Dad Space

Learning To Back Away

I’m participating in the time honored dad tradition of giving my kid and her friends just enough space to be left to their own devices, but being close enough to step in if anything goes sideways.

We’re at Barnes & Noble, a treat from me to Little Bean and her friend on this school vacation week. There’s feta pretzels and grilled cheese sandwiches and bagels and all manner of fancy drinks to be had. The girls grab a couple graphic novels, settle back with their drinks on a high table and lean in toward each other, their foreheads nearly touching.

I say, “Ok, I’m gonna get my drink and be over in the magazines.”

“Over there, by the windows?” Little Bean asks.

“Yup, I’ll pop back in a little bit, k?”

They nod and giggle and nod some more.

On my way out of the cafe, I lean across the counter to the barista there - someone whom has been working there from when Little Bean was in day care and knows my daughter very well.

“I’m gonna go do the Dad Space thing,” I tell her, “if they-”

“Don’t worry,” she says, “let ‘em be. I’ll keep my eye on them.”

It takes a village and all that.

We’re moving toward that time now, faster than I would like, where she truly is becoming her own little human. I browse, check my emails, take a bathroom break. I give them space and keep my ears open for any ruckus or issues, but there are none.

Just two nearly pre-tweens snacking up, chatting about, well, pre-tween stuff.

I make a couple passes where I can see them. On one, Little Bean gives me a thumbs up. On another, they are gone. I turn to head toward the childrens section but they’re right behind me, laughing. They had snuck up on me!

They each pick out a book (because I am entirely unable to refuse a ten year old who wants to buy a book) and we pile into the car, them slurping up the rest of their drinks as they read, me blasting classic rock and roll in the front seat.

All is as it should be. This is fine. We’re fine. So far, so good.

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Really big day tomorrow! This is it Day By Dayers, stay tuned tomorrow for Part One of a Two Part interview with local folk legends Faith and Dan Senie. We’re so excited to present this in-depth piece to all of you subscribers first. If you’d like to listen to some of Faith and Dan’s music before the interview, here’s their YouTube Page: Faith and Dan Senie. See you all tomorrow!