If you have children, you probably think you're going to end up as the cool parent. Okay, maybe not THE cool parent, since most parents probably don't dream of the day that their toddler grows into a teenager and throws ragers at their house, but still, I think most parents think they can at least be A cool parent. I know I felt this way as I'm a fun-loving guy, pretty chill about stuff, and I know how to chat with kids about kid stuff. I didn't think I could be a cool parent; I thought I would be a cool parent.
My hopes have already been dashed.
I went to a park with the whole family, wife, son, and dog, and we had a very nice time exploring and enjoying our time. The dog and I ran ahead a little ways when I saw it. I think I was witness to the coolest Dad ever. From a distance, I had to hope that it was just an older brother, but as they got closer, I knew that this Dad was just that freaking cool. Let me paint the picture for you.
I see both Dad and son coming towards the park, both on skateboards. Like, what the hell? Just at that, I am not comparing to that level of cool. But the Dad had his hat on backwards and the son had a fully coordinated outfit with an ultra clean white headband, both with their tennis rackets on their backs. I played tennis during my prime of cool, and I wasn't as cool as this elementary school kid. At that point, how am I even going to be in the same league as the Dad?
Like, literally the only thing I can possibly hang onto is maybe he's bald? I don't know, I'm grasping for straws here, but it's embarrassing that we both entered that day with the thought that we would be cool Dads, and now one of us is having an existential crisis that he's predestined to be a nerd Dad.
I mean, I was a little nervous to publish this as the guy might read it and find out about my jealousy. Then I remembered that he's probably too busy hanging out with Tony Hawk and making epic TikToks.
But blogging's cool, right?
...
Right?