I came across these photos the other day and noticed they were taken 10 years ago this month. In my mind, my son still looks like this to me, except, well… taller. A lot taller. 😉 He just got back from a trip to NYC with his dad, and while he was there he sent me photos.
When this photo came through on my phone, my first thought was, “Why did he send me a photo of his dad?” And then I looked closer and realized that it wasn’t his dad in the photo, it was Ian. I’m often struck by just how much they look alike now that Ian is an adult. Wow, are my genes ever recessive! Luckily for him, he did get the height from my side of the family. 😊
He was telling me about the trip and said that he wasn’t going on another trip with his father. They’ve come a long way, but I don’t think they’ll ever be close. He didn’t speak to or see his father from the time he was 16 until he was 21. That was his choice, and I understand it, but I’m glad they’ve reconciled. I guess a bad father is better than no father at all. I am grateful that he’s had my own father, my brother, and my brother-in-law as positive male role models in his life. He said his father would have temper tantrums over the smallest little thing. He’d yell and rant and rave. Ah, some things never change. i told my son that as unpleasant as it was to be around him, it has to be more unpleasant to actually be him. You have to have a lot of anger and unhappiness inside to act like that. I told him that instead of feeling angry when he act like that, feel sorry for him and send him love and compassion. But you don’t have to engage in it, and you don’t have to get sucked into his personal drama. That’s a difficult life skill to master, but I think my son has it down pretty well. He’s a smart one, if I do say so myself. He must take after me after all. 😀
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch, and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talking ‘fore I knew it, and as he grew
He’d say, “I’m gonna be like you, dad
You know I’m gonna be like you.”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, “Thanks for the ball, dad; come on, let’s play
Can you teach me to throw?”
I said, “Not today, I got a lot to do.”
He said, “That’s okay.”
And he walked away, but his smile never dimmed
And said, “I’m gonna be like him, yeah
You know I’m gonna be like him.”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, dad?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
Well, he came from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
“Son, I’m proud of you. Can you sit for a while?”
He shook his head, and he said with a smile
“What I’d really like, dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later; can I have them please?”
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, dad
You know we’ll have a good time then.”
I’ve long since retired, and my son’s moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, “I’d like to see you if you don’t mind.”
He said, “I’d love to, dad, if I could find the time
You see, my new job’s a hassle, and the kid’s got the flu
But it’s sure nice talking to you, dad
It’s been sure nice talking to you.”
And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man in the moon
“When you coming home, son?” “I don’t know when
But we’ll get together then, dad
We’re gonna have a good time then.”
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