Dad Post #225

Michael is the proud owner of an Xbox. It seemed inevitable, but he waited longer than most. He has since read books and played soccer – real activities – so he hasn’t vanished into virtual living. I know video gaming is a Death Star tractor beam. I've felt the pull myself. But Michael can handle it; he flirted with a Minecraft addiction on Android and only partially lost himself. Typical parental naiveté? Maybe, but even with video game access, Michael still engages in cello practice, baseball drills, bike riding, etc. And Jeanette is very good at policing screentime, and forcing us to run, jump, and play in the real world, too.

I did my taxes. Per our agreement to alternate, it’s my year to claim the kids. So I joyfully typed Megan’s and Michael’s names, genders, birthdays, and socials into the tax forms. Then TurboTax asked me, cleverly personalized, “Did Megan pay for more than half of her living expenses?” Huh? No. No, she didn’t. But sometimes she doesn’t complain. “Did Michael pay for half of his living expenses?” Not at all and he eats like a horse. These apply to older dependents, of course, but I laughed.

There’s an action-movie canon from my young-adulthood that I hope to watch with Michael someday. Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Seagal, Willis. All winners, baby! Not a bad movie in the bunch :) Take the first Predator, for example, released in 1987 (the year Platoon won best picture). With a knife and some mud, Arnold defeats a massively advantaged enemy. I dare you to pick a better movie! The best scene among these films, however, is in Rocky II. The Italian Stallion is stroking his new baby's hair and talking lovingly to his weakened, hospitalized wife. Then Adrian whispers to Rock, “There’s one thing I want you to do for me… come here… win. Win!” When I see this I get goosebumps so intense my clothes lift off my body. Then the training montage starts. If you aren't moved by Rocky training montages, see your doctor. I know Michael will love Rocky. Maybe he and I can train, and I can fight when I'm a hundred years old like Stallone did in the latest Rocky (which is new and not part of my beloved young-adulthood canon).