#qualityfamilytimedadgumnit
When I was growing up, we rented the same beach house each year, it became our home away from home every summer and I loved it! My dad was a workaholic banker, so this was heaven to him, to take his girls and run away for a week. As soon as we got to the already clean beach house mom would re-clean it from top to bottom, while Melissa, daddy and I unloaded the two cars filled to the brim with all the crap we would “need” for the week.
As soon as the house was clean and everything was put in its place, Melissa and I would start to run out the door and down to the beach when dad would yell from the other room. "Are we ready for a family walk?" While we appreciated that our parents took us here each year, no teenager wants to walk on the beach with their parents, but here we were experiencing some "Quality family time, dadgummit!" I know this phrase is not in the dictionary due to the fact that as far as I know my dad basically invented it but if it was, I believe this is how it would be listed.
Quality Family Time, Dadgummit! - Time spent with one's family albeit under duress and embarrassment to the children. Most often heard yelled by the parents while on vacation (see Disney World) and Sunday afternoon walks.
Let me paint a picture for you of what this phrase of my father’s looks like in regard to the latter for my family.
One day years ago, it was decided that a family walk with the dogs would be good fun on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. While Dakota and Gracie hopped on their bikes, Craig took one of the labs and Ty took the other, I hooked up the last leash to my puppy and off we went. Ty had a broken arm and Mallory was not behaving as well as she should have so Craig took her from Ty, and we are now strolling along like a proper family. It was then the suggestion of "let's go the long route home” was made. (See also - the stretch of overgrowth that hasn't been properly maintained but always makes for a fun and interesting walk), and that would be when "Quality Family Time, Dadgummit" started.
Gracie was angry that she couldn’t get her bike to move across the cracked path with tufts of grass sticking up. Dakota is behind Gracie and annoyed by her slow pace for bike riding. Ty, who had taken Mallory’s leash back from Craig, is once again losing control of her due to her excitement over the tall grass. When we finally pass through the overgrowth Gracie takes off, at which time Dakota starts yelling at her to wait for us. Craig, who is now very frustrated, tells him to catch up with her and head home. It’s about this time that we hear a thump and Ty is down, crumpled on the ground holding his knee, blood oozing from his bottom lip, broken arm protected by a cast and the culprit that brought upon such horror? She’s sitting beside him panting and drooling and feeling rather pleased it would seem. Craig takes back control of both labs, I wrap my arm around Ty, and we limp home.
That, my friends, is the definition of #qualityfamilytimedadgumnit.
Where did the hashtag come from? My father wouldn’t have known what a hashtag was, but social media made it too easy not to create this particular one in honor of him and just how much he truly loved being with his three girls. When we were growing up, we hardly saw this hardworking man as he gave his all to everyone who needed him, so when he could, he wanted it just to be the four of us. I’ve adopted that belief system and still guard our family time fiercely even as they’ve become adults. #qualityfamilytimedadgumnit looks different now with this crew, more laughter and less frustration, late nights and more coffee but one thing remains the same, we’re together and that is everything.
On January 17, it will have been nine years since we lost my daddy, and we mourn his absence every single day. I hope one day to see my kids creating #qualityfamilytimedadgumnit with their people, nothing would make my daddy prouder than to know that the legacy that he and my mom created lived on for generations to come.
Now don't just sit there, go out and create your own memories and then tell me all about them, I'd love to hear your very own #qualityfamilytimedadgummit stories!
Daddy and Craig having #qualityfamilytimedadgumnit at the beach with the boys