Dads and their kids at the coffee shop

This week I saw some great bonding going on with dads and their kids over breakfast--lessons being taught. One dad was teaching his daughter fractions by writing them on the napkin and then drilling her. She looked old enough to have been taught this some time ago in school, but was having a struggle. Probably Chicago Math.

I also overheard a British dad instructing his kids in proper use of English and why it's important to wash hands. "You're doing well, not good," he reminded the younger one who spoke American English. "Go wash your hands so you don't catch colds." That may be the first time I've heard someone tell kids to wash after they've eaten.

"My wife's first baby daddy . . . "

I didn't catch the rest, but did wonder how many more baby daddies his wife has, and how many would have ruined the relationship. Young people today. . .

Are you still blogging?

Father and son greeted me at Panera today. Apparently reads this blog. Or used to. Wonder how I tagged him? Today it will be "fathers." Also the young teen son said he'd check out the fan page I made.

Two styles of fathering

There are two stunning, well dressed fathers who come into the coffee shop in the morning before school each with a young, elementary school aged son. Both men are trim and buff, carefully groomed and have beautiful white hair, one being in his forties, the other maybe early fifties. But oh what a difference in their parenting style.

Dad #1 reads the Columbus Dispatch while his son fidgets, eats his muffin, and looks out the window. Dad doesn't converse, chit-chat or lecture. When he finishes the paper, and the boy most of his muffin, the father barks out an order: "Hurry up; brush your teeth." The little guy BRUSHES HIS TEETH AT THE TABLE! He spits the saliva onto the tray, and daddy and son leave.

Dad #2 and son talk sports--NBA, NFL, college--doesn't matter, it's mostly sports. But the little guy can hang in there with dad and not get lost in scores and charts. Occasionally I've even seen the dad going over spelling words with the boy and heard dad ask him what is on his agenda for the day.

Good dental hygiene is important and will put this boy on the path to good health. Learning how to banter about sports is a step towards male bonding and networking. But I must say, if I were a kid, I'd prefer dad #2.

Writing on the butt

A young teen was standing in line at the coffee shop today with her dad wearing gray sweat pants. Written across her bottom was ABERCROMBIE. Why is her father not telling her she's asking men to read her butt? Fathers: it's your job to explain the facts of boys' lives to your daughters.