There's nothing quite as demoralizing as realizing that there's a chance we'll never grow out of this "will they won't they"- game. At least that's how it seems, watching my Dad's marital merry-go-round. One week it's trial separation, the next they're filling the house with books on tantric sex. (More than you needed to know? More that anyone needed to know...)
As I'm trying to convince The Man of the joys of the married life, my dad is headed for divorce no 2. Not the greatest of timings. And it has certainly got me thinking why I'm so hellbent on marrying myself. And why I'm Facebook friends with my Dad.
My Dad was in Bosnia as peacekeeper. Not sure he succeeded any better than he did at the same task at home...When he came back from his mission he brought back a duty-free car and a brand new wife. Right on. Because dating in itself is soooo easy - why not spice it up a bit by throwing in gender-, generation-, language- and culture barriers!
I love my stepmum dearly, I do. The fact that she's less than a decade older than me has certainly helped us bond. I actually have friends older than her. Hell, my boyfriend is older than her! (See, I can't be held accountable for my mistakes- international and intergenerational dating run in the family!) But she comes with some serious baggage. Such as a crazy ex-husband. And a severely handicapped child. And a weird family spread across South Eastern Europe.
In my Mum my Dad already has more than his share of crazy ex-spouses. And he has done his parenting and is at a point of his life when he's supposed to be enjoying his life. And retirement. Child -free and footloose. Instead he's working full-time in order to provide for family no 2 and can't afford to retire until he's 348. I know that's not a lot in Biblical terms (some of those dudes were still being fruitful and multiplying at 900) but I do feel for him.
But I'm also feeling for myself. I'm supposed to be able to look up to my parents! I'm supposed to go to them for advice! They're supposed to have all this sussed out! But no, they're every bit as hapless as I am...
Is it too late to put me up for adoption? Brad and Ange, are you reading this? Madonna? Anyone?
My Dad was in Bosnia as peacekeeper. Not sure he succeeded any better than he did at the same task at home...When he came back from his mission he brought back a duty-free car and a brand new wife. Right on. Because dating in itself is soooo easy - why not spice it up a bit by throwing in gender-, generation-, language- and culture barriers!
I love my stepmum dearly, I do. The fact that she's less than a decade older than me has certainly helped us bond. I actually have friends older than her. Hell, my boyfriend is older than her! (See, I can't be held accountable for my mistakes- international and intergenerational dating run in the family!) But she comes with some serious baggage. Such as a crazy ex-husband. And a severely handicapped child. And a weird family spread across South Eastern Europe.
In my Mum my Dad already has more than his share of crazy ex-spouses. And he has done his parenting and is at a point of his life when he's supposed to be enjoying his life. And retirement. Child -free and footloose. Instead he's working full-time in order to provide for family no 2 and can't afford to retire until he's 348. I know that's not a lot in Biblical terms (some of those dudes were still being fruitful and multiplying at 900) but I do feel for him.
But I'm also feeling for myself. I'm supposed to be able to look up to my parents! I'm supposed to go to them for advice! They're supposed to have all this sussed out! But no, they're every bit as hapless as I am...
Is it too late to put me up for adoption? Brad and Ange, are you reading this? Madonna? Anyone?
My father still doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up. He's 64, retired and has 3 adult children and 5 grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteI love to blame him for my lack of insight into what I want to do when I grow up.