Sunday, August 12, 2007

Are You There God? It’s Me Tony…What’s Happening To Me!?

I’m not fond of that one sappy country song about butterfly kisses or even that one about that kid getting the hi-heel shoes for his mom on Christmas (or something like that.)
Some parents like those emotional things, but me – I’ve never really considered myself an emotional parent. But oddly enough I’ve been coming across those two songs a lot more than usual the last few weeks while flipping through the radio late at night during those “love song” dedications on the local adult contemporary station (you know the ones where love struck stalkers usually call to tell their neighbor that they’ve been going through their trash and they’ve kidnapped the cat…)

Now imagine me getting a little sentimental when the wife was gone (at her MBA orientation) and my daughter was cooking for me in her play kitchen. On the menu: strawberry tea, “crackcorn” (her word for popcorn) sushi, ice cream, and “bloop” (her word for soup) edamame. I was enjoying my exotic dishes all while watching her spout out all kinds of funny things moving around like she was on Iron Chef. I can’t even begin to explain how much I enjoy playing with her and listening to her version of the adult world; she completely fascinates me.

Then it happened -- that song popped jumped into my head:

… She was sent here from heaven and she's daddy's little girl… …She's looking like her mama a little more everyday One part woman, the other part girl… She'll change her name today. She'll make a promise and I'll give her away….

(Freakin’ A -- How much of this song do I know anyway…?!)

“What’s?…What’s happening to me? (staring at my hands like I was turning into the Hulk,... or Sally Field.)

Then I looked at her, got a little shaky in the knees, thinking about how one day my little girl will be all grown up and I wondered if she’ll remember times like this (maybe there was estrogen in that tea? Or maybe I’ve watched one too many Lifetime movies...)

“Look! Daddy! Colonel’s Chicken!” – YUMMY!”

My daughter pulled out her toy KFC bucket from the toy fridge. I snapped out of it.

((big smile))

It’s times like this I’m going to remember forever (And I’m changing the radio station presets.)

Snails and ice creamChicken SushiEdemame BloopThe Colonel's Finest

34 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's the minutia that's important, and the minutia that we forget. That's why I think blogging about your kids is such a good idea.

Whit said...

I hear ya. I get emotional over stuff like that all of the time. I just don't have a country music soundtrack.

Enjoy your bloop.

Bananas said...

You need to stay out of the crackcorn, I think.

Anonymous said...

You are turning into a SAP! And I LOVE it!

AWESOME, colonel. Just awesome. xoxo

Blog Antagonist said...

I heard a quote one time that said becoming a parent means living with your heart walking around outside of your body. I think that's very apt.

That song about the shoes is the WORST.

Stay at home dad said...

You're happy and you know it. I think our hormones must be in synch ...

Anonymous said...

Just wait until she gets married and they play all that really sappy stuff at the reception. You'll bawl like a baby!

Jackie said...

Ha, love the title.
I'm a sap when it comes to those songs. :-P

Anonymous said...

Peanut made me ice cream, pizza & peas bloop before. It tasted great.

Anonymous said...

There isn't anything wrong with turning into Sally Field . . . is there?

Love, love the cooking photos!

Carrie

Anonymous said...

I was worried you were going soft on me for a sec...

Glad to see you came to your senses...wink, wink.

kittenpie said...

Oh my good lord, you are becoming more womanly than me, even. What the hell song was that you were singing? (But I will admit, I have become way sappier too, since Pumpkinpie came to town.)

Ben and Bennie said...

I absolutely HATE those two songs, particularly the shoes. But I'm all sappy now thinking back when my daughter used to cook tomato ice cream for me. Heck, she won't even share her crackcorn with me any more.

And yeah, what's wrong with turning into Sally Field? She was great in Smokey & the Bandit.

dadinprogress said...

everyone leave tony alone. it's the truth, man, it hits you like a ton of bricks sometimes and it doesn't make you a woman. if your daughter were a little older and watching disney channel shows like the suite life of creepy twins and hannah montana, you'd also see the new billy ray cyrus song (god help me for admitting this) that makes me think the same things all the time, "get ready, get set, don't go" all about a dad watching his little girl grow up and not being ready for it. that one is my butterfly kisses, man. we should start and IM therapy group for blubbering dad bloggers.

