A thought on fatherhood

As I was lying in the dentist chair yesterday having someone poke and prod at my teeth, the sound from the next "booth" seemed to be louder than the Dental Assistant's tools. After a childhood of hating to go to the dentist, I've conditioned myself to get into a trance-like state now when I go. The semi-annual trip to the dentist is a necessary evil of life, so I "zone out", close my eyes, cross my arms on my stomach and just make it thru. Yesterday, whether a sign to make me realize what fatherhood involves, or just co-incidental luck, I was shown what lies ahead for me (and Jen).

Next to me was a 6 year old girl who really wasn't happy to be there. There wasn't any screaming or kicking (I was the screamer and kicker when I was a kid, but my dentist in those days was a mean mean man!) but the Dental Assistant was having a heck of a time trying to get her to cooperate. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see the father was just patiently sitting off to the side reading a magazine, not quite sure whether he should jump in to issue a commanding instruction to his daughter or leave it up to the professionals.

When I got home last night, I told Jen of what I heard and then told her that I think she (and her patience) will be the one taking "Gertrude" to the dentist. Just one of those parental things that Jen will be better at than me.