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Yesterday I posted a reflection and tribute to my Mom in honor of Mother's Day. Whenever I do something like that, though, I can't help but feel that I should do something for Dad too, just to even things out. I know Father's Day will be here before you know it, but I don't want to wait that long.
I have a very vivid memory of watching a football game with my Dad once. Between plays, the camera zoomed in on the players pacing on the sidelines. When one of the players say that he was having his close-up, he waved and said, "Hi Mom!" as players so often do. My Dad said, "Why do they always say, 'Hi Mom' and never 'Hi Dad'?" I felt bad for him, poor guy!
I can't remember now if my Mom was there with us during that particular football game. She probably was, because she was actually the big football fan in our household, while my father was the one who loved to cook. My family wasn't what you would call countercultural in any way – my folks were the type of Republicans who grew up admiring Eisenhower but voted for JFK (and my dad is not too thrilled with the R's today; in fact, I got him to confess to me that he voted for Obama! :D ). Still, there was a pretty high degree of equity when it came to the division of labor in the household. Both of them worked outside the home, and both could do whatever cooking, cleaning and childcare there was to do. So I've always been mystified by the stereotypical gender stereotypes of who can and can't do what around the house.
That goes for men who think they can worm their way out of picking up their socks, but it goes the other way, too; I remember once hearing a woman say that men just can't be nurturing, and I was shocked. I know that the connection between mother and child is incredibly special and strong, and I would never knock it. But I've seen my Dad with his grandkids, and I've seen my brother with his son, and I just don't think it's that simple.
Yesterday I heard a wise person speak about the "mothering energy" that is present in us to a degree that varies from one person to the next, and gender doesn't automatically accurately predict how much a person has. I'm glad to have known both men and women who have the capacity for nurturing that being a loving parent requires.
I think of what my Dad said during that football game every time I see someone give the standard parental greeting. I've promised myself that if I'm ever in front of a camera, I'll wave and say, "Hi Dad!"
Now for the Top Comments! Nominations are sparse tonight -- if you haven't nominated before, I want YOU to send in at least one this week! :D (That includes me, since I don't have one for you! ::blush::)
From SuperBowlXX:
In Davidsfr's first rec-listed diary in 5 years of posting, JeffW gets the ball rolling on how to best respond to Dick Cheney. What follows is a great discussion on Cheney's "fuel supply."
From carolita:
*Quicksilver2723* has a profound life lesson in gladkov's diary about his unaccepting "in-laws."
Update: Ooh, ooh, we have a late entry! :)
From rossl:
Here's DawnoftheRedSun's response to an I/P diary that was bound to descend into madness.
On To Top Mojo, courtesy of brillig!
Top 30 (plus ties) Comments excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first comments, Mojo Friday and C&J:
1) I think everyone has to remember that Sen. by wide eyed lib — 116
2) Cheney on Press the Face sunday acted scared by AfroPonix — 109
3) I disagree with this point. by TomP — 106
4) There's a line in the sand . . . by nyceve — 103
5) At some point President Obama is going by funluvn1 — 102
6) Big bags under his eyes by acuppajo — 100
7) Hyperbole by droogie6655321 — 97
8) Last week I took care of a hospice patient by rhubarb — 95
9) Which Side Are You On? by Nulwee — 94
10) OOooooOOOh... I'm getting pop-corn by Wisper — 92
11) profits, rick, profits . . . by nyceve — 88
12) Wow, -1.5% a year? by rick — 85
13) :-) by Arjun Jaikumar — 82
14) President Obama... by boilerman10 — 80
15) That's the most wrong thing ever said. by malharden — 79
16) At least that's consistent by gladkov — 78
17) Thank you, as always, my friend, by Chacounne — 76
18) I think you both suck. by Bob Johnson — 73
19) This guy just bumbled into the picture by mlharges — 71
20) You figure after all this time... by citizen53 — 67
21) Worlds are colliding!! by droogie6655321 — 67
22) Thank you for this. by rb137 — 63
23) While insurance costs by MadRuth — 63
24) Just spoke to operator 78 at the White House by nyceve — 63
25) greetings!! by jlms qkw — 63
26) Accessories after the fact by jhutson — 62
27) Lovely by it really is that important — 61
28) UPDATE by it really is that important — 61
29) That hasn't been Gillibrand's record by IhateBush — 60
30) I usually resist good by leftynyc — 60
Top 30 comments with no exclusions:
1) Anti-Mojo for Dick Cheney by Davidsfr — 612
2) Tip Jar by Valtin — 402
3) Tip Jar by Larry Madill — 327
4) Don't tip just call by Nylawstudent — 307
5) No problem by gladkov — 305
6) Solidarity Tip Jar. by TomP — 277
7) The moment I knew I wanted to work in politics by Arjun Jaikumar — 264
8) Thanks for taking action nt by Jill Richardson — 231
9) recs/tips - 4 insisting upon a public option by math4barack — 201
10) CALL THE WHITE HOUSE! by slinkerwink — 183
11) I'll try and get more by jimstaro — 181
12) Tip Jar--to educate the MSM. by Jesselyn Radack — 175
13) Best of luck to you by UnaSpenser — 163
14) I look forward to coming back... by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand — 156
15) Comments...tips, runs in stockings... by blksista — 129
16) Tip jar by it really is that important — 118
17) tips by dday — 117
18) I think everyone has to remember that Sen. by wide eyed lib — 116
19) Cheney on Press the Face sunday acted scared by AfroPonix — 109
20) I disagree with this point. by TomP — 106
21) I'm proud of you two. by indiemcemopants — 104
22) There's a line in the sand . . . by nyceve — 103
23) tips for Joe's bartender n/t by Bill Prendergast — 103
24) At some point President Obama is going by funluvn1 — 102
25) Big bags under his eyes by acuppajo — 100
26) Hyperbole by droogie6655321 — 98
27) Last week I took care of a hospice patient by rhubarb — 95
28) OOooooOOOh... I'm getting pop-corn by Wisper — 94
29) Which Side Are You On? by Nulwee — 94
30) profits, rick, profits . . . by nyceve — 88