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SKFatherHood HIS PERSPECTIVE: Frank’s Rush Bowls
ONE DAD’S STOR Y
Where Locals Go
food review
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as it is bringing to light what women have been
experiencing from certain types of men for
years, and thankfully many of those men are
paying a price and those behaviors are changing.
But that’s not what I’m referring to. It seems that
WINTER IS fathers in general are being replaced as the mas-
culine role in the lives of our children. Because
COMING of the advent of technology, the popularity of
social media, and the differing platforms our kids
use to gather information, they may give more
credence to what friends or some YouTube star
.................................................................................................................................... has to say, than what a father does.
This past holiday season was very special to my family because for
And I think in many ways this does a disservice
the first time we were able to have Christmas at the home of one to our kids. They need that masculine voice, that
of my children. My son lives in Colorado now and the draw of a leadership that is different than what a mother
or others provides. Part of that comes from our
white Christmas was alluring, but of course seeing how my son was being successful. My grandparents lived through
fairing on his own was high on the agenda. He lives in a great little the Great Depression and WW II and did the
best they could not only to provide for their
house with roommates, he has his own interests and is growing into
families, but also to make sure they survived. My
quite the young man. One of his interests (as it seems to be with parents came from not having much and doing
the rest of America) is Game of Thrones. While shopping with him, everything they could to make sure my siblings
and me had a better life than they had. They
he saw a 3D puzzle of the lands that make up that fantasy world succeeded. And that’s the case in many places.
and we got it for him for Christmas. We spent a couple days working
We are probably the most fortunate generation
the puzzle and it was a nice bonding experience for the both of us.
............................................................................................................................ and successful generation of any that has lived
in this country so far. Until our children grow up.
Having never seen an episode of course he weak or dumb character in movies and televi- But they will not have known the struggle of our
pressured me to start to binge watch. Reluc- sion. Certain behaviors or what seemed to be re- grandparents and parents, those are just stories
tantly, I dove in not knowing what to expect. It sponsibilities of the man in the home were seen to them. They are brought up more on electron-
is definitely not for young people. As a matter to be to stereotypical or insulting to women as if ics—smart phones, video games, digital tablets.
of fact, it’s kind of like Breaking Bad, but with they could not do those things. In my mind those It’s easy for them. They can be more self reliant
way more sex and gory violence. But like in things were not meant to be insulting, but actu- because they need us less. And because of that,
Breaking Bad there are no real redeeming char- ally respectful of your wife or women in general. they don’t have the same respect as we did for
acters, save a few. But this is not a review of the what the people before us went through and a
show or a recommendation to watch. Some- This diminished role of the father figure has now respect for the name they carry.
thing is noticeable throughout though. Really led to what is called “toxic masculinity” as if it is
what this game of thrones is, is defending your poisonous to be masculine in any way in today’s It’s not too late. As they say in Game of Thrones,
family name, and respecting your father (in society. I’m not saying all this supposed mascu- “winter is coming.” We must see what we are
many cases in this show no matter how reprehensible he line behavior was correct and should be accept- facing and we must face it together if our names
may be.) But that seemed to be the central able. The #MeToo movement is generally good the names of our fathers are to carry on.
theme—living up to your father’s name.

That got me to thinking about the way things About the writer:
are today. It seems, with some exceptions, we’ve JIM VERDI | Born in Brooklyn, Jim’s been a proud Texan for over 30 years.
lost that sentiment—living up to your family Married with a son and daughter, he’s worked in the DFW radio market his
name and respecting the father in the home. entire career, on air as “Jimbo” on Young Country 105.3, then writing for Radio
Disney and now producing a national talk radio show. He grew up a Dallas
Some of that happened through society accept-
Cowboys fan, but has a lifelong affair with the New York Mets. He’s passionate
ing homes without fathers. And in popular
about American history, baseball and golf, however you’ll find him on most
culture men in general began to be shown as the weekends practicing his passion, smoking meat on Elvis—his stick burner pit.
96 FEBRUARY 2019 | SocietyLifeMag.com