Happy (un)Father’s Day
If you are a man, have reproduced and live in North America, most of Europe, Asia and Africa - then chances are you woke up this morning to be greeted with a breakfast of runny eggs and burnt waffles and, depending on career choice, a new tie/hammer/hand gun. But if you’re me, you were awoken with a prod, an “it’s your turn to get up with him” and a stale scone as a morning meal. (Insert adagio violins here.) You see, Dr. O’C managed to hit both the British Mother’s Day and Australian Mother’s Day in one year, and reaped the rewards of both. I, however, missed my first Father’s Day in Oz last September and am missing my first rest of the world Father’s Day today. Suspicious timing for the move, hmmmm?
Despite not even receiving a new pair of socks in recognition of my ability to keep a defenseless child alive for nine months, I’ve gotten a bit reflective (sappy) about my role as the pater familias.* I’ve been thinking about how much things have changed in the nine months since Z came into the world, how much my tolerance for another human being has grown. No matter what the scamp is doing, no matter how frustrated I get with him - whether it be for trying to eat the dog’s food or puking on my head I’m still delighted to have him around. I understand why parents put up with endless shit from their kids, why they bail them out when they’re in trouble and why they defend them beyond the point of reasonableness. For me there is something about looking at my child’s face and seeing a little bit of me and a little bit of the woman I love looking back at me. When I see that familiarity, no matter what the boy is doing - smacking my iPod repeatedly on the table or chasing the dog whilst roaring like a maniac - I can’t help but be in his thrall.
What was I writing about? That’s right, Father’s Day, which it is everywhere in the world except Oz, Luxemborg and Nepal (oh, and New Zealand). If you’re not in any of those places and if you’re a father I’d like to wish you a Happy Father’s Day. To my friends, “real” and cyber, around the world - Happy Father’s Day. But particularly to my own Dad. We’ve had our ups and downs over the years. One of the gifts of becoming a father is that I now understand him better. Love you Dad.
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It is not often that a cyber friend (at least I hope we kind of are) can write a post that makes me tear up a bit, but you have. In a good way. Beautiful thoughts!
Happy Father’s Day (U.S. style) and ummm, A Very Merry UnBirthday (Aussie style).
Vixen’s last blog post..About A Daddy
16 Jun 2008 at 1:27 am
Weird how such a small little bit of a person can change your whole world, huh? Happy Father’s Day.
Jessica K’s last blog post..Hiya
16 Jun 2008 at 2:20 am
Happy Father’s Day, Chris! It’s been a joy “seeing” you grow into a dad — and a great one, at that.
16 Jun 2008 at 3:04 am
Awww! Happy Fathers’ Day! Funny how the calendar is the same for Fathers Day, but Mums day is celebrated twice in the US and Britain. A mother undoubtedly is in control of that.
KathyF’s last blog post..Friday Chicken Blogging
16 Jun 2008 at 4:52 am
You bastard, you got to me. Happy virtual Father’s Day and don’t worry…with grace there’ll be many more.
arizaphale’s last blog post..Friday Night Frolics
16 Jun 2008 at 7:39 am
Yeah, that’s all great but where’s my present? I hear that the new MacBook is a must have for all the cool daddy bloggers.
16 Jun 2008 at 8:40 am
I DEF think a new MacBook is in order. You just moved continents and got a new job. I couldn’t think of a more appropriate gift.
Not Afraid To Use It’s last blog post..Smack My Ass And Call Me A Moron
16 Jun 2008 at 11:23 am
Hello
Happy father’s day. You are also getting 2 winters as well as no father’s day, but then you do get to live near the beach, bitch. Anyways I wish i had had a dad like you Zach is one lucky lil fellow with you and Sinead as parents, he’s growing so fast awhhhhhhh! MISS YOU GUYS!!!
SSG’s last blog post..Isolated tribe spotted in Brazil
16 Jun 2008 at 5:42 pm
oh and see http://postsecret.blogspot.com/
their fathers day cards almost made me cry!
SSG’s last blog post..Isolated tribe spotted in Brazil
16 Jun 2008 at 5:52 pm
Totally agree w/ the comment about seeing your own father in a different light. But Oz is in Bizzaro-world, everything would be opposite and yesterday really would be Mother’s Day for you and your family.
16 Jun 2008 at 11:15 pm
Happy Father’s Day to one of my very favorite “daddy bloggers”. You give them all a good name.
Maggie, dammit’s last blog post..Reason #3458734 I never leave the house.
17 Jun 2008 at 1:04 am
Happy belated Father’s Day! Your writing about Zach is so sweet that it kindles the 1% of me that wants a baby. But the other 99% that enjoys freedom eventually takes over again.:)
courtney’s last blog post..Me In Photos
17 Jun 2008 at 7:34 am
A wonderful post. *sniffle* I guess it takes living through a bit of ‘vomit on the head’ to conjure such poetry.
Happy Father’s.. um Week!
Hezamarie’s last blog post..as simple as I can put it
17 Jun 2008 at 5:43 pm
Happy Father’s Day, Chris.
17 Jun 2008 at 10:18 pm
Perfect accompanying song. Perfect.
Gypsy’s last blog post..When nothing else matters
19 Jun 2008 at 11:30 pm
I should have known there was something suspicious going on when Honey said she’d be able to go to Israel in June. No Father’s Day there (only Parent Day, and that was earlier this year).
You’re lucky to be able to better understand your father. Being a father only makes me more angry at him.
20 Jun 2008 at 1:00 am
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