Memoirs: Disciplinarian Daddy

As a disciplinarian daddy, I am a miserable failure. There have been three sets of children in my life. I have never been successful in disciplining any of them.

I recount here my greatest failure.

My children, Antonio and Diamantia lived in Oviedo, near Orlando, Florida. I lived in Miami. When they were little kids, in the early 1980's, the normal routine was that on Fridays, I left work in Miami shortly before noon. I arrived at their school before they were released. I had an arrangement with a resort called La Cita, in the area of Titusville, on the Central Florida coast. We stayed in a very nice condo apartment, just the three of us. We swam in the pool. We played on the beach. We had a great time. I cooked healthy food for them. I told them stories. Week-ends with dad were play times, fun times.

The terms of the arrangement were that I had to return them to their school in Orlando on Monday mornings prior to 8:30 a.m. Normally, this was not a problem.

But, then, Diamantia decided that she was not happy with the arrangement. I believe that she was in the second or third grade at the time, about 7 or 8 years old.

It was Monday morning. I was up by six. It was an hour drive to the kids' school. They were up by 6:30. I made a healthy breakfast for them. Indeed, we called it, Mr. Health.

We were all ready to leave before 7:30; but then, little Didi, quite petulant, announced: I am not going, Dad! I don't want to go. I want to stay here with you. I don't like school. I don't like living with Mom. I want to be here with you.

Baby, I said, we must go. There are things you cannot understand. Your mother will make problems for me. I have meeting I must attend. I must work. We must leave now, Baby.

No, she said, I won't go.

I begged her. Antonio begged her. I loaded the car. We were ready to leave. Only Didi was missing.

Come, Baby, we must go now!

Didi went into the bathroom. She locked the door. She refused to come out!

DidiI love you. Please come. Let's go! You have to go to school, Baby. I have to go to work.

There was not a sound from Didi. I begged and begged. Antonio begged and begged. She would not unlock the bathroom door.

I looked for a maintenance person to open the door. It was Monday. There was none on duty.

Finally, about noon time, Didi opened the door. I am hungry, Dad. Let's get something to eat.

O.K. We had lunch and then I took them to school. So much for Dad the disciplinarian.

Learn more about this author, Lj Jaime Cordle.
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