GUITAR DAD

 
 

"You're a nincompoop," my 3-year-old daughter told me not long ago. Which says more about how she views her dad than how impressive her vocabulary has grown. When she rises from bed in the morning, I usually try for a hug or just a passing smile. But she issues a sharp "mama!" and makes a beeline for my wife.
 
Just the other day, on my way out the door, I knelt down to say goodbye to my little sweetheart. "I don't like your hair sticking up," she said bluntly, referring to my semi-spiky doo. "OK," I said. "But I love you." No response.
 
Lately I've discovered that telling her off-the-wall stories, ones that involve giants or princesses or frilly desserts, gets her attention. She even approaches me with requests. "Tell me a story, dada." And of course I'm happy to oblige. She'll sit on my lap and listen attentively, interjecting far-fetched details here and there and sometimes taking the tall tale in a whole new direction.
 
After one such storytelling adventure the other night, she followed me around the house for half an hour, just hanging with her dad. "Look, she's your buddy now," my wife said. But the next morning I was greeted with the same chilly reception ("mama!"). I do realize I'm making progress, though, little by little. Who knows, maybe one day she'll want me to teach her how to skateboard, or kick a soccer ball, or play guitar. A dad can dream, right?

 


Comments

christy reynolds

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:55:38

i loved this! lily is starting to be like this with tom too. (in fact, i'm emailing him this link to read)

don't worry, she'll grow out of it eventually. my dad is now one of my best friends. he introduced me to the beatles, didn't mind one bit when i had green and blue hair in high school, is always willing to be my "date" to a haunted house, went with me to get tattoos last year and is such a loving "papa".

your girl is super lucky to have you as her dad!

p.s. thanks again for the chicka chicka boom boom book.... it's sweet lil's favorite!

 

Cindy

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 14:53:13

Olivia was like this with Michael -- she was (and still is) a Momma's girl. I have to admit that it's a guilty pleasure for me because Ethan has always preferred his Dad. When she was born, I was secretly glad that she would reach for me and cry if Michael tried to take her. Even at age 7, she still crawls up in my lap and tells me "Mommy, I need to be with you." Here's the thing: whenever she does pay attention to her Daddy, it's so special that it makes him forget all the times he's had to beg for kisses.

 



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