Posted by
Cole West on Thursday, April 16, 2009 9:00:05 PM
My daughter hates me...today. Maybe I am just over-reacting, but it certainly feels like she hates her old man. Nothing I say to her seems to be taken in the spirit it is meant. She thinks I want to restrict her freedom, stifle her dreams, or some such babble. If she only knew how free and happy I really wanted her to be!
She is nineteen and just like her mother was at the same age (when I married her), stubborn, short-tempered, and always ready to fight for her convictions. Her mother's temper came with a couple of endearing qualities though; namely, unwavering loyalty and intense passion. But I digress.
My daughter went ballistic because she demands that I call her before dropping by her new apartment for a visit. I told her I would be glad to knock on the door, and that I would never come in unless she opened it up and invited me inside. But that wasn't good enough. Oh no, she wants me to call first. What does she think? That I have nothing better to do than try to catch her in some kind of bad behavior? I already know all the bad behavior she wants to try (I was nineteen once). I have no interest in barging in and seeing anything like that, trust me.
If she only understood that the only reason I would ever want to drop by is just because I care about her, worry over her, and have an intense longing just to give her my help...with anything. For that matter, I wish she understood how much I yearn inside to give her what wisdom I have managed to figure out in this crazy world. I wish that I could get her to see that I could help her be free and happy a lot quicker than her way. She thinks it will come from the wild side of life with her loser boyfriend. I already know where that will lead. I just want to spare her the pain and heartache around the corner. Why won't she listen to me? Why does she think I am the loser?
All of her old man's rules were just stifling her freedom, road blocks in front of a bridge to the good life. What a bridge to nowhere. If she only knew. ...Call first...what a crock!
And in heaven God smiles...