My son and I walked to a nearby ice-cream shop after dinner tonight. As we sat on the bench eating ice cream we watched the other families coming and going. We shared our observations and speculations about the other families.
As we walked home, I mentioned that on days like today, I feel a little "obvious"...no wedding ring, no mom, out with a teenage boy. I told him I feel like people look at us and think "weekend dad". He smiled and nodded and said "I know, me too, that's the stereotype". I replied that's why I like running errands with him weekday afternoons and evenings.
now what i thought was really cool about your post is that you have a 15 yr old son who goes for a wander with his dad, sits on a bench with him and eats icecream! that is so cool and pretty rare i would imagine these days, weekend dad or not.
you guys sound like you are doing pretty well, i agree that must have made your day
He had kept "that" letter, the one I sent him shortly before my older son was born. You know...the "I understand now" letter. (It's the one I want to get from each son when it's time...the one that will confirm that I was a good role model for them...the one that will let me know that I was right to think it was more important to be their father than their buddy.)
"The Living Years" indeed.
Considering his father died when he was four, I think he did a pretty good job of forming two generations of men: me, and through me, my sons.
Save those hugs and deliver them in person someday....so that afterward, I get to look each of your husbands in the eye and tell them what good and lucky men THEY are.
