Letters to the Editor
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It's ok not to like small children
They're kind of annoying. and it's not like you're going to live long enough to listen to them whine about it family therapy.
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Go gramps, hit that pretty young thing!
I love being a man.
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Yeah, I get it. I just don't give a damn.
Your doing the humorist-as-lovable-curmudgeon thing. But I read the article and wish you had had a vasectomy years ago. Hope your kids decide they care about the big things, like attending your funeral, while not being concerned about the tedious little things, like wishing you a Happy Father's Day every year. You know the old Wayne's World "We're not worthy! We're not worthy!"? Well, kneel to your new sons and repeat, ad infinitum.
This article's so phony, it even fudges on the date. It reads "June 17, 2007," which would be Father's Day, of course. Excepted it wasn't written then, and was in fact posted the day before, sometime in the afternoon.
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Really Bad Dad
Well, Daniel, if it's any comfort, to certain people I'm a worse Dad than you'll ever be. I never had any kids at all.
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Ghingis, Chris88
Ghingis: fait accompli
Chris88: Publications routinely stick to early deadlines. Check the major national newspapers' websites sometime.
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Happy Father's Day, Guys!!!
To all the men who read this, who truly care about the girls and boys you have spawned . . . when you get together with a woman (via sperm bank, or otw) to create a child, and choose to make him/her a part of your life, at least as valuable as a precious jewel . . . Well, you are a hero, and I love you all!!
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Few thoughts
This is why writing is such drudgery. There's always someone with a bigger ego. I disagree with pretty much everything the author said here, but probably the most distateful part of the article is the growing population of people who feel they are more emotionally fulfilled, more morally centered, more qualified for martyrdom, god knows what else, on their computers at home playing armchair psychologist. Take it with a grain of salt and get over yourselves.
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Reading and Ranting
It's clear that many passionate writers try to outrant the author. Some succeed. But these replies are irrelevant. Here's why.
Rose writes that he was involved in raising the first set of children and is involved in raising the second. He also loves to play with his kids and to be with them. Several responders would be well served to reread Rose's article as a reminder that the man cares. But many writers seem to say that Rose's failing is that he doesn't literally enjoy every waking moment with his kids or appreciate every comment or every act.
Should Rose enjoy Barney Redux? What about Chutes & Ladders II: the New Batch?
Still, to be sure, parenting allows for wonder and joy. Singing to a baby can birth more delight in a parent than a child. Also, those first steps don't need to be recorded on video: parents will remember them. First t-ball game. First day of school. First date.
Of course, some extraordinary moments become etched in oft-told parents' "war stories." The vomit-plagued vacation. The toxic diaper. The literal cat bath.
And then there are the tedious "Big Fun" moments that, unfortunately, fill too many days. Scenario One: The second year of t-ball. It's cold. The port-a-potties haven't yet been placed. The game progresses at the rate of one hour per inning. Scenario Two: orthodontist's office. Another missing retainer. The trip to the office resulted in lots of yelling by the interested parties that nearly melted the plastic cup holders. In the office, sullen silence is accompanied by feigned study of National Geographic. Scenario Three: family at table eating supper. "How was your day?" Grunt. "What?" "Fine." "Yeah, fine. Geez, gimme a break." Sudden but not surprising appearance of an iPod.
No wonder parents cry at graduation.
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What an incredible group of jerks you people are
I have three daughters. I'm a man. He's absolutely right. Much of being a father involves dealing with situations or stuff you just can't stand. I hate playing "Candyland." I hate refereeing toddler battles. I hate having to explain stuff like why bears aren't robots ("How do you know? Have you ever looked at a bear?") That's why they call parenting hard work, people.
And for some reason, pointing these facts out apparently gives everyone who reads Salon license to attack this guy for being, among other things, misogynist, sexist, ungrateful, brutal, cruel, on and on and on.
If a woman had written this stuff, you'd be cheering her on. But since a FATHER wrote it, let's line up and kill him.
And tomorrow is Father's Day. And true to form, just as Valentine's Day is an occasion for droning on, yet again, about date rape and wife-beating, Father's Day is an occasion for attacking fathers. Like this guy.
Virtually every single letter about this essay pivots into a personal attack on him. It's amazing. It's a flock of politically correct sheep. Does it ever bug you that you all think exactly the same thing? This reminds me of East Germany in the fifties, when everyone finds someone who's ideologically impure, and denounces him.
I have three daughters. I spent the day with them, just me and them. And I'm going to do the same thing tomorrow. I don't have any interest in sports, beer, beating up women, big lounge chairs, and so on. At least once today, each of them seriously pissed me off. That's what being a parent is all about, okay? The people you love the most are also the ones, regardless of their age, who can drive you right up a wall. I wish to God that once in a while someone on this site would write about being a parent that actually resembles the real world, at least a little. Someone finally does, and because instead of going on about little Amanda or little Jeremy's self-esteem, he discusses what they're really like, you all freak out.
Happy Father's Day to you, too. God help your sons.
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O/B/O the Anonymii
I write as one of the anonymii, wondering if salon.com really understands what their "naming" policy has done to free speech on this site. I admit I'm too f*cking scared to write what I really think, using an identifiable name, about the many important issues that arise on salon.com. It's not worth it to me to become a target for hateful comments from my brothers and sisters on this site for speaking my mind. I'd like to have a semi-anonymous name on this site, but I (along with many others) will remain "anonymous" until then . . .