Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro: 27oC, a little hot, Sunny and slightly cloudy.
This Sunday morning is a little chilly, with overcast clouds threatening for it to rain. As I am broke at the moment, there is not a lot I can do. Working out at the end of Leme is cheap. A coffee at the local baker’s is cheap. Going out for the whole day is not so cheap.
The main outside events of the morning were getting up early, working out, having a coffee at the local bakers, and buying some bread for Yasmin’s breakfast. When Yasmin is with me, I like to prepare a decent breakfast for her on the weekends. As she also usually gets up late on a Sunday morning, I like to give her a good breakfast so she can have a late lunch with me or her mother.
A good example of a breakfast for her is a bed of toast toasted in the air fryer with olive oil and oregano. Then, if salad is already prepared in the fridge, a bed of salad is on top of the toast with lettuce, arugula, tomato and onion with a little salt, pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette.
Then sliced ham and mozzarella cheese are on top of the salad, and finally, a fried egg is used to finish it off. It is incredibly good, and we both like it very much: simple, tasty, and filling. I enjoy doing it for her, and I think she appreciates it, too!!!
During the last two years, I have noticed a stronger sense of responsibility in her with her studies and life. I have always been willing to talk to her about anything, and she has never been afraid to ask me about something that she does not seem to understand well or has a doubt. I feel that our talks are clarifying and soothing for an active, inquisitive young mind that is hungrily looking for comprehension and knowledge.
Just this morning, we talked about friendship, school politics and transgender and gender awareness in general. I explained to her that, like many parents, I have two sides when it comes to my daughters. The first is obviously as a father, that I love her and want her to be happy, so in principle, I would support her in almost anything she does or should want to do.
While, as a man and an adult, I have certain principles that come from being a man and also from being born in a different culture and time than her, so there are some things that, as a father, I would support her, but at the same time, be disappointed.
For example, if she told me that she was gay, I would accept her position and support her as her father in the name of happiness, but at the same time, I would be a little disappointed.
As parents, it is crucial to be sincere, frank, and transparent with our children while also being mindful not to hurt them. While they have their own choices, we as parents also have our own set of choices and principles, and we should not compromise our principles or identity by accommodating our children’s actions that do not align with our own values, common sense, or decency. There is a delicate balance or line, and crossing it can lead to even more serious consequences and hardship.
So, Sunday was another lazy day, watching some films and reading the first chapter of a new book. I bought Yasmin a takeaway for lunch from the restaurant below. I later took her back to her mother’s at about 6 pm, and everything was good.
In bed by 9.00 pm.
Thank you.
Thanks for reading my blog. Check out my other posts and share your thoughts in the comments.
Richard
