There’s this car that just stopped in front of us in the driveway and I don’t know why. I gave him a 3-minute calm treatment to do what he has to do before I began asking “what’s going on.”
The driver didn’t care at all he’s blocking the way for the cars behind. He was just standing there and apparently waiting for somebody. Yeah, Dubai.
After another minute or so, I rolled my window down and shouted these exact words towards the non-caring driver, “HEY! WE’RE IN A HURRY!” with my hand gestures in the air.
My daughter is with us. She immediately asked, “Daddy what did you say?” “Why did you say that daddy?”
No matter how I tried to calm down and explain the situation, to her, I shouted. In our household, shouting is an offense. So she felt I was in a “fight mode.”
Several cars behind me we’re also blowing their horns continuously until the security guard finally made a move to tell this driver to unblock the way. Finally he realized he don’t own the road. Whew!
I didn’t expect my daughter will dwell on that situation so long.
When I got back to my senses again, she asked me repeatedly why I had to say those words to the other driver. She can’t forget my hand gestures while I was ‘shouting.’
I had to explain the situation and make sure she understands. I had to say sorry, because what I did was wrong. It was uncalled for. Pero, kasi… anyway….
You know what she told me? Here are her exact words:
“Next time daddy, don’t do it again okay… Next time daddy be patient, okay.”
Boom!
It felt good that my daughter can tell what’s right and wrong. Too bad her daddy can’t defend his actions and words.
The good thing is, our relationship with her is founded on conversations. We make sure that she knows what happens and why things happen. We make sure that all her questions are answered. Most importantly, she is aware that we, her parents, are also bound to make mistakes just like anybody. Our talks after every situation ensures that she learns something out of it.
We learn too.
Until today, she shares the same story to her friends and “adult friends,” and in the picture I was the bad guy.
One of the challenges in parenting is controlling the height of our emotions when they’re around. Had I only listened to my heart, and slowed down to speak, I would have not become angry (James 1:19).
Again, I was reminded to just think that my daughter is watching on me all the time, before I burst into whatever meltdown. The honorable thing is to stay out of any foolish arguments (Proverbs 20:3).