Been reading some of the blogs on RebelDad.com and a lot of hoopla is made over dads becoming more prevalent as the primary caregiver for children. But let me tell you, it's not being well accepted at the parks.How many times I've gone to parks with Jordan and watched the cliques of women build up in corners here and there, discussing whatever. Walking by them, it's a cluck-fest.
Meanwhile, what's going on with their kids? They generally wouldn't know, and if you point out something untoward, you can bet on hearing, "He's never done that before."
I, on the other hand, can't stand not knowing what's going on with my son, every second of the way.
The few conversations I've struck up with women at parks have been uncomfortable at best and strange at worst. I've never had a woman--or a man, come to think of it--come up and say hi to me at a park. That's freaking weird. I'm not a freak, so what's the deal?
Parental playground etiquette--it's a Bee Eye Tee See Aytch.
4 comments:
I can totally relate. It's always awkward and I always have to initiate the converstation. I liken it to the whole approaching women in a bar thing (not like I ever did this much). It seems like the guy is always supposed to make to first move, even if that only consists of saying, "Hi this is Lizzie, she's 10 months old. How old is your daughter?"
Oh yea, and I can't believe how many times I've alerted the chattering moms that their kid is in the street again.
Thanks, Pete. Part of my problem is my own awkwardness, I'm sure. That's something I'm not anxious to pass along to my son; hence the frustration at not being able to be a better example "in the field." Somehow, my boy has grown up knowing how to be friendly and talk to people, and I'm sure he'll be okay. So for that, I'm thankful. But I always want more.
Having a "cluckfest" is why many moms go to the park. The kids come second. When dads go it's for the kids first and if some social interaction for the dad comes with it it's a bonus not an expectation.
Thanks, anonymous. You're right, not everybody goes to the park for the same thing. For me, I'm looking for my son to get a chance to play and interact with other kids, and not for myself to get a chance to catch up on the week with my friends (who are all at work and mostly in other states, btw). So my attentiveness to my child could be viewed by some as overprotectiveness, perhaps, or something else worthy of a description like "cluckfest." If this blog becomes famous for nothing else, it will be that wonderful (that's sarcasm) term.
I've learned a lot from the discussion this has spawned, most importantly how not to transfer my own feelings onto someone else's reality.
Post a Comment