Dad-isms
Does anyone have a Dad who says the same things over and over?
I do. So about 20 years ago for my Dad’s birthday, my sisters and I put together an ENTIRE BOOK of his repeatisms. I will spare you the insider ones such as “I always carry a garlic shaker” and leave you with some of the true gems, the ones that turned out to be helpful in life rather than just annoying in the moment.
And ones that will possibly show up in Tessa’s and Reed’s book of Mom-isms one day.
- Sometimes you COUNT the votes and sometimes you WEIGH them.
- Everyone is NOT doing it because YOU are not!
- What kind of sissy word is “fair”?
- Treat people when you don’t need them the way you wish you’d treated them when you do need them (sit with it a moment ’til it makes sense — it actually got me a job once).
- Leave things better than you find them.
- Come in when the streetlights are on!
- Elbow your way in.
- Draw a wider circle. (meaning: don’t find reasons to exclude yourself)
I’m glad I had daughters because they are so genteel (usually said after a burping contest — or worse).- 90% of the world’s work is done by people who don’t feel very good (we were not allowed to slack much).
- Drive like everyone is out to get you.
- Just because G*d picked your nose doesn’t mean YOU can (said to one of my sisters, I’m sure).
- Starting is half done.
- Everything in moderation, including moderation.
- Put the short things on the short shelf and the tall things on the tall shelf (he actually said this to me last week when looking in my fridge for tonic).
Up there is a photo I found online of my Dad, the consummate teacher (although not by profession) teaching citizens about his main passion, freedom.
We kid him a lot, but my sisters and I hold immense respect and love for our Dad. It’s amazing to us that this man who grew up without a father had it in him to become a great one anyhow.
So thanks, Dad, for saying such wise and loving things. Over and over and over and over…
Now I’m going to obsess and compulse over the height of things in my refrigerator.
What -isms do you attribute to your dad?
Image: GPSmagazine.com
More from Mile High Mamas
- Your Opinion: The “Controversy” of Birthday Party Thank-you Cards
- Teenage daughters vex Dad
- My Dad Gets Schooled in Facebook
Mile High Mamas Recommends
- Bullied for standing up against bullying (eLetters)
- Unwanted interrogation by U.S. Census Bureau (eLetters)
- Liberal education, indeed (eLetters)
I don’t know that my quiet dad has any Dad-isms but he definitely has a style of speech. Everything is slow and drawn-out with “Welllllll.” And don’t forget that cute Canadian accent.
My dad is a very colorful, witty individual. I can’t really write down some of his regular sayings, as this is a family-oriented blog.
Thankfully, when my parents are visiting (or we are at their house) he is on his best verbal behavior. I guess it’s the grandkids effect? He still makes us laugh. Growing up, my mom was an excellent balance for him. She’s very serene and super-sweet, wouldn’t dream of saying anything above a PG rating.
Lori, I am laughing at your dad’s advice to drive like everyone’s out to get you. I’ll remember that from now on.
In recent years, my dad’s favorite saying has been “whatever.” I’m not sure there is any real wisdom there… and like Gretchen, some of the other things I remember him saying are not appropriate to be repeated! LOL!
I love some of the sayings from your dad, Lori. Hard to pick a fave, but I’m going to go with “starting is half done.” So true!
I helped to make that book of “repeatisms,” and reading through the list brought back good memories.
I hate to admit it, but I have used almost all of the ones you listed…except for the one about driving (I will use it soon as my oldest son begins to drive in a couple of months) and the one about daughters -(because I have only boys).
I am constantly amazed by Dad being such a great father, knowing that he had no good role models. He’s just naturally gifted. And a great father.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad!
Amber, I would LOVE your dad’s cute Canadian accent. Why don’t you have one (the Candian part, not the cute part).
Gretchen, it seems like your book of Dad-ism’s would have to have a parental advisory on it!
Jenna, I love the one you picked — I use it a lot now myself!
Sheri, I’m so glad we put that book together. You’re right. Considering Dad grew up without a dad, he came up with some pretty good Dad-isms.
Thank you dear eldest daughter for a thoughtful and gracious blog post. (And I thought they never listened to their parents.)
This is The Dad taking the opportunity to amplify as well as appreciate. Here are a few Dad-isms that were likely added later to The Book of Life’s Wisdom.
Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. (#124)
There is nothing that is free. When you see such, know at best, it means ANAC — At No Additional Cost.
More recently I’ve found “three things” worth trumpeting that may be useful:
1) We still have America’s Freedom Documents — Declaration of Independence, U. S. Constitution and its incredibly important Bill of Rights; 2)They are very powerful documents; and 3) Those who know them are very powerful people (and not nearly enough of these).
The reason I had such good luck raising daughters and subsequently their mates and children is that they truly learned the wisdom of life, that of putting the tall things on the tall shelf. And in that context I give each of their children the “Magic Three” words plus one more of four: Please, Thank You and OKAY — plus “How can I help?”
So I am grateful for my good fortune in family and extended family.
And I can say a sincere “thank you” for that good fortune.
– A lucky Dad in tune with wise and giving wife, daughters and families.
PS One thing worth repeating is the last, from its quote in my book TOTAL Power of ONE in America (p 166):
“Practice Positive Practical Personal Politics.
“That means to treat others when you don’t need them the way you’ll wish you had treated them when you do need them.
“That means to be nice to people, all the time, if only for purely selfish reasons.”
That paragraph is preceded by, “Courtesy Makes the World a Better Place. Being kind, thoughtful, polite and courteous lubricate the interactions and relationships of human beings. Simple acts as opening a door, reaching out to shake a hand, offering a chair to an older person, and simple phrases as “please” and “Thank you” smooth the cultural mores of getting things done.”
Thank you dear eldest daughter for a thoughtful and gracious blog post. (And I thought they never listened to their parents.)
This is The Dad taking the opportunity to amplify as well as appreciate. Here are a few Dad-isms that were likely added later to The Book of Life’s Wisdom.
Anything worth doing is worth overdoing. (#124)
There is nothing that is free. When you see such, know at best, it means ANAC — At No Additional Cost.
More recently I’ve found “three things” worth trumpeting that may be useful:
1) We still have America’s Freedom Documents — Declaration of Independence, U. S. Constitution and its incredibly important Bill of Rights; 2)They are very powerful documents; and 3) Those who know them are very powerful people (and not nearly enough of these).
The reason I had such good luck raising daughters and subsequently their mates and children is that they truly learned the wisdom of life, that of putting the tall things on the tall shelf. And in that context I give each of their children the “Magic Three” words plus one more of four: Please, Thank You and OKAY — plus “How can I help?”
So I am grateful for my good fortune in family and extended family.
And I can say a sincere “thank you” for that good fortune.
– A lucky Dad in tune with wise and giving wife, daughters and families.
PS One thing worth repeating is the last, from its quote in my book TOTAL Power of ONE in America (p 166):
“Practice Positive Practical Personal Politics.
“That means to treat others when you don’t need them the way you’ll wish you had treated them when you do need them.
“That means to be nice to people, all the time, if only for purely selfish reasons.”
That paragraph is preceded by, “Courtesy Makes the World a Better Place. Being kind, thoughtful, polite and courteous lubricate the interactions and relationships of human beings. Simple acts as opening a door, reaching out to shake a hand, offering a chair to an older person, and simple phrases as “please” and “Thank you” smooth the cultural mores of getting things done.”
What a great post! I love your Dad-isms! Oh, and Lori, everyone IS out to get you.