We always knew the off limits topics with Dad growing up. There were only two, if I recall . . . The War (My Dad served as a marine in WW II) and his Dad.
Well thank God for Moms because without mine, I would never have known of the “excuse” my father used regarding his Dad.
One day, his Father ran off with his Secretary leaving his wife and 8 children to sink or swim.
This became my Dad’s “excuse” to be a better Dad!
And he was quite relentless in the making sure he gave us a better childhood!
I remember being in my teens and my Dad would call me over and hand me a few bucks that he would call “walking around money”. That was another of Dad’s “excuses”. In this case so I never experienced the feeling of empty pockets like he did growing up during the Depression.
And there was another type of “excuse” at play.
My Dad accepted no “excuses” from me when I didn’t want to go to college and wanted to pursue music. Side Note: Kudos to Dad on discouraging my rock star dreams. As it turns out, there isn’t much of a market for overweight, balding dudes. Who knew?
So maybe the long and the short of it is . . .
If you didn’t have a good relationship with your Dad, didn’t see your Dad much, lost your Dad early in your life like I did . . .let that be your “excuse” to be an awesome Dad!
Had an awesome Dad? Well, there’s your excuse to give your kids the benefit of that and while you’re at it . . . give them a better experience!
Our need to conquer the world at work, should never be an “excuse” to back burner being a Dad . . . please don’t ever forget that!
Don’t have any children? Perhaps you can be “Fatherly” to someone who could use a Father figure in their life? Perhaps you can offer “Fatherly” advice. No “excuses” ever needed when we give to others.
There’s no” excuse” on Father’s Day not to express your gratitude to your Father or someone who was a Father figure. If they are no longer with you, say a prayer or lift your glass in their honor.
On that note, it would be “inexcusable” for me not to mention my Father in law. I truly regard you as my second Dad. You brought Laura into this world and added profound meaning to mine as a result. And I want you to know that I forgive you for that time when I was 17 and Laura 16. It was night time, we were sitting in the back seat of your car and you kept turning on the interior light at every stop sign. Electrical problems my ass!
To my children . . . My “excuse” is the overwhelming feeling of abundance that I felt when I watched you take your first breath. Its actually the same feeling I experience each day, as I watch you grow into the young adults that you have become. To say that I love being your Dad would be the understatement of a lifetime!
And to my Dad: our time is not done . . . it is simply to be continued!
So to all our Dads, Father in laws, all those who are Fatherly or Father figures; today you were my “excuse” for writing this blog!
Happy Father’s Day!
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