What's your opinion? Here's the scoop:
I was out at the local spot on Sunday with a bunch of riders. There were all types of people out there, some mountain boarders, and then a couple of BMX kids, some others on Huffy's, and then there was this family that was out there. Two brothers I think, I'd say still in the lower grades of elementary school. Well, I walk up after a short run to meet with the others (the entire place is really compact), and all of a sudden we notice the younger of the two brothers walking up with tears running down his face. Instantly thought, uh oh, he fell. But he seemed ok, and he was walkin his bike. His father however, was no where to be seen. The little kid (maybe 5-6? He was riding on a bike with gears) seemed to be scared that his father had left him - at least that's what I thought he was saying. I took his hand and walked him down, told him that his father hasn't left him, etc etc.
We hiked all the way down to where the cars were parked, and his dad was there at the van, tending to his other kids. His son was fine by then, but you could easily see that his face still had a distraught expression. Dad just looks at me and says, "What?" And he greets his son or something, and goes back to doin whatever, as if nothing had happened.
Is it just me, or is that an example of a lousy father? I don't know if my parents have ever let me out of sight when I'm not in the house, especially if it's in a situation where danger is involved (what if that kid walked across the landing of a jump and got plowed to, if he fell, if he got cut by the glass out there). I'm no daddy, so maybe I don't know, but this has kind of been on my mind for the past day. Just wondering what you guys think..
I was out at the local spot on Sunday with a bunch of riders. There were all types of people out there, some mountain boarders, and then a couple of BMX kids, some others on Huffy's, and then there was this family that was out there. Two brothers I think, I'd say still in the lower grades of elementary school. Well, I walk up after a short run to meet with the others (the entire place is really compact), and all of a sudden we notice the younger of the two brothers walking up with tears running down his face. Instantly thought, uh oh, he fell. But he seemed ok, and he was walkin his bike. His father however, was no where to be seen. The little kid (maybe 5-6? He was riding on a bike with gears) seemed to be scared that his father had left him - at least that's what I thought he was saying. I took his hand and walked him down, told him that his father hasn't left him, etc etc.
We hiked all the way down to where the cars were parked, and his dad was there at the van, tending to his other kids. His son was fine by then, but you could easily see that his face still had a distraught expression. Dad just looks at me and says, "What?" And he greets his son or something, and goes back to doin whatever, as if nothing had happened.
Is it just me, or is that an example of a lousy father? I don't know if my parents have ever let me out of sight when I'm not in the house, especially if it's in a situation where danger is involved (what if that kid walked across the landing of a jump and got plowed to, if he fell, if he got cut by the glass out there). I'm no daddy, so maybe I don't know, but this has kind of been on my mind for the past day. Just wondering what you guys think..
