Superdad

I’m that guy. The one you’ll be rolling your eyes at for years, I’m the ultra driven parent. I’ve only been a parent for about 20 months, but I’m that guy, I can tell already.

I’m recently unemployed for the first time in over a decade, and I’ve decided to take some time away from my career (which I wasn’t really enjoying in the first place) and put some time into my daughter. I felt left out only seeing her for a few hours a day and I felt like I was missing my chance to make a really exceptional child.

That’s the competitive streak in me; I want my child not only to be happy but to be better than the other kids. Perhaps that’s where Moms and Dads differ. I think most Moms tend to put their focus on raising a happy and well adjusted child.

Maybe it’s easier with boys, you just raise them to be able to catch a football or hit a baseball. You can funnel your competitive energy into seeing that they can kick another child’s butt. A daughter, however, where do you put it?

I not only want to be a good parent to my daughter, I want to win some medals in being a Dad. They don’t make parent Olympics, but perhaps they should.

I’m doing pretty well in the 20 month old division. She’s in the 95th percentile in height, 75th in weight, and can read about 40 words. She can count to 12, and we’re practicing counting Apple Jacks this week on the floor.

My goals are pretty lofty, and certainly pretentious, but that’s who I am. I’m not satisfied with being a good Dad…I’m going for Superdad!