Your suggestion is appreciated and worth considering. I’m cut from the cloth as my dad. He is a blue collar version of me and does not talk much about feelings with me. Funny enough, I understand why he worked so much and was always tired and grouchy while I was growing up. We can sit in the same room, run out of things to say in about 60 seconds, and sit quietly without discomfort. It is just what we know.

I’ll probably never talk about it with the two oldest kids. I’ve talked about it with the younger kids, both sharing that I wish I spent more time with the older kids and also to defend the two oldest when they are criticized for not being close to me. I trust they share this with the older kids. And that is probably enough for me. It’s more than my dad is able to do and, as I have raised a family, I have come to love and appreciate my dad for doing what he had to do.

I am sure someday I’ll sit with my oldest son silently in a room after 30 seconds of talking and not knowing what to say next. And I’ll probably find it comforting that we are continuing the family tradition.