POEM - Landing the Helicopter

I always want to be the cool dad

Many times I’m the strict dad

Sometimes I’m the unreasonable dad

Or the mean dad

I never want to be the indifferent dad

So I make an effort to care

But caring takes work

And if they aren’t doing it right

You can care yourself into a situation

Where somebody ends up upset

Or crying or hurt or offended

So I’m sitting on the couch

Trying to keep the peace

Make it so nobody misses a word

We are watching something important

I really want everyone to hear

But they are kids

And they have to share a couch

And there are dogs

And there are boring parts

And someone is hungry

The perfect conditions

For a perfect storm

So I take an extra second

Ask myself what is really necessary

Try not to act too quickly

Let some things just work out

My wife calls it picking my battles

Everyone else understands this concept

Except me, apparently

I tried it

Let the dogs roam more freely

Let the kids solve the territory issues

Let the decibels rise a little higher

It seemed to work

At least I was a lot happier

Got to sit with my wife

My arm wrapped around her shoulder

For a good two hours

As I learned my lesson

And she reclined against me