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Hey Dad,

I wish God had put some kind of indicator light on dads to show others when they're getting mad. It would be so simple and non–threatening.

"Dad, how 'bout I come back later? I can see that your anger indicator is at a level two."

My kids know when I'm mad because I do that "lip thing." I call it "that lip thing" because my wife responded the other day, when I was obviously mad at her, "I don't like when you do that 'lip thing.'"

I guess I have this habit of biting the left side of my lower lip when I am irritated. I don't know when I started doing it, but apparently I'm doing it more and more.

In fact, I was thinking about it last night around 3:30 in the morning when I couldn't sleep. I bit my lip just to make sure I knew what they were talking about. When I did, I heard myself think really loud, I hate when I do that lip thing.

The more I thought about it, I realized that I use the "lip thing" as a weapon.

Here's how it works:

My wife innocently asks me if I mind watching the kids while she runs an errand, right when I'm busy doing … something for me.

"Sure," I answer quietly. But then I flash her the "lip thing," so that she'll know I'm bothered by her request.

Need another example? I'm busily typing away at my computer and my daughter asks me to help her type up another pet store poster. I look at her and do the "Lip thing." She gets the picture and walks away, knowing dad cares more about work than he does about her.

All that went through my head last night. That's why I decided to try to break the "lip thing" habit. Already this morning, I've counted about 38 times that I've bit my lip and then quickly released it.

But I'm going to beat it!

How about you, Dad? Do you do something to let those around you know how annoyed you are? Maybe you run your fingers through your hair, sigh loudly, tap your feet, cross your arms, tighten your fist … or do that "lip thing."

Really, it's an effective non–verbal weapon and, as one woman said, "it isn't very nice."

So here's a challenge—the next time you feel yourself doing that … that … "thing," stop.

You 'da dad! [Todd]

P.S.: Last week I sent a flawed link to a page on my web site dealing with sexual purity. Sorry about the mess–up. Here is the correct link with some great resources. http://familymanweb.com/issues.htm

©Copyright Todd Wilson, 2004. Used by permission.

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