Father Of The Moment...

More often than not, the boy's father disappoints.  He gets one visit with each son, individually, for three hours, on the first and third weekend of the month.  And while there's was a lot of digging to get him into the hole he's in, there will be equally as much digging and a far more difficult climb to get out.  So this is the time he gets with them. Period.  And most of the time, he screws it up weather by his own ignorance, or by some cosmic black cloud that follows him everywhere. 

This was the case yesterday, when Oldest was to go for his first visit with him in four months.  Two minutes from drop off, the text comes that he can not make the visit.  Oldest is devastated, and  brought to tears in the back of the car.  We try to make the best of the rest of the night, as always, but his heart is broken, and in turn, mine is as well.  Their father can no longer hurt me himself, but in their anguish, my heart is easily broken, torn from my body, stomped on, and carried away by crows.

OK.  Maybe not like that, but you get the picture.  Typically, I do not give him a new opportunity, for this has in the past led to many new issues and disappointments with the boys.  But today, being Father's day, and me dreading taking two children solo to the grocery store, I offered up a three hour morning visit.

He took him fishing.

REAL fishing. 

On the dock, salt water, watch the sea worms bite your father's fingers, fishing. 

There was no girlfriend or pesky girlfriend's daughter.

Just the guys, a bait shop, and a couple of lines.

And in five minutes my son had caught the first real fish of his life...

...a 28 inch Stripped Bass.

And in just under three hours,

he caught probably the best memory he has ever had with his Father.