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Every dad seems to have strong thoughts on things like music, travel, and the thermostat. Mine is no exception. So, in honor of Father\u2019s Day, I called my dad and interviewed him about his rules for life\u2026 <\/p>\n
Travel<\/strong><\/p>\n Travel somewhere new.<\/strong> Get the window seat.<\/strong> Leave early for the airport.<\/strong> Entertaining<\/strong><\/p>\n Talk to wallflowers.<\/strong> Listen to people.<\/strong> No dinner music.<\/strong> Cars<\/strong><\/p>\n Everyone should get a Honda Fit.<\/strong> Drive gently on ice.<\/strong> Use climate control.<\/strong> Parenting<\/strong><\/p>\n Name your child after they\u2019re born.<\/strong> Answer your kids\u2019 calls.<\/strong> Thank you, Dad! And please tell me: what are your dad\u2019s rules for life?<\/strong><\/p>\n P.S. A love letter to the stand-in fathers<\/a>, and who do the kids in your life resemble<\/a>?<\/p>\n
When you go to a familiar place, time runs at the same pace as it does at home. But when you don\u2019t know what\u2019s around each corner, time gets hugely extended. A day becomes a week, and a week becomes a month. Experiencing something new is very restorative. Sitting in a deck chair, or lying on the beach, that\u2019s not my cup of tea; I\u2019d rather stick pins in my eyes.<\/p>\n
I like looking out the window and seeing people become ant-sized. I also like to be situationally aware; I want to see that the flaps went down as they should when we land.<\/p>\n
Because of security, parking challenges, and the general embuggerance, I tend to allow 45 minutes of leeway.<\/p>\n
At a party, I like to talk to the wallflowers. Maybe they don\u2019t know anybody there. My one skill, if you like, as a conversationalist is that I know a little about a lot of things. So, whatever it is, I\u2019ll have a good time learning more from this person who knows all about the south pole of the moon or what it was like to grow up in this part of the world.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, in a conversation, the person is just waiting to get his next bit in. When someone is self absorbed, I feel sorry for them. There\u2019s so much more interesting stuff than your single perspective. If you can\u2019t see any other point of view, you\u2019re really missing out!<\/p>\n
I\u2019m an active music listener, so when music is playing \u2014 even in an elevator \u2014 I can\u2019t not<\/em> listen. Whether it\u2019s Handel or Love or Taylor Swift, I turn it off while I\u2019m with people.<\/p>\n
Every family in the country can be satisfied with a Honda Fit, and if you have a larger family, you get a VW Passat station wagon. It\u2019s important not to buy a big car just for that one week a year when you carry all the children camping.<\/p>\n
No sudden movements, be smooth as silk. You don\u2019t need to go slowly, just be gentle.<\/p>\n
I remember the black Ford Taurus SHO I had in 1991 \u2014 the first car I had with climate control. I was thinking, I need a little more something, and I reached out to hit a button on the dash, and it switched before my finger got there. I thought, ooooh; and I was sold. In the winter, I set it on 69, and in the summer, 71. Otherwise, I never touch it; I could do no better.<\/p>\n
We had names floating around before you were born. Your name initially was Lucy Claire, did you know that? But you have to meet the kid first, I really believe that. You can put that on my gravestone: meet the kid.<\/p>\n
I always pick up<\/a> when my kids call because I just like talking to them. I prefer to talk with them than I do probably anyone else in the world. And you guys don\u2019t normally call with a problem, but if you do, I want to be ready.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cupofjo.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/jeremy-anton-goddard.jpg\")
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