Lessons of the Fathers

Some of the most interesting lessons I've learned about being a dad have come from the mistakes we've made along the way.

Let me give you an example: for his birthday Gus decided he wanted money rather than actual gifts. That way, he argued, he could buy whatever he wanted. Knowing how particular he's become as he's growing older, money seemed like a really good idea to us. And that's exactly what we told our family when they asked what to get him - money, so he could get whatever he wanted.

The lesson learned? It's hard to nix purchases when you've already established that the birthday money is for whatever he wants.

 And thus, today he came home with his new purchase: a corn snake.

Our arguments to try to persuade him in a different direction were repeatedly met with the same, self-assured response, "Whatever I wanted."

Next year we'll remember to put some stipulations on "whatever."