His six year old daughter wanted a toy, and he said, "No Sweetie, not today." Just as her adorable little face began to pucker up, he said with gentle, affectionate humor, "Don't waste your tears Sweetie. My answer is 'no.'"
That man gave his daughter a precious gift today. He reminded her that she has a father who's quiet unassuming strength cannot be toppled by the wiles of a child.
What a beautiful sight.
I guess that's better than cuffing her up side the head? Damn! Who would a thunk it?
ReplyDeleteWhat a good dad, who can be firm, yet loving.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Did you say anything to him? A quick "well-done" maybe? It would have been a nice change up from the usual accusations.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, I was thrown out of a department store for standing up to my kid and not caving in to a tantrum. The fiftyish female clerk decided that I wasn't being sensitive enough and demanded that I leave the store immediately.
I'm glad that she was there to correct my inadequate parenting. Otherwise, I might have insisted on decent behavior and scarred my child for life.
Alan
I wanted to, but I was afraid I might sound patronizing. I did give the girl a big smile of approval when she didn't push it, but I figured the best I could do was behave as if it was a pleasure to wait on an "in-charge" dad and his well-behaved daughter. (Which it was.) Do you think that as grandma-aged woman, I should say something specific in the future? I work in a home improvement store, so I do see a fair number of dads shopping with their children.
DeleteNaw, you did plenty. Your smile and attitude said it all. They both noticed.
DeleteI was blowing off steam because my wife and I have both taken flack over the years for keeping the kids in line. Comes with the territory.
Decent manners are refreshing enough. Thanks for the effort.
Alan
So rare nowadays to see that sort of behavior "in the wild".
ReplyDeleteFunny how it usually a woman who tries to undermine such training of a child, though. When my (now adult) daughter was about 3 she tried the same thing and I told her "No" in a supermarket checkout queue. A woman in a nearby aisle decided to buy her the sweets she had asked for and I had to tell the woman off quite severely in front of a fair number of others. The interesting thing was my daughter's coimment. "What was wrong, Dad? did she not know that 'No' means no?"
ReplyDeleteA three-year-old girl smarter than a feminist trained woman! Who is surprised?
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