"Oh sweety is your Mom not here"
"No my Dad is"
"Sir I'll be Bella's coach/teacher/instructor/flight leader"
"Hi I'm Arlen, Bella's Dad."
"So Mom couldn't make it huh? Oh well I guess you'll do, you may wanna take notes tho so you can tell Mom when you get home." [little snicker at herself]
FUck you Wanda
You think it's funny that a Dad is here with his daughter. Welcome to 2016 you sexist asshat.
sexist
[sek-sist]
adjective
1. relating to, involving, or fostering sexism, or attitudes and behavior toward someone
based on the person's gender:
FUck you Wanda
You see me here leaning against the wall obviously uncomfortable and you think I don't belong. To some extent you're right, I don't feel like I belong, but I'm here anyway. I don't look like you, with my weird hipster beard, my torn jeans, my Chucks, and a My Little Pony t-shirt. I see the look and I feel your disdain and I don't care. That's not the whole truth, I do care, I want to belong, I want to be part of the group, no one likes being an outcast. With that, I'm not there for you I'm there for her. I'm not going anywhere. Ever. Every competition, every practice, every rehearsal, I'll be there, awkwardly operating outside of my comfort zone.
FUck you Wanda
You don't see the hours I spend in the backyard watching her tumble
You don't see the hours spent watching her work on her cheers
You don't see me rushing home from work so she and her brother can do the things they love
You don't see the ramen noodle lunches I eat so they can be there
You see the 15 year old truck but you don't see me staying up all night working on it so I can be sure they are where they are supposed to be
You don't see me, you see a man where he isn't supposed to be
FUck you Wanda
In a perfect world maybe things would be the way you expect them to be. My world is not perfect, hasn't been for a long time. Have you ever shown a nine year old how to adjust the lash on a rear axle? I have. Have you ever coached two dozen five year olds in football? I have. I've watched them fall, I've watched them fail, I've held them in their defeat and rejoiced in their victories. All because I was where I wasn't supposed to be.
UnFUck you Wanda
I told Jennifer (the GF) tonight that I write to get my crazy out, it's a statement I've made a thousand times because it's true. Writing is my shot of whiskey, it's my escape, I get to bring you with me and still fully be alone in the emotion. To experience the realness of the moment again and process it, learn from it and move on. This Wanda had me so pissed after our little interaction, she dismissed me, made me feel small. That I couldn't possibly be the parent my child needed because of my gender. Five FUck you Wandas later and I don't feel the same way anymore.
THank you Wanda
THank you for reminding me why I do the things I do
THank you for reminding me why I eat more ramen than any one man should
THank you for reminding me of what I have in my kids
THank you for reminding me how much I love watching My Little Pony with B (Team Rainbow Dash)
THank you for reminding me I don't need anyone's approval
THank you for reminding me that I am a kick ass Dad
THank you for reminding I need to replace the MAF sensor on my truck
"No my Dad is"
"Sir I'll be Bella's coach/teacher/instructor/flight leader"
"Hi I'm Arlen, Bella's Dad."
"So Mom couldn't make it huh? Oh well I guess you'll do, you may wanna take notes tho so you can tell Mom when you get home." [little snicker at herself]
FUck you Wanda
You think it's funny that a Dad is here with his daughter. Welcome to 2016 you sexist asshat.
sexist
[sek-sist]
adjective
1. relating to, involving, or fostering sexism, or attitudes and behavior toward someone
based on the person's gender:
FUck you Wanda
You see me here leaning against the wall obviously uncomfortable and you think I don't belong. To some extent you're right, I don't feel like I belong, but I'm here anyway. I don't look like you, with my weird hipster beard, my torn jeans, my Chucks, and a My Little Pony t-shirt. I see the look and I feel your disdain and I don't care. That's not the whole truth, I do care, I want to belong, I want to be part of the group, no one likes being an outcast. With that, I'm not there for you I'm there for her. I'm not going anywhere. Ever. Every competition, every practice, every rehearsal, I'll be there, awkwardly operating outside of my comfort zone.
FUck you Wanda
You don't see the hours I spend in the backyard watching her tumble
You don't see the hours spent watching her work on her cheers
You don't see me rushing home from work so she and her brother can do the things they love
You don't see the ramen noodle lunches I eat so they can be there
You see the 15 year old truck but you don't see me staying up all night working on it so I can be sure they are where they are supposed to be
You don't see me, you see a man where he isn't supposed to be
FUck you Wanda
In a perfect world maybe things would be the way you expect them to be. My world is not perfect, hasn't been for a long time. Have you ever shown a nine year old how to adjust the lash on a rear axle? I have. Have you ever coached two dozen five year olds in football? I have. I've watched them fall, I've watched them fail, I've held them in their defeat and rejoiced in their victories. All because I was where I wasn't supposed to be.
UnFUck you Wanda
I told Jennifer (the GF) tonight that I write to get my crazy out, it's a statement I've made a thousand times because it's true. Writing is my shot of whiskey, it's my escape, I get to bring you with me and still fully be alone in the emotion. To experience the realness of the moment again and process it, learn from it and move on. This Wanda had me so pissed after our little interaction, she dismissed me, made me feel small. That I couldn't possibly be the parent my child needed because of my gender. Five FUck you Wandas later and I don't feel the same way anymore.
THank you Wanda
THank you for reminding me why I do the things I do
THank you for reminding me why I eat more ramen than any one man should
THank you for reminding me of what I have in my kids
THank you for reminding me how much I love watching My Little Pony with B (Team Rainbow Dash)
THank you for reminding me I don't need anyone's approval
THank you for reminding me that I am a kick ass Dad
THank you for reminding I need to replace the MAF sensor on my truck