Daddy Dearest...
Is it just me or does everyone think you’re a long time dead?
There are two very sad stories in the paper today, of fathers estranged from their famous children.
The father of Brisbane swimmer Leisl Jones has been contacted by the Courier Mail and asked about his daughters impending wedding. Les Jones has said he’s rung Leisl five times since the news of her engagement broke, but she hasn’t phoned him back.
Leisl’s parents split in 2000 and Leisl lost touch with her father. I seem to remember stories at the time of Leisl and her Mum doing it very tough financially, which I guess means Les wasn’t great at paying maintenance.
Family estrangement is a very common and tragic story. I think if Leisl’s Dad was to disappear forever tomorrow, then she might just regret her hard line position. Having said that, Les, maybe you reap what you sow.
The other very similar story, is about Jimmy Bartel, Geelong star and 2007 Brownlow medallist.
Jimmy’s dad is a car salesman in Albury. The Herald Sun tracked him down after noting his absence from any speeches on Monday night.
It turns out, Jimmy’s dad left when Jimmy and his two sisters were very small but managed to stay in close touch until just three years ago, just before Jimmy turned 21. Apparently, after a family blue, Jimmy told his dad he was an aggressive drunk and it wasn’t helpful to him or his two sisters to have their dad around.
Jimmy, who was probably fairly accustomed to protecting his family, told his dad to clean up his act and get back to them. Three years later, Jimmy’s Dad is begging for forgiveness, yet still denying he ever had either a drinking or aggression problem.
Families are very complicated beasts, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re the only one you’ve got. Like I said before, you are a long time dead and I think you’ll lie a lot straighter in your coffin if you make peace with your family.
There are two very sad stories in the paper today, of fathers estranged from their famous children.
The father of Brisbane swimmer Leisl Jones has been contacted by the Courier Mail and asked about his daughters impending wedding. Les Jones has said he’s rung Leisl five times since the news of her engagement broke, but she hasn’t phoned him back.
Leisl’s parents split in 2000 and Leisl lost touch with her father. I seem to remember stories at the time of Leisl and her Mum doing it very tough financially, which I guess means Les wasn’t great at paying maintenance.
Family estrangement is a very common and tragic story. I think if Leisl’s Dad was to disappear forever tomorrow, then she might just regret her hard line position. Having said that, Les, maybe you reap what you sow.
The other very similar story, is about Jimmy Bartel, Geelong star and 2007 Brownlow medallist.
Jimmy’s dad is a car salesman in Albury. The Herald Sun tracked him down after noting his absence from any speeches on Monday night.
It turns out, Jimmy’s dad left when Jimmy and his two sisters were very small but managed to stay in close touch until just three years ago, just before Jimmy turned 21. Apparently, after a family blue, Jimmy told his dad he was an aggressive drunk and it wasn’t helpful to him or his two sisters to have their dad around.
Jimmy, who was probably fairly accustomed to protecting his family, told his dad to clean up his act and get back to them. Three years later, Jimmy’s Dad is begging for forgiveness, yet still denying he ever had either a drinking or aggression problem.
Families are very complicated beasts, there’s no doubt about that, but they’re the only one you’ve got. Like I said before, you are a long time dead and I think you’ll lie a lot straighter in your coffin if you make peace with your family.
2 Comments:
I was estranged from my Dad for
many many years. I thought I hated him, until he died. Now I'd give anything for just a few minutes to say I forgive him.
Some people are so selfish. They don't care how they hurt their kids but when they get old and lonely they expect their kids to be around. They put more time into their addictions then trying to do the right thing by the people they are responsible for. Listen to the song "the cats in the cradle". You reap what you sow.
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