Tough Love

Doesn't this picture look nice? A father and son hanging out, walking on the beach, bonding...

Oh how i wish i could have this. A father that would go the extra mile for his kid. Sure my dad pays the bills and puts food on the table but isn't that whats expected of him? Where was he when i was learning to ride a bike and i needed someone to brace my fall and brush off my scraped up knees? Where was he to show me how to throw a ball and play catch with me? Where was he before TWO of my proms to tell me i looked handsome and to take my picture? Not with me, thats where.

"Money can't buy love" they say, and it couldn't be more true. When i was in middle school i loved to go to this play that this church would put on every year. That day would have been the 3rd time my family and I would have went to it. Dinner at the restraunt was running late so it didnt look like we were going to be able to get there. As we are rushing to the church, the play has already started and my dad says, "I don't think we are going to make it." I was so upset. He thought he would make it up to me by taking me and buying me this one bb gun that I had wanted for so long. So, we get to the store, I pick it out, and he buys it for me. Weeks pass and i still hadn't shot it. He took the gun and put it in this gun lock on my wall and kept the key, to make sure i didnt shoot it by myself. Finally, he found time to take it out with me and shoot it. We went out in the woods behind my house and shot it about 10 times each and then it was over... We went home and he put it back on my wall, locked it, and took the key back. That gun still sits on my wall, dusty as hell, and only shot 20 times. He's never made time for me and the things that are important to me and that will never change...never will.

The only time we ever "spend time" together is when there is yardwork to be done or something that needs fixing, not when i want to to throw a ball or when he wants to take me out for ice cream. The only time we talk is when i've done something wrong (which apparently is all the time), not when he wants to know whats going on in my life or just to shoot the breeze. And you wonder why im never home...

So I learned something today. Apparently if you dont do things as a family it's because everything costs money. What a great excuse! Im pretty sure playing board games on friday nights doesnt cost anything.

You say this is tough love but when does the love part come in?