Outdoors

I don’t want you…

Posted on by backuphill

white and black soccer ball on side of green grass field during daytime

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Kids. They can be so confusing.

When my daughter was really young she used to tell me that she “didn’t want me.” I, of course, knew she was mad at me and knew that she wasn’t really speaking truth, at least the truth of a 2-3 year old.

Now I find myself in the later years, as she is a teen, saying more things that start with, “I don’t want you…”

Most of the time is related to a request for her independence and I respect that. I shouldn’t need or want to do everything for her. I am willing to let her explore things on her own and allow her the freedom to have success and to make mistakes. I may not always be happy about the choices, but they are hers to make. I can, of course, choose not to honor the “I don’t want you…” if I know the choice or decision isn’t in her best interest and is dangerous.

She now has a job. It’s doing something she likes (kinda, kids don’t really like to work) and in a sport she has enjoyed for a long time. She has been reffing soccer games for the parks and rec. For the most part, she has enjoyed it and she has been successful at it this year.

I once said, shortly after she got the job, that I was going to come watch her some time. Her response was, “Dad, I don’t want you to come watch me ref games.” When asked why she said that was just weird, that parents aren’t supposed to go to their kids’ place of work just so they can watch them. OK, get that. We visited my son at Taco Bell shortly after he got his first job just to tease him a little but it wasn’t to sit and watch him during his whole shift.

So, to honor her request, I have stayed away. Part of me wants to go watch her and be proud of the job she does, but I can also do that just sitting at home. I don’t have to see her to know she is doing the best she can, really enjoying what she is doing at the time, and be proud of her too. Right?

Am I correct in honoring her “Dad, I don’t want you…”?

Why can’t kids come with a damn instruction manual?

white and black soccer ball on side of green grass field during daytime

-less

Posted on by backuphill

burning wood above rocks

Photo by Вадим on Pexels.com

I found one more thing that needs to have -less at the end of it. To remind you of where I am coming from on this, let’s look at other things that are -less…

Anything that is gluten free is pretty much tasteless.

There are smokeless cigarettes (or so I am told. I am not a smoker).

Supposedly Red Robin has “bottomless” fries and Olive Garden has “endless salad and breadsticks.”

Our home are going wireless on just about everything.

There is a crisis in our country for the homeless.

We all want to live carelessly and fearlessly, but often end up feeling helpless and hopeless because of the state of the country.

Anyway, hopefully you get the point.

I discovered one more thing over the weekend that could use a little -less at the end. A campfire. Not specifically the fire, but the smoke. How about we figure our a scientific way to make those things smokeless?

Yes, I know, if you make them hot enough they smoke less (oh, look! It’s possible!) but that also requires, in many cases, a larger fire and when you live in a city that isn’t an option. Plus, no matter what you do, there is going to be smoke (unless it’s one of those fake campfires made of gas…) and maybe a little is OK to start with so you have a partial feeling of woodsiness. Anyway, smoke gets in your eyes and it hurts. It gets in your lungs and makes it hard to breathe.

Smokeless campfire. Sounds good to me.

Anything else in life you would like to see as a -less? Comment below!