They're Growing Up

The first disappointing moment occurred when the boys ganged up on me and refused to call me “Daddy” anymore.

Image courtesy: timthefoolman.com

(AGOURA, Calif.) - There are so many passages for parents, with their kids, as they grow up. I remember the “big ones” like first words, first steps, and first poops.

I remember smaller ones, like throwing away the wet wipes, once and for all, when my second son was “done” with his toilet training (sometime prior to starting 4th grade, I think).

Seriously, I still get occasionally whiffs of those wipey smells, from where I don’t know, and don’t miss them for a moment. But, some of these passages are harder to take than others.

The first disappointing one occurred when the boys ganged up on me and refused to call me “Daddy” anymore.

“Dad” was it, regardless of my pathetic pleas. My older one was first to stop asking to occasionally sleep in my bed every time there was a storm or wayward noise.

Both still say “goodnight” and my younger one still consents to a hug or kiss, while my older one graciously gives me a wave or such, when he says “goodnight.” I’ve also gotten pretty good at stopping the “honey,” “sweetie”, and other saccharine salutations.

But, I must admit I’m struggling with letting go of my songs. I’ve been singing rhyming songs to the boys, to various popular melodies, for years.

Presently, I’m addicted to singing one to the tune of the Indiana Jones Theme music.

I come up with extremely clever plays-on-words, like “Aaron David is my boo, and I love him, yes I do do do.”

Try that to Indiana Jones and tell Rodgers and Hart they’ve now got competition.

But, Aaron is now done rolling his eyes at my singing, as he’s made it clear he’s thoroughly disgusted and waaaaayyyyy tooooo oooollllddd for that sort of childishness.

So, I guess I’ll have to pack it in and just get used to all those puberty things that are beginning to spring up, like buying deodorant and pimple creams for my emerging teenager.

Bruce Sallan gave up his showbiz career a decade ago to raise his two boys, full-time, now 12 and 15. His nationally syndicated column, A Dad’s Point-of-View, is his take on the challenges of parenthood and male/female issues, both as a single dad and now, newly remarried, in a blended family. In addition to Salem-News.com, his column is available in over 50 newspapers and Web sites in the U.S. and internationally. He can be reached at: brucesallan@gmail.com.