony.
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Here’s saluting the new Fire Chief. Go E!
As to your question: yeah, I think E has hit on surefire tactic of guilt-tripping his Dad. lols. Smart kid, E.
Dave,
I heard you needed a punch in the face or something? So here I am! Trust me buddy, it’ll hurt me more than it’ll hurt you, but I’m willing to make that sacrifice for a friend.
Dave´s last blog ..The Snorkflingers Are Over Here Too
It’s hard for me to forget that I’m a dad with almost five kids.. o.O
I had an instance where my heart melted as well, my near 2 year old aid to me when I got home one afternoon..
“Daddy, why work bye?” Translated.. “Daddy, why did you go to work and not tell me bye”
Eric´s last blog ..Weekend Wrap Up – In the form of a Haiku
He is too cute! When you have many children close in age, they all claim that you’re THEIR mom/dad, not their siblings. It’s good to feel so wanted, until they move on from fighting over you to fighting over the green light saber and you realize it wasn’t so much about you.
Tracy´s last blog ..I have one of the best writer’s websites in 2009 according to Writer’s Digest
I hate it when I have to punch myself in the face, but those moments seem to happen more frequently lately
PJ Mullen´s last blog ..Top 10 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time
When my son around three, there was this other little three year old girl named Kai who went to our school. She kept calling me, “Daddy” over and over. Every time she did it she would look over at my son, trying to get his goat. This went on for maybe two to three weeks. Each time he would say, “He’s not your daddy. He’s my daddy.” Finally, while at the park, Kai called me daddy again and then flashed a “what’re you gonna do about it” look at my son. A normally gentle and sensitive boy, my son pushed her from the last stair of the play set and into the sand, then jumped on top of her and started yelling at her, “I told you he’s not your daddy! He’s mine!”
Writer Dad´s last blog ..Happy Birthday, Megan!
Hey, it sounds like your boy is a “chip off the old block” as they say.
Square Peg Guy´s last blog ..Top Ten Books That Influenced Me The Most
Jan – Thanks. And yes, he is a smart kid. I’ve got my hands full, don’t I?
Dave – Hey, I can always count on you, buddy. I appreciate your sacrifices. You are truly a giant among men.
Eric – Aw, that’s sweet. I bet you never forget to say “bye” again, eh?
Tracy – Well, I WAS feeling good. Thanks!
PJ Mullen – It happens as we get older, it seems.
Writer Dad – LOL. You Go, boy! That will teach her to leave his goat alone.
Square Peg Guy – I certainly hope not.
Simply adorable!
You know last night as I was drifting off to bed I realized, wait a second I probably shouldn’t have posted that. All kids are precious and wonderful, but I’ve noticed a very distinct difference (neither better or worse) in my relationship with my oldest who was an only for 7 years and my four youngest who were all born in a 5 year time span.
I admit, sometimes when I read about families that only have one child, I feel a little wistful for those times when I had only one. I don’t think the love was any more than I have with my others, but it was a much closer relationship. Of course, I am close with all my children, but they also have each other.
Funny, I don’t think anyone who reads about my four little ones feels a strange longing for a herd of wild rapscallions jumping off the bannisters.
Tracy´s last blog ..I have one of the best writer’s websites in 2009 according to Writer’s Digest
bwaahaha, delayed response I know, but if Sean can post on KW after the fact, I can chime in with my laugh…. someone/somechild/somedad is scarred for life…..
I loved your story and enjoy being proud…and the pictures…fabulous
Patricia´s last blog ..I LOVE THIS MAGAZINE