Papa's are people too

During a conversation about my son's looming departure to pre-school I really stepped in it. I ask my wife, who is a stay at home mom, "then what are you going to do?" Man did I get an ear full.

There was a miss understanding however. With him going to school, her full time job would change a bit. I was simply wondering what she would do with an extra 3 hours. That is a life time when your days are as full as theirs are now. The question had more to do with us as parents and how we balance our personal goals with being providers.

It seems to me that part of being a good parent is being a whole person. Your kids need to see you enjoying things that are just for you. My mom gained a new level of respect from me when she went back to college while I was in grade school. She would teach me new vocabulary from her English class. I walked around all summer asking people if they were "too inebriated to perambulate". I think she thought is was funny too.

Men in particular can appear one dimensional to their kids at times. If your dad was like mine you know it was all about work, fixing stuff, and watching or listening to the game. So hearing stories of his road trip to Mexico City, was eye opening, I just didn't think he would do something like that. The times he would starting dancing in the living room on Saturday nights were hilarious! They weren't just mom and dad anymore, they were people too.