There is so much to love about this essay—the hat (which is more than a hat), the bad call, the rooster. Above all, the way you listen to Evie and she responds with a flood of impressions and opinions. I had to smile when she explains how you could have done better as parents. Well, couldn’t we all? Someday she’ll know.
Another lovely piece Rob. Beautifully observed relationship between a loving father and teenage daughter and that fine balance between getting along and annoying her/hurting her feelings! Like a sensitive instrument indeedl!
Beautiful. You’re clearly a great father. She will remember that and treasure it all her life. You’ve given her a foundation to be a loving responsible adult…and if she is fortunate enough to have her own children, I believe her love will reflect yours. Thank you for this wonderful essay.
I was being disciplined filing away my other substack articles to read later so I could be focused and productive this morning but had to open your's as soon as I saw it. You managed to bring tears to my eyes again. I love thinking of our teenage children as sensitive instruments we are still learning to make music with. On our road trip to see family last weekend, I dipped deep into my patience to allow the 5 or 6 hours of near silence from my 16 year old (save for the great music she choose). I was rewarded on the way home with her insights and thoughts and so grateful I had withheld the urge to push too hard for more on the first half of the trip. They are such incredible creatures and such sources of growth for us when we manage to find the balance between letting them be and ensuring they know how much we adore them even in the midst of their emanations of exasperation with us (-:
Wow, Iceland! What an amazing memory-making trip! I spent 6 hours yesterday in a car with my own 81 year-old father. His memory has faded about hard things (one of the graces of aging) and yet his core belief that I, as his daughter, am always worth hearing and spending time with, has built my world into a place of security. Father/daughter relationships are unique and hard fought. Well done, Rob! Keep fighting the fight, no matter how old she gets. We have 3 daughters...I tell my husband God thought highly of him. Lol Thank you again for sharing so transparently, and putting into words what others cannot.
There is so much to love about this essay—the hat (which is more than a hat), the bad call, the rooster. Above all, the way you listen to Evie and she responds with a flood of impressions and opinions. I had to smile when she explains how you could have done better as parents. Well, couldn’t we all? Someday she’ll know.
Another lovely piece Rob. Beautifully observed relationship between a loving father and teenage daughter and that fine balance between getting along and annoying her/hurting her feelings! Like a sensitive instrument indeedl!
Beautiful. You’re clearly a great father. She will remember that and treasure it all her life. You’ve given her a foundation to be a loving responsible adult…and if she is fortunate enough to have her own children, I believe her love will reflect yours. Thank you for this wonderful essay.
I was being disciplined filing away my other substack articles to read later so I could be focused and productive this morning but had to open your's as soon as I saw it. You managed to bring tears to my eyes again. I love thinking of our teenage children as sensitive instruments we are still learning to make music with. On our road trip to see family last weekend, I dipped deep into my patience to allow the 5 or 6 hours of near silence from my 16 year old (save for the great music she choose). I was rewarded on the way home with her insights and thoughts and so grateful I had withheld the urge to push too hard for more on the first half of the trip. They are such incredible creatures and such sources of growth for us when we manage to find the balance between letting them be and ensuring they know how much we adore them even in the midst of their emanations of exasperation with us (-:
Wow, Iceland! What an amazing memory-making trip! I spent 6 hours yesterday in a car with my own 81 year-old father. His memory has faded about hard things (one of the graces of aging) and yet his core belief that I, as his daughter, am always worth hearing and spending time with, has built my world into a place of security. Father/daughter relationships are unique and hard fought. Well done, Rob! Keep fighting the fight, no matter how old she gets. We have 3 daughters...I tell my husband God thought highly of him. Lol Thank you again for sharing so transparently, and putting into words what others cannot.
A beautiful piece. Thank you.