I know that all the “rules” out there say you shouldn’t blog about your family and personal stuff and all that, but, y’all who know me know that I sometimes have problems with rules (not all of them, just the dumb ones—not saying that’s a dumb rule. Well, nevermind. Just read on!). So, I’m going to blog about my daughter. Those who’ve been around a while have seen me post videos of her singing and bragging about her and such anyway, so talking about her now won’t really make a difference. And I’m sure I’ll continue to do that, but that is not what this blog is about.
Brittany recently turned sixteen. I thought the biggest thing around this event would be that she got her driver’s license and would get a job. Oh, she did get her license and there are already many miles on our vehicles. I watch these miles (and change the oil) and wonder, “is Oxford really that big? I mean, it’d have to be to churn up all those miles.”
And she got a job, too. After a couple of false starts (neither of them her fault, thankfully), she landed a job with Chik Fil-A. BJ and I had been telling her for a couple of years that she would actually enjoy working—yes, I’m a mean father; I made her get a job. I’ll tell you what I’ve found myself telling my Dad a time or two (although mostly as a joke because it is what he told his mother): you raised yours the way you wanted, I’m raising mine the way I want.
But little did I realize that her becoming a middle-teen would lead to a sudden acquisition of knowledge to make her incredibly brilliant! It’s true. She’s suddenly so incredibly wise in the ways of the world… so much so that I don’t know nothing…and I often fail to realize how brilliant she is.
Let me give you an example. Brittany has a cellphone. As of this writing, I only recently acquired my first one—no you can’t have my number! I didn’t really want one, but because of my recent traveling excursions, it was forced upon me! I still don’t really want one! But not long ago, Brittany got a different phone and was having problems setting the date and time as she transferred all her info to the new phone. I asked her if she wanted me to give it a try. Her response? Since I didn’t own a cellphone, I obviously didn’t have any clue about them and couldn’t figure it out. Obviously. She passed it to me anyway (with a roll of the eyes) andI fixed the date and time in a few minutes flat. Was she impressed? Not so much. Because she’s brilliant and I? I am just Dad!
Let me give you another example. That job that I forced her to get? Guess what? Yep, she actually enjoys it. You think she’ll admit it to Dad? Nope. Because she is near-omniscient now, and me? I’m just Dad.
I’m sure my son will be just as brilliant in a matter of years, but he has five more years before he turns sixteen. Thankfully I’ll still be “smart” around him a little longer.













