Son of the Black Parakeet is meant to tell a tale or two or three about fatherhood. Whether giving the lesson or learning it, being a dad can be a hard road to walk. But in the end, it's beyond worthwhile.
It's more than inflating a basketball or teaching them to ride a bike. It’s more than driving them from music lessons to sport lessons and so on. It's more than the hour and half it took to make the baby (it's my book so I can estimate time and prowess however I want.) And it's even more than blood because if nothing else, this book collects the notion that birth fathers don't always show up and a lot of other men can teach the way a dad can teach.
There's something empowering about hearing the word "dad." There's something in the words "thank you" from someone who you're raising whether it be from the womb or a youngster at work. Knowledge is power and power is best when it's handed down through the ranks - from parent to child, father to son.
A wise woman once told me that "if you're lucky and you work real hard, you will learn from your children more than they'll learn from you." At the time, I didn't get it. I thought that was some example of terrible parenting! But as Orlando grows, I grow with him and I get it - while I'm teaching him, he's teaching me right back.
Go and spend some time with Dad. Forget the ugly tie and the half-thought out gift. Grab a cup of coffee or lunch, sit with the old man and listen.
Chad Hunter
Monkey Bars by O. Hunter, 2017