My father was always fond of dispensing his so-called helpful advice, the sort that could ruin even the happiest and most carefree life. Looking back, I still marvel at how my mother endured years of his company and managed to raise me alongside him. One day her patience finally snapped; she packed a large suitcase, took me with her, and left.
I kept in touch with my dad, visiting him now and again, stopping by on weekends, welcoming the New Year with him, and he attended my graduation. At every meeting, hed offer words of wisdom: I shouldnt listen to my mother or Id grow up weak, that Id chosen the wrong degree and ought to pursue a different field for postgraduate studies, and so on, right up to my wedding day when he suggested, several times, that I reconsider and marry someone else later. He simply couldnt stand Sara.
My mother begged me not to heed my father, but I couldnt just hang up the phone or leave mid-conversation, even as he urged me to be stricter with my wifeso she wouldnt think she could do whatever she pleased. For years I brushed aside his words, focusing on my own family, content with the relationship Sara and I had, so different from my parents. But this time, he went too far.
I invited both my parents to my birthday. We were seated at the table when suddenly
Well, son, my mother nudged Sara and me, Youre married now, perhaps its time to start thinking about grandchildren, she said, winking at Sara.
Grandchildren? my father interrupted. With whom? With Sara? Theyll be divorcing soon. I told you from the beginning shes not good for you doesnt have the right look, nothing to be done about it.
Sara, for reasons I still dont fully understand, thought my father was just echoing something Id said in private, maybe a previous conversation. She was hurt and left the table in tears. I had to apologise to her for days afterwards, explaining my fathers sharp tongue was matched only by his complete lack of sense. He tries to hurt everyone, not just her.
To defend himself, my father only grinned foolishly and said, Shell love you more if she knows you could leave her at any moment. You simply dont understand womens mindspsychology works differently for them.
All these years later, I find myself wondering: what can I do to ensure he keeps his advice to himself in the future?
