Shot Out of the Sky by My Daughter
Todd Wilson
Thursday, August 5, 2010
 1 of 1
Hey Dad,
Well, it's a sad day in "I'm a pretty good dad-Land" when you learn that the thing you 'don't do' … you do.
Actually, my wife has accused me for quite some time (read—our whole married life) of not always listening like I should. She's had the nerve to say on more than a few occasions that I don't let her share what she's feeling, that I barge in and tell her why she shouldn't be feeling what she's feeling, why she's mistaken in her feelings, or why I'm right about the situation and she's wrong.
Up until recently, I thought she was overreacting and wrong in her assessment and that I was actually a very understanding husband (after all—I am the Familyman) and quite the listener.
Then, my daughter Katherine (13) shot me out of the air like a slow duck on the first day of duck hunting season. I was on the porch with my shot gun-toting daughter, frustrated by the fact that her mother didn't think I listened to her.
I was mid-sentence when Katherine pointed the gun towards me and said, "You don't listen to her, Dad. You don't let her tell you what she's feeling."
Shocked, I quickly responded, "But I let her tell me what she's feeling, and I don't understand why she says …"
She intercepted me politely and said, "You're doing it to me, now." KERPOW!
I dropped to the ground like a rock.
There was nothing I could say. Cause the truth is: if two people tell you the same thing about yourself … it's probably true.
I've got a long longggggg way to go, but I've been working on it. So here's the take away for you. You're not going to like this, but … if your wife and one of your children say you don't listen … you don't.
If more than one of them says you're grumpy all the time … you are.
if more than one of them says you work too much … you do.
If more than one of them accuses you of being gone too much, being selfish, or being a couch potato who watches too much TV or plays too many video games … you are.
Whether we like it or not, if two or more are saying the same thing about us … IT'S TRUE and it's time to face up to it and change.
I know we can do it. Because …
You 'da dad,
© 2010 Todd Wilson. Used by permission
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