Stupid

My dad and I would get into ferocious fights when I was a smug teenager. Nine times out of ten they would end with my dad yelling at me, “I can’t wait for you to grow up and become as stupid as I am!” The rebel teen that I was, scoffed silently with a roll of my eyes and whispered, “Yeah, right.”

Just when I thought I’d dodged a bullet….Karma rang the doorbell.

It caused anger when it happened. To hear a child I love so much proclaim I was so out of touch…in so many words…stung.

Followed by hurt, I’m not dumb. I might know a thing or two.

“Look I have fifty-two years of which thirty-three are more than you….”

In a flash, all those clashes with my dad overwhelmed me. I had a hard time paying attention the spat with my child because I kept thinking back to all those years ago. I thought I knew so much, I was so wrong.

Relief flooded over me. First, she was my child and just being a normal kid and nothing is normal these days; it felt good. Not that fighting with your child is ever a good thing, but we were just being normal.

Second, in an instant I knew she would be alright. Besides, she is tenacious and doing it her way, just like I did.

Lastly, I snapped to my senses and remembered that my dad and I had many fights but he was not fighting with me. He had been fighting for me.

People, friends and such for the most part will tell you what you want to hear, but your dad or in my case, a mom, will tell you like it is. Because I’m not fighting with my daughter, I’m fighting for her.

So yeah, I grew up and became stupid just like my dad. Afterall, I’m Art’s daughter.