I just saw the cutest thing in the men's restroom!
Before you jump to conclusions, let me add that I caught a glimpse of my future that makes me even more proud to be a daddy.
A father and his young son – maybe 3 or 4 years old – were making use of the urinals (those are the "wall potties" for you ladies who don't know). Well, instead of using a flap or just pulling down the front of his shorts, the little guy had his pantaloons all the way down to his ankles. So there was little-boy-butt right next to his dad's thankfully more discreet peeing technique.
I was washing my hands by the time the father-son team had concquered Mount Takeapiss. We have automatic flushers that sense when you are there and when you leave, but the small fry's wouldn't work.
"Why didn't my potty flush, Daddy?"
"Because you're too short to make it flush." He stood in front of it to trip the sensor, and then they washed their hands together.
When my wife became pregnant, we told ourselves we didn't care whether the child was male or female. This was quite true. We were blessed to be expecting a child, especially after some past events and circumstances I won't mention now. We wanted healthy and happy. We got that and more ... he is also smart and extremely cute. And he just happens to be a boy.
So, while little boys love their mommas and cling to them early in life (something everyone tells us), there will come a time when it's my turn. I'll have a camping buddy, a hardware-store buddy, a little boy who will look up to his father – and I'm a father who hopes he can live up to at least half his son's expectations. A father who will do his best to foster his son's physical and spiritual growth through training and by example. Or at least that's the plan. For some reason, kids have minds of their own.
In the meantime, I can look forward to more diapers before taking joint trips to the restroom. They grow up so fast – ours was born yesterday and is already almost 8 months old – that you can't take special moments for granted.
Even if they involve pee and toilets that won't flush.
ESPECIALLY if they involve pee and toilets that won't flush.
My father wasn't discouraged by only have girls. Instead, he pointed out the joys of shooting, fishing and automobiles. We became his hardware-store buddies.
My father-in-law has three daughters and turned them all into daddy's little girls – not a bad thing at all.
Now, with a grandson, he'll get to share in some of those boys-only moments. The best of both worlds for him!
Hey T-Bone. J and I have gone through some pretty trying circumstances in the baby department too, and like you guys, someday when we are finally blessed, just hope for healthy. That being said...I would love to have a boy. They are just so much fun. Ironically enough, however, I have two brothers and out of the three of us, I am closest to my dad. I think that you will have great moments because you are a great dad. Period.
A couple weeks ago I was riding the bus home from work on a game day. The bus was packed with baseball fans. I found myself getting a little fuzzy while watching a father and his 5 year-old son trade baseball cards with some of the dad's friends. It was the cutest darn thing and they were teasing him and ruffling his hair every now and then. Teaching him to negotiate and make fun, the way men do. I went home wishing I had a son so I could watch his father teach how to be a man.
That was such a sweet story, your son is very lucky to have a father like you. I love my dad, but he was definately from a generation that left most of the child-rearing to the mom and really couldn't relate to girls (he had two of each). I know my future husband will be more like you in the father department and I'm totally looking forward to taking that on in the next couple years.
a) Sometimes, T-Bone, I really wish I could be your little child. You are the kind of a father I would have liked to have had around in my childhood.
b) When I grow up, that is to say, when I will have my own house (if ever), I want a urinal! With three men in the house you'd definitely need a urinal.
c) Here I go again, tears in my eyes. Call me a big softy.
d) You are an inspiration to other parents.
You made me want to be in the men's restroom too! How cute!
That was a cute story, even though it involved a men's restroom.(i didn't know that was possible )
You must be a wonderful father :)
The automatic flushing to this day terrifies Little Ms. Prissy Princess. When Q14 was younger, my dad had to play the "father" role in his life for 10 years as I was a single mom. The other thing you can be thankful that I'm now find out ~ little boys don't have this uncanning desire to check out EVERY bathroom of every place you enter as little girls seem to need to do. *rolling eyes* ~
Thanks for sharing--fathers and their children are one of the heart-softening things I ever see. Especially when it involves adoring fathers and their adorable sons. :)
Thanks for sharing--fathers and their children are one of the most heart-melting things I ever see. Especially when it involves adoring fathers and their adorable sons. :)
I even made my husband read this...
That's so cute. It's a sight I will probably never see (since I don't go into men's restrooms).
Great description of a sweet moment. I have 2 boys and a girl. The oldest boy is 7 and it is great to watch him and hid dad do things together.
You are the cutest, T-Bone!!
Same goes here. We had a lot of problems that resulted in us talking more about adoption than ever having kids of our own (hard to believe now, isn't it??) Our first was a girl, but when we had the ultrasound for our second, and that tell-tale crotch shot appeared, Grendel lit up like a Christmas tree and I don't think ever came down.
Even now, with two boys, he gets a goofy grin going when you say "the boys." He loves Beanie, but I know there is something special about a father and his son. They'll have a lifetime of talking football and baseball and building little electronic things together. Grendel is already making noises about model rockets.
nice post; brings back a lot of memories between me and my father...
like when he taught me to swim: "kick your feet or you'll drown and we'll have to get another kid to mow the lawn"
like when he taught me to play football: "your grandmother tackles harder than you do son, try harder or no dinner for a week"
like when he taught me to drive: "look, its really simple, if you wreck this car you'll walk everywhere until you're 50"
hmm.. maybe some memories are better kept repressed.. ;)
I know what you mean. Sometimes my daughter and I just go out shopping or whatever. It's fun because the hubby isn't interested. Yesterday we had our nails done together. It's such a special time.