By Billy Galvin
The other day, my 5-year-old son and I were sitting on the couch watching college football.
Everything was perfect. Me and my boy bonding, making father and son memories. I was sipping on a brew pop and my little man was sipping on a ginger ale. All was right in the world until my little guy brought it all to a screeching halt.
We were talking about how someday, when he‘s all grown up, he‘ll have a little boy and they will watch the games like we do. I said, “That’s great! So, big guy, what do you think your job will be when you‘re a big man someday?” Now I wasn’t thinking, firefighter. I was going big, like astronaut or brain surgeon. But his answer was none of these. He looked me square in the eyes and dropped a bomb.
“I want to be a police officer, Daddy.”
I gasped, “What?” I thought, what have I done wrong? How did this happen? I quickly thought back on any traumas or pertinent medical history that could explain his last statement. “Why a cop?” I asked.
“They help people,” he said.
“Well, so do firefighters,” I replied.
He stared at me with his great big blue eyes and said, “They stop bad people and keep good people safe and that’s why I want to be a policeman.”
At first I was insulted my boy didn’t want to follow in my footsteps. My knee-jerk reaction was to emotionally scar him by telling him there was no Santa Claus (only kidding). But I had to understand why my son is telling me that he wants to be a cop.
Then it hit me. In today’s world, as much as I try to shield my kids from the horror in the world, they still see and hear things — maybe on the news or by overhearing adults talking.
Think of all the shootings or mass casualty incidents our children have possibly seen or heard about. When I was a kid they had tornado and fire drills at school. Now they have lockdown drills for a possible shooter in the building. It’s crazy and I’ve got to be honest, it often keeps me up at night worrying about the well-being of my wife and kids.
I looked at my little boy and smiled. “Well, big guy, if that’s what you decide to do then I support your decision.”
We both went quiet. He patted my back and said, “Firefighters are good too, Daddy.”
I laughed and said, “Thanks, big guy, we appreciate it.”
I guess in a time where people are capable of horrible acts, I’m raising a little boy who wants to stop it. So maybe I didn’t drop him on his head. Maybe, just maybe, I’m a really awesome dad ... Nah, it’s probably his mother.
I guess my kid wanting to be a cop isn’t the worst news. Although, I gotta wonder what blast to the ticker he’ll give me next. Maybe he’ll tell me he’s a Buckeye or Spartan fan. He does say his favorite color is green, so I‘m suspicious. I gotta admit, I’m starting to wonder if he’s really mine (again only kidding).
But yeah, there it is — my kid wants to be a cop. By the way, this still doesn’t change my opinion that cops all make terrible lovers, and smell like hot dog water and everyone knows it (not kidding). Stay safe out there.