A couple of days ago I went with the first lady , #1 and #2 to the open house at their school. I was lucky enough to have a school built in my backyard, so the girls have a whole new adventure. #1 has been going to school across town, and #2 has been itching to start Kindergarten all summer long. With the new school they both can walk to school and walk to child care after school. (read my earlier post)We toured the school and all the new amenities it has to offer. (Most notably air conditioning) We meet the girls teachers and examined all parts of the premises including the playground. It started getting late and I asked the girls to head to the car for the 5 block ride home. They both started whining about not getting to play enough on the playground equipment but I told them it was late and we had to go. Right then, #1 pulled out the mother of all phrases and let me have it…”I hate you dad!”
Wow, the mother of all phrases! “I hate you Dad”. (This reminded me of the movie “A Christmas story” were Ralph drops the “oh fudge” line when he kicks the hubcap full of lug nuts.) No going back now, it’s out there. #1 hates her father! No I didn’t go home and make her stand in the bathroom with a bar of soap in her mouth. I let it sink in a moment, then I let her know how disappointed I was to hear that she hated her dad. The conversation was about as brief as the trip home. Once there the kids went to the living room to play Wii and I went to the computer room to catch up on some work. About 10 minutes later I heard some crying followed by #1 saying to #2 that she has to go talk to dad. #1 came in and started crying and telling me how sorry she was for telling me she hated me. She gave me a huge hug and told me how much she loved me and that she didn’t want me to be hurt by the awful thing she had said. As the father of an 8 year old, I was floored by the maturity I was hearing. She was more hurt than me by what she said. We both hugged and I assured her that I love her very much and I expect her to be disappointed with my decisions from time to time. I can tell you, that moment moved me more than anything else in my life. As a parent I give a lot of love to my kids and never expect to get a high return. This one broke my bank. I can’t tell you how proud I am that I’m raising a girl that not only loves her father but has the mindset to realize that one’s actions can hurt someone. I know my kids have given me plenty of gifts I the past, homemade greeting cards, candy, I don’t remember all of them but I will never forget this one, the gift of Love.
