Things Aren't Always What They Seem

Day 72- Things Aren’t Always What They Seem

I woke up this morning bright and shiny as a penny. I began to walk, patiently awaiting my favorite Parisian café to open. Visiting this café has become a tradition for me as I visit my mom at her place in North Palm Beach, Florida. When I walk in, I suddenly feel as though I have time traveled to a small café in Paris, France. The walls are lined with glowing articles about the chef and his wife. Tables are neatly set amongest wicker chairs. Fresh brewed coffee and baked croissants linger in the air.

This morning was a day to celebrate me, while I sipped freshly brewed java and read my book on Raising Kids for True Greatness” by Dr. Tim Kimmel. I had tried to read a novel, but I find myself dismayed by the drama, so I quickly returned to non-fiction where I find my inspiration.

As I began to read about stories where parents had “tried their best”, only to find that their kids had turned out differently than they had planned, I couldn’t help but notice a dad and his son who had sat down for breakfast. The boy was dressed in pressed khakis and a polo shirt that was sported from the nearby private school. Dad was extremely friendly and I was intrigued how he began talking to his son about not feeling pressured about attending a summer camp. My first reaction was how refreshing it was to hear a dad be supportive of what was best for his child. On the outset it seemed that he was raising his child for true greatness but then it took a quick turn. Suddenly his actions and words no longer matched, when he was confronted by diversion.

The man rose from his chair to greet a friend. The gentleman was sitting with a woman and two children who were perfectly coiffed. As he introduced himself to the “family friend” the first thing he asked her was whether or not she was married. When the woman said “no” the covert flirting began. By the time he left the tableside to return to his son he had made a comment about calling her. Then to top it off he sat down, whispered to his son, probably something about an indiscretion that his friend may have been having.

Things aren’t always what they seem. What I thought was a nice father son breakfast became a modeling nightmare. The dad went on for the balance of the breakfast to look at his phone and occasionally pop in a question about what time his son’s game was over the weekend. The last and final comment was the dad asking this middle school boy what time school started which abruptly indicated to me that breakfast with dad was not an on-going tradition.

Perhaps I was more sensitive this morning because of the content of the book I was reading but doesn’t it seem like the wheels fell off the track? The message that this boy received was initially positive with what seemed to be true interest in his well-being, but it was quickly masked with what I would call poor judgment.

If I could have stepped in to say something I might have encouraged the dad to sit with his son for the entire meal, leave the phone in his car and be less concerned with “who” was in the café and more concerned with the precious time he had to pour into his child.

I know this also tickled my spirit because I am consistently interrupted by the life that swirls around me. I often wonder  if I have ADD or is it just a short attention span? It makes me realize that at times when my social butterfly begins to flutter, I may be sending a message to those that I am with that they are somewhat less important. What I realized is that things “are”, what they seem. What we do, how we do it, when and where, leave a lasting legacy.