The
PUBLISHER’S
Pen
My son-in-law texted me two days after
Father’s Day to share another milestone
with me concerning my 6-year old grand
daughter. It wasn’t unusual because he
and my daughter are always sending me
videos from dance recitals, martial arts
classes and such. Even though I found
the timing to be odd, I took a moment to
watch this image of my grand daughter
riding a bike on what appeared to be
concrete that had a grassy knoll leading
to a baseball diamond in the background.
Then, took another look at this picture
and texted a message to my son-in-law.
I had just wrapped up a telephone call
with some cat from London about a
different matter. But, as I’m looking at
this helmeted little girl navigating on two
wheels, I say to myself, “Hmmm. They
must be on a Daddy-Daughter date. I
better give this young brother a quick call
and see what’s up.”
I find out that this is my grand daughter’s
maiden voyage sans training wheels.
And, I’m remembering what it’s like as
I’m talking with my grand daughter about
what her experience was like. I tell her
how proud I am of all that she’s been
able to accomplish in the last nine
months and that she’ll be excelling at
everything else she tries from now on.
Then, she asks me if I will make it to D.C.
for her next birthday. I tell her, “I
wouldn’t miss it for the world.” The next
thing I hear is, “YAAAAAAY!”
To make a long story short, I get my sonin-law back on the phone and I explain to
him that HIS daughter could not have
done it by herself. UNLESS somebody
(he) hadn’t put training wheels on for her
in the first place. (Because nobody rides
alone.) That’s what a father is supposed
to do: Make sure she doesn’t fall.
My son-in-law’s response? “Yes, sir.”