Bad Dad Good Dad

(some fathers I have known)

All of the following are personal conversations I had with various dads at some point during my teaching career.

Some were good dads.

Some were … uh … not-so-good dads.

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1 - The Perfectionist Dad

“Mr. Talley, I want my daughter to make straight A’s. Nothing less is acceptable. If she ever makes less than an A on a test, let me know immediately. Here is my phone number.”

“But, sir, your daughter is a wonderful little girl. Please let her be a wonderful little girl. I can promise you that grades in elementary school are not a great predictor of how successful and happy someone is later in life.”

“I’m her father and I decide what’s best for her success and happiness, Mr. Talley, not you.”

This little girl grew up to have all manner of problems coping mentally with anything less than perfection in her life. A sweet child, yes. She earned a PhD degree, yes. But she has lived her life as a bundle of jangled unhappy nerves.