11111111 said...

Ain't nothing wrong with a little sentimentality.

Ruth Dynamite said...

Aw stop it now. You're making me wince about the gushy stuff. Cut it out.

Anonymous said...

I once looked at my 8-year old, and I swore she looked about 16. My heart stopped. You'll remember when she was little. I promise. But you won't remember how she got so big.

Ryan said...

I like my boys the age they are at now and since we will most likely be stopping at two kids, it is sometimes sad to think that we will not have toddlers for much longer. Life goes so quickly and it hits me from time to time.

Anonymous said...

The snail and ice cream looks incredible!!! Lately my husband has been saying how he wants the 18-month-old to be this little forever and I said, but then He'll be a dwarf." I know...:) they are so cute this young!

Jenifer said...

Awwww... you're turning into one big sap!

I think it's cute.

For me it's songs like "In My Daughter's Eyes" by Martina McBride. The one that I think is called "My Wish" by Rascall Flats. And there is one on Reba's #1's album that I don't think was ever released as a single that is a total tear jerker..."You're gonna be" is the name of it I think.

Ugh... so son't feel bad, my Sirius satellite radio makes me cry in the car all the time!

The Real Mother Hen said...

Such a blessing Tony. This and "To My Daughter On Her 2nd Birthday" are 2 wonderful posts that imprint in my mind.

Lisa said...

Aww, don't cry. Here's a tissue for ya!

Sap or not, gotta admire a man who's willing to admit and share his inner emotions.

Radioactive Tori said...

I just repainted my girls rooms because they looked "babyish" to them. It made me so sad that I actually cried while painting. I hate that they are growing up sometimes! I wish you could just freeze them at a certin age and have a little extra time with them!

You sound like an amazing dad, that is for sure!

Anonymous said...

I'm with you, sapboy! Meanwhile, I'm going to start looking around to replace that KFC with a toy Popeyes bucket!

Creative-Type Dad said...

MetroDad -- What do you mean "look around"? I thought for sure Peanut would have one...

radioactive girl -- I think the 18-month period was the time I wanted to last a little more. But I'm sure I'm going to say 2 years in 6 month or a year.

Jenifer -- Thanks for the warning! I'll be sure to cover my ears and yell at any mention of those songs..

InterstellarLass -- 8 looked like 16?! You're freaking me out!

dadinprogress -- that group is the last thing we need!!

Above Average Joe -- I'll have my daughter ask yours for the recipe

Jenster said...

Butterfly Kisses came out when my "baby" was really a baby. When it comes on the radio I go to my happy place because I can't deal with the song.

The dinner looks delicious!!

Anonymous said...

I love a Dad who's in touch with his emotions -- I'm seeing you remembering this moment that day -- if and when it comes -- when you walk her down the aisle...

Rick Andreoli said...

A kid's KFC bucket... I wish you were my dad!

Lo Kelween said...

well, men do not need to stricken their face in front of kids where most parents do...it's good to come down to that level and allow that inner maternal instinct flow! :)

Amy said...

The song is sappy, but the sentiment rings true, eh?

And I need to get me some of that bloop.

Creative-Type Dad said...

Jenster -- that's makes it even more depressing. You're in way deep

Mrs. Chicken -- Maybe you can buy a "Bloop" franchise... I'll have my daughter call you on her Princess cell phone

Anonymous said...

I'm not the most mushy Mama either, but there are times when I find myself in tears looking at my boys. Amazing how they can pull on the heart string one minute and dance on the nerves the next! ;)

Love your blog.

Nell

mama speak said...

CTD, just wait, my 4YO gets this expression when I know exactly what she'll look like when she's a 16. It knocks the wind out of me when it happens; she's going to be so beautiful, and she has no idea.

And it realize how fast it's going...somebody stop this ride, it's going too fast!

Phil Bolsta said...

You may not like sappy songs but I bet you can relate to this music video I put together about all the wonderful "Daddy and Erin" moments I shared with my daughter!

http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/pitch-video/

And here's a post I wrote about a creative way to heighten your appreciation of your little bear cub and cherish her all the more:
http://bolstablog.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/proactive/

Blue skies!

Phil Bolsta
philbolsta@mac.com