This blog and especially this post have helped me make sense of my dad. I'm pretty sure I've watched him claw his way out of Gammatude over the course of my lifetime.
My dad is intelligent and gifted, and he coasted through school on talent rather than hard work. He is very gifted in music and had a flair for the dramatic, so naturally he…
This blog and especially this post have helped me make sense of my dad. I'm pretty sure I've watched him claw his way out of Gammatude over the course of my lifetime.
My dad is intelligent and gifted, and he coasted through school on talent rather than hard work. He is very gifted in music and had a flair for the dramatic, so naturally he became a total theater kid.
Soon after graduating college, he found himself with a beautiful wife who he was terrified had just settled for him, and a new baby (me). He felt himself very lacking in self-discipline, so he decided to join the Army. This was in peacetime, before the military was fully converged, and it was very good for building his character. He achieved Sargeant before his honorable discharge, then went into church ministry.
My childhood is filled with many happy memories of singing around the dinner table and laughing heartily at my dad's jokes and funny voices and quotes. There are also unhappy memories of my dad keeping a tight rein over his wife and children as head of the house. I couldn't understand the deep insecurity I often sensed in him, but it makes a lot more sense now.
When my dad became a pastor, he over time realized that his role as situational Alpha required much more gravitas, so he began pulling back on the jokes and silliness. Over the years he became calm and stoic in public. Privately he still struggled, but his struggle was not in vain.
My dad today is well respected as a pastor, with loyal Bravos as deacons. My parents' relationship has improved over time, my mom is a sweet and submissive wife, and his ten kids, all grown or nearly grown, are all high-quality women and Delta or Bravo men. We still love to sing and laugh together.
This blog and especially this post have helped me make sense of my dad. I'm pretty sure I've watched him claw his way out of Gammatude over the course of my lifetime.
My dad is intelligent and gifted, and he coasted through school on talent rather than hard work. He is very gifted in music and had a flair for the dramatic, so naturally he became a total theater kid.
Soon after graduating college, he found himself with a beautiful wife who he was terrified had just settled for him, and a new baby (me). He felt himself very lacking in self-discipline, so he decided to join the Army. This was in peacetime, before the military was fully converged, and it was very good for building his character. He achieved Sargeant before his honorable discharge, then went into church ministry.
My childhood is filled with many happy memories of singing around the dinner table and laughing heartily at my dad's jokes and funny voices and quotes. There are also unhappy memories of my dad keeping a tight rein over his wife and children as head of the house. I couldn't understand the deep insecurity I often sensed in him, but it makes a lot more sense now.
When my dad became a pastor, he over time realized that his role as situational Alpha required much more gravitas, so he began pulling back on the jokes and silliness. Over the years he became calm and stoic in public. Privately he still struggled, but his struggle was not in vain.
My dad today is well respected as a pastor, with loyal Bravos as deacons. My parents' relationship has improved over time, my mom is a sweet and submissive wife, and his ten kids, all grown or nearly grown, are all high-quality women and Delta or Bravo men. We still love to sing and laugh together.