Pruned Fingers And Legacy

Why do we have children? Is it a need to have our own bloodlines live past when we have shuffled off this moral coil? Insurance that our legacy lives on in the happenings of future times? Do noble hopes like these come into people's minds when they think of procreation? These thoughts I'm sure have crossed my mind at some point. But now as my children grow older and I become more tired, my thinking on children has changed somewhat.

I need someone to do the dishes. The boys are not nearly tall enough to reach the sink yet. But I am waiting patiently for that glorious day, when both of them will clear the table, clean the kitchen and take over for the old man and do the dishes. Initially, I will sit at the table with pride and watch them as they do their chores. Thinking back to when they were babies and could not help much at all. Then as time goes by I will race from the table to have some quality time with myself. Who am I kidding? I'll hit the couch and fall asleep every night. Why not? I've been doing the dishes it seems since before time began. I’m an expert at filling the dishwasher and wiping the counters. I shall unselfishly pass these lessons on to my children, so their Dad can get a nap in after supper. I dream about this some nights. The future is indeed bright.

I also expect my children to support me when I'm older. Baseball, basketball, quantum mechanics, whatever. Just so they earn enough money so that I don't have to. You say this is selfish? That I am placing my own needs before those of my kids? You got it. The one stipulation is that they be happy in whatever they choose to do, and that they make enough to support their parents. They will know that hard work is it's own reward, and that their father wants no part of that. They work hard, so Dad can write, stay home, and give advice that will constantly be refuted by their mother. It's not a firm plan yet, but I with a little more tweaking we can get there. Cam has a rifle of a left arm and Gabe's isn't bad either. Do you know the minimum salary for a south-paw pitcher in the majors? Even if I'm watching from a nicely furnished, medium-security, old folks home provided by my wealthy kids - It'll be worth it.

I'd really like it if my sons could be taller that me. I can tell you the year, day, and time I became taller that my father. Not that it made much difference, having the father that I do. My father is a smart guy. I can't remember ever 'winning' an argument with the man. I would go to friend’s houses and witness them easily winning various arguments with their fathers. I would be amazed. My Dad had an answer for everything, if he didn't know it - he'd find the answer and get back with my brother and I. We don't argue much anymore. I figured out long ago that he really did know what he was talking about all those years. I'm lucky that I have such an amazing parent(props to Mom - she is equally amazing, but that's a whole other post). I only hope to be a good a father as he has been. I know I won't have all the answers that he did; I am not nearly as competent at the assimilation of information as he is. But, every now and then certain things come out of my mouth and I sound just like him. So maybe there is hope. One thing is for sure; my father looks back at me from every mirror I look into these days. This is surely a sign of aging, but now that Dad lives some distance away, I take comfort in seeing him everyday. Quite a guy my Dad, I'm very happy that my sons have the chance to know him. They don't have a chance in hell of winning an argument with the man, but I'll be rooting for them. Maybe evolution will bring them a technique that I haven't tried.

So my Dad's great, and his grandsons will be doing dishes as soon as possible. I have to be careful though - don't want to ruin a throwing arm with a baked-on pan of stubborn Mac and Cheese. Eyes on the prize, eyes on the prize...