Father's Day // 13 June 2024

Men are often told that, when a child is born, it changes their life. Imagine being 48 and having three children born minutes apart.? That is a real change! My mother would tell her friends that my becoming a father at 48 was a “delayed vocation.”

I have numerous and vivid memories of being a father to three girls. I am reminded almost daily of various adventures with my children.?

This past Memorial Day Weekend, I took a walk to the beach. There were two little girls who insisted upon going into the water, which of course meant that their father went into the water as well.? In our case, our first summer in Marion was 2002 when the girls were about to be 5 years old and, lo and behold on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend we drove down and went to the beach and yes, dad had to follow three little girls into the water.? It’s quite a brisk feeling to enter the ocean before Memorial Day.? Seinfeld once had an episode entitled “Shrinkage.”

I continue my pool rehab at the Wareham Y most weekends.? I am reminded that when the weather was not so good, I would take the three girls to the Y and play Marco Polo, for a long time.? We always made popcorn in the microwave in the evening, with varying levels of success, and would watch a video, back when they were the primary vehicle for entertainment.? We found the Olson Twins to be entertaining.

Families develop patterns. I would drive down Fridays in the summer and we would go to The Gateway for dinner, early. The girls always ordered mozzarella sticks and then, even if they hadn’t finished their dinner, would convince their aged father to cross the street for an ice cream cone at Kool Kone without regard to the temperature or the weather. ?In the morning, I would make pancakes with lots of chocolate chips.

Back in Jamaica Plain, we were just as busy, but I was working more of the time. I have the fondest recollections of taking out a video camera (which I really could not operate very well) and catching on film, for posterity, the girls’ little feet running down the big stairs at 35 Burroughs Street on Christmas Morning at an hour far too early for anyone older than 6 or 7.

Each time I walk around Jamaica Pond, I am reminded of pushing that big triple baby carriage around the Pond.? I should have had a sign on the front of it that said “yes, they are triplets.”

These are very happy memories.

There are disadvantages to becoming a father at 48. It is not easy to save for college and retirement and pay the bills that follow three growing children simultaneously. On the other hand, an older father has a bit more flexibility with respect to his schedule.? I have very few complaints. I must admit that I enjoyed every Little League game, every soccer practice and every “dadventure.” ?I also have fond recollections of visiting colleges.? I think we visited 40 in ten states and the District of Columbia. Believe it or not, I enjoyed parent-teacher conferences, and there were many of them. Yes, even the thought of teaching my daughters to drive in parking lots in Eastern Massachusetts brings a smile to my face.

I have belts and scarfs and ties from their schools.? When I am asked the origin of such insignia apparel, I respond “that cost me $250,000.”? I have no regrets about paying any tuition bills.? They were an investment in the future for both our family and our society.?

In August, the girls will be 27 years old.? Our goal is to have dinner at The Gateway and then go to Kool Kone for ice cream.? I doubt they will insist that I follow them into the ocean!? They are grown, have careers and friends.? I never see enough of them, but which father would disagree with that thought?

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