Fatherhood Fridays #11: Cry It Out
There’s a lot of talk about whether or not it’s cool to let your baby “cry it out.”
I’m not going to walk onto that mine field today (maybe another day when I’ve had a couple more hours of sleep and 10x the glasses of liquid courage). Instead, let’s talk about adults crying it out.
Sometimes, we get so crazy wrapped up in making money and watching out for our kids and hunting down the sex offenders in our neighborhood, that we forget to stop and allow ourselves to feel stuff. Don’t worry, I’m not suspending my man card. I’m just saying that if we allowed ourselves to be aware of how we actually feel, we might get some relief from holding on to it all the time.
Allow me to help…
1. Military Dad, Disguised as Capt. America, Surprises Son on his Birthday
I’ve seen a few of these now and thought I was immune to the “military dad comes home from war to see his kids.” But once I got to 2:03 in this video, it was like 1,000 ninjas carrying tiny knives started chopping onions in my office. The guy’s two kids grab on to him saying “Dadddyyyyyy” and I went absolutely untethered. I was okay until that part. Where the hell did that come from? Sure, I’m a sappy guy, but this is ridiculous.
We have to remember these soldiers have families. And if you don’t cry after that video… then, you might want to go get a pacemaker and jumpstart your frigging heartsicle.
Damn ninjas and their frigging onions.
2. Field of Dreams: Catch with Dad
Field of Dreams is just one of those movies, among several, that I will NEVER turn off if it’s playing on a TV anywhere, ever. I watched this movie with my dad so many times I’ve lost count.
I don’t give a shit if you hated YOUR FATHER, when a son sees his dead dad and they connect again doing something they loved, the whole universe explodes into a billion billion particles of shmoopy, fraternal man-love. My father wished he’d had a better connection wit his own dad. This movie was a portal to that blackhole of man-hugs.
It’s probably too late to tell you not to watch these in an office setting, right?
3. Drew Brees and his Son: Winning the Superbowl
I’m sure we’ve all seen this clip enough. We’ve seen the versions with lip dubs of Lion King over it, etc. etc. But it’s still rings true. Hell, I just saw it when I went to the Dad 2.0 summit in Austin, TX and when I embedded here… I started to cry. The man is a stand-up guy. Did you see his semi-new commercial for Vick’s? My friend over at DadCentric did an interview with him on it: OVER HERE. Yes, NEWFLASH. Men can BE PARENTS TOO, DAMMIT.
If those didn’t make you cry, then go ahead and READ THIS. I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU.
There’s something about Dads conquering their obstacles and the waterworks breaking down. It’s incredible. It’s rad. It’s f*cking embarrassing. I wouldn’t change it for the world.
And now today’s BONUS ROUND!
I feel like it should be my duty to bring this to every pool I visit with my son this summer. Man up, boys. Don’t get all uglycry on me over the sharks. Just keep your pee in your peenis.
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We promise not to make you cry there. In public, at least.
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40 Comments
40 Responses to “Fatherhood Fridays #11: Cry It Out”
Ok emotional stuff aside – cuz that’s for you dads…We already know new moms are friggen roller coasters of emotion…
Totally lovin the pool sign. I want one.
I started crying just reading the descriptions of the videos! Maybe because I’m 3 months pregnant? Lol Those homecoming soldier videos always get me. Thank you for showing guys it’s ok to cry!
And now I’m crying. ::your fault::
I didn’t even have to watch any videos and I was already tearing up!! Dammit, Charlie!!!
DAMMIT STEPHANIE. STOP CRYING. Is that better?
Oh gee, thanks. I feel much better now!
Since becoming a mom, I cry at everything. My family is everything to me and I have buried both of my parents (my mom at a young age) so I know that my time is limited with them. I try to cry in the shower when I don’t want to freak out my hubby. Darn ninjas and cutting up onions.
Imma shoot me some Onion Ninjas.
I watch the end of Field of Dreams occassionally. Just the end. I cry every time.
It’s true. Can’t be helped.
Even though I told myself not to cry, I still got all choked up watching Captain America take off his mask. Gah! And I LOVE that clip of Drew Brees with his son. Pure magic.
Yeah, but when those two kids hugged him? FUGGEDABOUTTTITT.
I think I’ll translate this into French. No, wait!
“Stop PP in the PISCINE 2012″ ……
All kidding aside, it’s a great sign!
La piscine actually. The words are the same in both English and French, from the crude to the refined. It’s pipi for the kiddos.
Indeed. Thanks for the lesson! You never know when I’ll need to utter the word “pee” in French.
Oh that’s an easy one! You’ll need it when you’ve stood in line at the Eiffel tower for 45 minutes and you need to get out and in the line with your child to go to the toilettes conveniently hidden at the back.
yes, we all need a good cry now and again. and chances are it’s all bottled up just waiting to overflow with the right little nudge. like these clips. yesterday i took a nap with my baby with our foreheads clunked up together, and as i was dozing off i felt the tears start, they got all smudged up on her sweet little face. not because i was sad but because it was a perfect moment, and dammit being a mommy is hard! it was a release. and those ninjas with their sharp knives and potent onions over in the corner didn’t help the situation
I think the onions and the knives were sharper just now when I was reading your post. DAMMIT.
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Only problem with that sign….my kid would pee for a chance to see a shark :s
As would I… AS. WOULD. I.
Hilarious, yet adorable. And the military thing always get me as well. Excellent reminder for all dads
Yeah, there’s a whole compendium of military dads coming home. Talk about an anti-war statement.
Before I was a father I didn’t react much if at all. Now with two kiddos of my own these things take that dark black made-of-stone heart of mine and just liquify it.
Couldn’t have put it better myself.
We’re going to need a bigger pool.
I wonder people even GET that reference anymore. So sad.
Get a hold of yourself, man! *slaps Charlie*
Thanks, Andy. I needed that.
Too many onion cutting ninjas!
When I first started reading your post I was like :/
Then I watch the military video and was like
Then I watched the last two videos and was like :’(
Then I saw the shark sign as was like
Kudos!
If anyone deserves to come home and play Cptn. America to thier kids, it is the dad in video #1.
Stupid Ninjas showed up here too
Seriously. Frigging ninjas.
I cry at anything showing parents who are really PARENTS, really caring for their wonderful little people. Parents completely rock!
I thought I cried a lot when my mother died, but man, that was nothing compared to when I had my little boy and I wanted to call her and say: “mum, I did it! I have a perfect little boy – come and meet your grandson”, and goddammit she wasn’t there. I cry about that more often than you might think even 6 years down the line… Damn those Ninjas!
Losing a parent is hard enough. Watching a child, who missed their parent dearly and didn’t know if they’d ever come home, see them for the first time in forever… NINJAS.
I managed to keep the ninjas mostly at bay, but damn they’re sneaky and one or two crept in. Thanks for the lovely videos and the statement that not only can men be awesome parents, but that they ARE and that they rock it just as much as moms. Equally shared parenting is so important to the family; everyone is better taken care of and less stressed. I sincerely think my man is going for husband and father of the year this year (sorry to all you other chaps who thought you had a shot; you don’t).
Thanks for sharing! But I shouldn’t have watched from my office. Bad idea.
Had one of them secret “yawns” lol