• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast
You are here: Home / Authors / Daddy Needs a Drink: Dance, Dance, Dance

Daddy Needs a Drink: Dance, Dance, Dance

October 6, 2006 by GreatDad Writers Leave a Comment

DaddydrinkAt the end of each summer, my father leaves febrile Florida to visit the multifaceted marketplace of Santa Fe. While he’s here, he acts like a crazy culture addict, catching the 6 am shuttle to Indian Market in the morning, power walking through the Folk Art Museum in the afternoon and humming along with Turandot at the opera until midnight. If we show any remote interest in these jet-setting jaunts, he drags us along. On the night we were scheduled to attend the Maria Benitez Teatro Flamenco performance at the former-Sheraton-currently-Radisson-future-The-Lodge-at-Santa-Fe-hotel, Poppy decided to switch on the TV to kill time before we left. She knew that with her grandfather, long silences trigger his inner political child to emerge and draw parallels between the Minutemen Civil Defense Corps at our border and the Battle of Bunker Hill.

“Oh, I love this show,” Poppy said at the sight of So You Think You Can Dance, Fox’s low-rent version of American Idol. Everything about this suckstravaganza screamed “terrible” to me. Contestants with names straight out of American Gladiator (Snow, Jonnis, Melody, Ashle) quivered and convulsed across the stage, drumbeats accentuating each thrust and air hump.

“Whatever happened to normal names?” my dad asked no one in particular. “And why in God’s name are we watching this dreck?”




“Because it’s cool and fun,” Poppy said, wanting to someday be part of this rhythm nation. Her brother London was on the floor playing with his Bionicles, a post-apocalyptic skeleton version of Legos. Because we try to keep our family rule as democratic as possible, my father and I had viewed 75 minutes of a Bionicle movie, causing us more pain than Madonna falling off 10 horses.

“Dad,” I called to my father who was tearing the newspaper in anguish. “Would you rather watch this or the Bionicle movie again?”

He frowned. “Is there a third choice?”

On the television, a speed freak of an MC introduced the panel of so-called celebrity judges. Each talking (and color-rinsed) head was less recognizable than the last. The level of stardom on that panel was about equal to the fame of Rodney Allen Rippy’s former house cleaner’s dog.

“That guy’s so gone,” Lala said as Jonnis-the-hippie-freestyler missed a vital move in his mambo challenge. I tried to fool myself into believing that watching this crapfest was a warm-up for the flamenco show, but my dad’s moaning convinced me otherwise.

“I’ve got moves.” London nodded to our familial panel.

“Well, show us,” I said, encouraging him like a rival gang member in a preschool production of West Side Story. London dropped a brown figure whose name Rahaga Pouks is about as difficult to pronounce as the bloody things are to put together. He looked down at his feet, and then performed a series of leaps, kicks and turns like a crab ballerina break-dancing on hot coals. Even my father couldn’t keep his eyes off his grandson bustin’ a move. London’s choreography became so complex that he tripped over his feet and fell back into the battalion of waiting Bionicles.

“Sorry,” London said to us. “I’m a little rusty.”

“Rusty?” I mouthed to Lala. “From what?”

She shrugged and smiled, not wanting to interrupt her son’s hustle and flow.

London continued with his routine, using the hip-hop music from the TV to accompany him. An hour later I’d be sitting in front of the best flamenco dancers in the world, but I couldn’t see how anything could be more enjoyable than the show from my own little Savion Glover. By the next commercial, London stopped abruptly then flicked the sleeve of hair out of his face.

“Are you okay?” Lala asked. “Is anything wrong?”

London held one grubby finger in the air as he panted. “I just need to take some air. I’ll be right back.” Then he vogued off to his room backstage while we judges compiled our scores. 

 

– Robert Wilder

Filed Under: Authors

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks
Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad. Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

150. The Power of Humor in Parenting with Gavin Bellour
byPaul Banas

How does humor shape a happy family? In this episode of Great Dad Talks, explore the power of laughter in parenting with director, creative, and dad of four, Gavin Bellour. Gavin shares stories from both his advertising career—featuring celebrities like Jason Biggs, Martha Stewart, and Norm Macdonald—and his life as a father trying to find joy, even amid chaos.

From embracing dad jokes to making humor an essential family value, we discuss the challenges and hilarity of parenthood. We cover playful family rituals, the importance of laughing at yourself, and practical tips on bringing more humor—and less stress—into your home.

Check out Gavin’s website at www.gavinbellour.com

Visit these links and embark on the path to becoming the best parent you can be:

– GreatDad.com/coaching 

– GreatDad.com/pq 

– Gratitude course: bit.ly/3NMLDNC  

50% off for podcast listeners with code PODCAST50

150. The Power of Humor in Parenting with Gavin Bellour
150. The Power of Humor in Parenting with Gavin Bellour
June 17, 2025
Paul Banas
149. Winning College Applications with Hamada Zahawi
June 10, 2025
Paul Banas
148. Healing Generational Trauma with Dr. Sasha Reiisi
June 3, 2025
Paul Banas
147. Discovering Dad’s Purpose with Adam Landrum
May 27, 2025
Paul Banas
146. Balancing Business and Family with Dr. Travis Parry
May 20, 2025
Paul Banas
145. Understanding Children’s Emotional Needs with Dr. David Marcus
May 13, 2025
Paul Banas
144. Exploring Mindful Fatherhood with Odeani Mc Bean
May 6, 2025
Paul Banas
143. Overcoming Dad Burnout with Scott Anderson
April 29, 2025
Paul Banas
142. Building Resilient Kids with Dr. Richard Oelberger
April 24, 2025
Paul Banas
141. Exploring Men’s Sexual Health with Dr. Elliot Justin
April 22, 2025
Paul Banas
Search Results placeholder

More to See

Father’s Day 2025: The Best Grilling Tools and Accessories for Dad

May 31, 2025 By Paul Banas

Balancing Business and Family with Dr. Travis Parry

May 20, 2025 By Paul Banas

Copyright © 2025 . GreatDad