I totally forgot that yesterday was Father’s Day in much of the Northern Hemisphere* until I saw PostSecret’s “Father’s Day Secrets“. And then I got all sappy and teary-eyed. As you do.
Especially over these ones:
That last one, in particular, got to me. I’ve noticed lately, particularly with Boy Z, this primal need for recognition from his Dad. We do swimming lessons on a Sunday morning. After the rush of pride over seeing him swim on his own for the first few times, it starts to get a bit redundant. Boy Z floundering through the water up the lane. Boy Z floundering down the lane. Sometimes, midway through the class, I reach for my iPod for a quick game of solitaire to while the time away. But inevitably, Boy Z looks up with a smile whenever he passes me to make sure I’m watching. To make sure I’m bursting with paternal pride.
As you do.
Because apparently, for a nearly three year old boy, paternal recognition/pride is as important as three squares a day. And it isn’t just the near three year old. These days, Not Max makes sure to make eye contact with me before he pulls plates full of food off the table. I can see that this business of raising boys is just chock full of paternal responsibilities of which I never even conceived.
So there you go. Happy belated Fathers’ Day to all you Northern Hemisphere dads who have spent countless Sunday mornings bursting with paternal pride – genuine or adequately feigned. Especially to my Dad, who has photographic evidence of his presence in the bleachers.
Based on the relative position of ball and bat/glove in these photos, he must have gotten pretty good at feigning pride.
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Cannonball Adderley’s “Somethin’ Else” is available from 
.
*For the record, Father’s Day Down Under is September 5 if you want to plan your shopping.
Postcard images from PostSecret.
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by muskrat
21 Jun 2010 at 23:34
Thanks…you too. My boy seems proud of his poops and what he pushes off his tray onto the floor right now. Perhaps that will change when it’s pushing 3 instead of 2.
muskrat´s last blog ..the importance of staying small
by Technobabe
21 Jun 2010 at 23:44
Cute. Interesting that looking at the location of the ball in these photos can tell you so much about your dad. Good for him. And I hope your kids one day can find the same thing about you.
Technobabe´s last blog ..He Always Wanted To Be A Father
by SciFi Dad
22 Jun 2010 at 01:08
Other than “nipper” (which, despite sounding more than a little like “nipple” actually means “whipper snipper”… my wife’s word for a lawn edger/weed whacker) my son’s most frequent utterance is “Daddy watch!” and he then watches me to make sure I don’t look away the whole time he’s doing something.
by courtney
22 Jun 2010 at 01:09
I still find myself seeking my parents’ approval, and I’m 30. I guess it’s something you never really grow out of.
courtney´s last blog ..Stay!
by Ginny
22 Jun 2010 at 01:58
Oh man, that first Post Secret took me out – wept like a little girl. I love watching you be a dad. I think you’re probably quite good at it, really.
by expatsagain
22 Jun 2010 at 05:08
As a parent of two grown sons and 10 grandchildren, I’d say children never stop seeking their parent’s approval. It’s good that you are aware of this at their tender age. They will thank you for it one day.
by ellie
22 Jun 2010 at 05:21
You’re a good Dad; which, I think, makes you a good man.
ellie´s last blog ..Arrivals
by Irrational Dad
22 Jun 2010 at 10:26
And a very happy Father’s Day to you too!
Irrational Dad´s last blog ..For Father’s Day
by Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)
22 Jun 2010 at 15:05
And a Happy Father’s Day to you too, whether it’s celebrated there or not.
Like the fancy glovework.
Seattledad (Luke, I am Your Father)´s last blog ..A Quest For Fun
by Agnes
22 Jun 2010 at 15:17
Nice shorts!
Agnes´s last blog ..You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
by Jill/Twipply Skwood
22 Jun 2010 at 20:47
Very sweet!
by The Unbearable Banishment
22 Jun 2010 at 21:25
You really do have to be careful with the second one that you don’t short change them. It all “been there, done that” for the parent and it can be quite tiresome, but an effort must be made. That’s what’s going on inside my head, anyway.
The Unbearable Banishment´s last blog ..Your horrible success
by chris
23 Jun 2010 at 05:10
Happy Pap’s Day! I think much like Little League, as a parent, you get a trophy for showing up and trying your best. The people I know(self included) who have a big problem still with one or both parents, it’s because they just checked out.
by People in the Sun
23 Jun 2010 at 12:34
My father didn’t come to bleachers, but he did come to a couple of parent-teacher meetings. I don’t have photographic proof of that, but I’ll never forget him telling me, “This teacher, she was a real lollipop, wasn’t she?”
We visited relatives on Father’s Day, and I went downstairs with the boy to play soccer, which meant me rolling the ball around with one foot while he runs around me in circles (I’m THAT good). At some point, I took my phone out to check my email. He immediately noticed, and said, using all his limited vocabulary, “No! No talk on phone! Put phone back in pocket!”
Every day is an adventure with him. A belated Happy Father’s Day to you too!
People in the Sun´s last blog ..Relativism
by Jacob
24 Jun 2010 at 12:39
I sometimes meet strangers who inexplicably seem to already know me like family, then I realize that they know my dad. He seems to manage to spend most of his time talking about his family and still remain popular. I don’t think he’s ever had to feign it.
I find it a little more difficult to find sincerity with my own, but I try.
Jacob´s last blog ..To Paraphrase W.C. Fields…
by A Free Man
24 Jun 2010 at 14:23
Muskrat – It’s all about shit and destruction with the pre-toddlers, isn’t it?
Technobabe – Well, consider the ball is at least a meter away from either my ball or my glove, I’m assuming that I wasn’t a pleasure to watch on the diamond.
SciFi – That’s it, isn’t it? Watch me. Watch me! We don’t really grow out of it, do we?
Courtney – Beautifully illustrated.
Ginny – I know! The first one got me as well.
Expats – Everything I know about raising boys is that you give them attention. Doing my best.
Ellie – Well, thanks.
Irrational – Thanks!
Seattledad – Good, isn’t it? I guess that’s why I’m in the line of work I’m in.
Agnes – I wish I had some like them now. I’d ship them over to Tony Abbott. Help him cover up a bit.
Jill – Thanks.
TUB – Yeah, I know. I’m working on my feigning excitement face.
PIS – They’re finely tuned to any adult distractions.
Jacob – I reckon we ALL have to feign it sometimes.
A Free Man´s last blog ..One for Daddy-O
by blues
25 Jun 2010 at 05:01
You’re probably one of the world’s best dads. And I’m lame for forgetting to wish you a happy father’s day.
blues´s last blog ..I’m fine, really, I just needed to go for a jog and to say the fuck-word ten hundred times
by flutter
27 Jun 2010 at 14:07
Thank you for being such a loving, present Dad to your kids.
flutter´s last blog ..medulla oblongata
by arizaphale
29 Jun 2010 at 19:14
Cool dad indeed…and there’s no feigning when I see you doing your dad thing! The best gift you can give a child is your presence and your interest. As some smart person once said, spend have as much on them and twic as much time with them. You will reap the rewards.
Happy N H Father’s Day
arizaphale´s last blog ..KI Teaser
by arizaphale
29 Jun 2010 at 19:15
OK. I think I’m cold and sick….I’ll try that again
“half as much on them and twice as much time with them…..”