John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Passing Down Traditions

Passing down (and up) traditions and wisdom from generation to generation.

Sunday night my son was walking out to his car with a short sleeve shirt on and I yelled “Johnny, wait a minute. How are you going to stay warm?”

Johnny replied, “My car, Dad. It has heat.” “I know that,”

I said, “But what if you have a flat tire or your car breaks down? It would be a good idea to keep a jacket or blanket in your car, just in case. I know I am irrritating you with advice like this but my mom told me the same thing when I was walking out of the house at your age without any socks on in the middle of a snow storm.”

Johnny, looking at me not irritated but amused shot back, “Did you do it? Did you keep a blanket or jacket in your car after that?”

“No. No, I didn’t,” I said. “But it was still pretty good advice. You know?”

“Look, Dad,” Johnny responded, “You are forgetting you had two parents you got your genes from. Grandmommy, who constantly is giving advice; and Big John, who never takes any advice. And I have the same genes so it’s just a waste of both our time for you to keep trying to tell me what I should do. It may be a good idea. But you didnt do those things and neither will I.”

We both laughed and agreed that was the wisest advice passed between father and son in a long time.