My Son Will Grow Up To Be A Road Warrior: And Maybe Some Good Things Too

I drive everyday. As a younger person I guess I was excited by my time behind the wheel, even years after hitting the road.  I let moments at red lights and in traffic jams just slip away into oblivion without a second thought. Seduced by the open road, freedom had its way with me and I was a most willing victim. Now it’s a different story. I grind my teeth more than the gears. At every turn there seems to be obstacles in my path; idiots on the road. Today as I drive, I spend most of my time practicing my adult vocabulary and doing finger calisthenics.

My wife has been on my case. I wouldn’t say that I have a “potty mouth” as she would so delicately put it. But I am familiar with the power of well timed obscenities. I started thinking about how I picked up this little ability; my vehicle vulgarity. A few weeks ago I took a ride with my father. He seems to have a similar problem. When he puts the key into the ignition, every idiot on the road immediately adjusts their course for collision.

As we drove, I could feel rage building inside me. And just as my brain was rustling up the appropriate curse, a string of four-letter words poured from my father’s mouth. They were so finely crafted that I could only sit in awe.

I got my stunning good looks and superior muscular physique (ensuing laughter) from my father. Could I have also inherited this ability as well? Some might say we learn by example while others would qualify this ability as adapting to the environment. No matter how you mash nature and nurture into the equation, the simple fact is I’m probably a lot like him and my son will probably be a lot like me.

I am grateful for and frightened by this at the same time. While my anecdote is designed to poke fun at a frustrating situation, the truth is that everything good in me comes from my folks. If I am anything like my father, than I am a lucky man. My hope is that my son can say the same. But what does that mean?

David Bly, a popular author said, “Your children will become what you are; so be what you want them to be.” When I consider all that I hope for my son, this sentiment becomes a pretty tall order. But there’s truth in these words. I’m thankful for those that led me, not just because they pointed out the path, but also because they showed me it could be traveled.

Who knows, my son will probably cuss at the bumpers of cars just like his father before him. He’ll most likely have a list of bad habits that at some level I will be responsible for, but hopefully I can show him what I was shown. Hopefully he’ll be like the best parts of me, and the best parts of my father.