Buying Time

[mom_in_training]

Buying Time:


A man came home from work late again, tired, irritated, and stressed, to find his six year old son waiting for him at the door.

“Daddy, may I ask you a question?”

“Yeah, sure, what is it?” replied the man.

“Daddy, how much money do you make an hour?”

“That is none of your business! What makes you ask such a question?” the man said irritatingly.

“Oh, I just wanted to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?” pleaded the little boy. “Well, if you must know, I make $20.00 an hour.”

“Oh,” the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, “Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please?”

The father was irritated. “If the only reason you want to know how much money I make is so you can borrow some for a dopey toy or other nonsense, then off to your room and think about your selfishness. And besides, you’re only six years old, and six year olds don’t need money. I work long, hard hours every day to earn money for you and your mom, I don’t have time to talk about loaning you money.”

The little boy went quietly to his room and shut the door.

After about an hour, the father had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there really was a reason he needed to borrow $10.00, he had never asked before for money. The father went to the boy’s room and knocked on the door. “May I come in?” inquired the father.

“Yes, Daddy,” replied the little boy.

“I have been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier,” said the man. “It has been a long, tough day and I took my anger out on you. Here’s the $10.00 you asked for.”

The little boy sat up straight and beaming said “Oh thank you Daddy!” Then, reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some crumpled up dollars. The father seeing that the boy already had money started to get angry again. The little boy slowly started to count out his money, then looked up at his father.

“Why did you want more money if you already had some?” the father grumbled. “Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,” the little boy replied.

“For what,” said his father.

“Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I borrow an hour of your time?”

-Author Unknown

 

[DammitJanet]

There is a country song along the same lines as this and it is cute:

Title : The Dollar

Artist : Jamey Johnson

Album : N/A


Daddy hugs his little man
says son I’ve got to go
and he pulls out of the drive and disappears
as they walk back in the house
the young boy asks his mama
where does daddy go when he leaves here

mama tells her little man
your daddy’s got a job
and when he goes to work they pay him for his time
well the young boy gets to thinking
and he heads up to his bedroom
and comes running back with a quarter and four dimes

(chorus
and says mama how much time will this buy me
is it enough to take me fishing or throw a football in the street
if I’m a little short then how much more does daddy need
to spend some time with me

the young boy tells his mama
now I know daddy’s busy
cause most times when he gets home it’s dark outside
but tell him I’ve got me some pennies
saved up from the tooth fairy
and I keep ‘em in my piggy bank and I believe there’s thirty-five

(chorus
and mama how much time will that buy me
is it enough to take me camping in a tent down by the creek
if I’m a little short then how much more does daddy need
to spend some time with me

mama how much time will this buy me
is it enough for just an afternoon a day or a whole week
if I’m a little short then how much more does daddy need
to spend some time with me

mama takes her little man
sets him on her lap
and starts dialing up some numbers on the phone
she says daddy come home early
you don’t have to chase that dollar
cause your little man has got one here at home

 

[Big Bad Kitty]

Yup! "The Dollar"! I could not for the life of me think of the song, although I knew it was out there...

Used to get me all weepy when I heard that song.

 

[mom_in_training]

Awwwwww!!!!! :crying: That is a cool song.

 

[HereWeGoAgain]

Never read that before, or heard the song. Very touching, if a tad maudlin (but then isn't maudlin a requirement in country music?) Another in the same vein is Harry Chapin's "Cat's in the Cradle":
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you, Dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon
"When you comin' home, Dad?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Son
You know we'll have a good time then."

My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw?", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's OK"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Dad?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Son
You know we'll have a good time then."

Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man, I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man on the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Son
You know we'll have a good time then."

I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you, if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see, my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little Boy Blue and the Man in the Moon
"When you comin' home, Son?"
"I don't know when, but we'll get together then, Dad
You know we'll have a good time then."</div></div>

I worked on contracts away from home for several years (98 to 00, 01 to 03). My kids were older, our youngest was 14 and difficult child was 18, but I was absent for a lot of stuff. I should've been around for wife and the kids especially because of difficult child's issues which were really coming to a head. I was only home for three or four days every second or third weekend and spent most of that time with wife. I did get in some camping and manly bonding stuff with the boys, and I was there for the big events, holidays and graduations and the like, but, in retrospect, it was too little. That time is gone forever.

Now I see difficult child do the very same thing with her daughter. She comes home from work and easy child 1 wants to be with her, and even though she loves her, she gets annoyed and wants to do her own thing -- watch TV, read, or sleep 12 hours a day.

I'm making an effort to not let history repeat itself with me and easy child 1. I'm the only Dad she knows. She calls me "Papa" but introduces me as "my Dad", which can be comical at times, but gives my heart a little thrill. As a rule when I get home from work until she goes to bed we do stuff together. It tries my patience at times but I remind myself that every minute is precious to both of us.