July 09, 2003

letters from mr. mom

To: H
From: Dad@dademail.com
RE: no subject

H,

I miss you, kid. I miss a lot of things and wish I had done better by you guys.

Love you,

Dad

To: Dad@dademail.com
From: H
RE: WHAT?

Dad,

Done better by us? Are you kidding me??
I don't think I know anyone whose father was more involved in their childhood. Now, I know things are really hard on you right now, but you can't seriously think you were a let-down as a father. Who put their socks in the dryer so we could put them on after sledding, when our toes were the color of raspberries? Who took us all the way down to 7-11 in that little red wagon, with us making obnoxious noises over the gravel all the way... and didn't strangle us? Who taught me that boys are for carrying heavy things and paying for my movie? Yeah, you made us weed the garden and that sucked. Yeah, you ruined some stuff in the wash. And sometimes you yelled... But I yelled back. You think things would have been BETTER if you were the typical bread-winning father -- always in the office and never home? I hardly think so. I don't think you could have done better by us. So there.

Love,

H

Posted by This Fish at July 9, 2003 09:27 AM
Comments

you're so lucky to have a dad that wants to do even more for you. a few days ago i sent yet another "do you know how much it hurts me that you don't contact me or show interest in me?" email to my dad, and yet again, there's no response. i know that for all of us it's a balance of what we have that is wonderful, and what we have that is difficult--and since the grass is always greener i can't help but envy you for your caring dad. i would give anything just to get a "hi, how are you, my only child?" email from my dad...

Posted by: sassylittlepunkin at July 9, 2003 11:26 AM

Not bad for a girl who grew up in The Hitting House -- or the guy who ran it.

Perhaps there's hope for both of you. :-)

Posted by: Ralph at July 9, 2003 05:07 PM

note that it was my mother who hit...

Posted by: Fish at July 9, 2003 06:06 PM

That's a very sweet email from your da. He's marshmallow on the inside, sounds like. Wish my &^%$% boyfriends coulda been a little more mallow and a little less beefjerk (heavy on the jerk)tough.

Posted by: Katherine at July 9, 2003 10:15 PM

Heehee. Wish I lived somewhere where I could go sledding. :)

Posted by: tab at July 9, 2003 11:06 PM

That is so sweet!

Posted by: Andi at July 10, 2003 01:24 PM

That was so so sweet. Dads rock! Even when they thousands of miles away.

Posted by: Lana at July 10, 2003 02:09 PM

Ah, yes. I stand corrected.

Posted by: Ralph at July 10, 2003 02:22 PM

I cannot say but I always envy people who grew up with their fathers. It is wonderful to see how people care for their offspring, even when the offspring have left to lead their own life. Lucky you!

Posted by: Kristín at July 12, 2003 04:38 PM

my dad used to do the same thing with his socks. brings back memories, that does.

Posted by: ji-an at July 28, 2003 12:56 AM