Have you ever "cleaned" a weapon, or used stories of your military prowess, to "warn" the young man dating your daughter?

Cpl Anthony Pearson — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 19:55:42 -0500

If so, help paint the picture for us... what exactly went down? Inquiring minds want to know.<div><br></div><div>I try not to overdo it, for a few reasons. I want my daughter to trust me and know she can share with me, and I want to remain a mystery... just a little bit.</div><div><br></div><div>I thought about practicing a 'googly eye thing', or perhaps staring off into the distance - the ol' 50 mile stare. <br><br>I usually do the passive aggressive thing... I'm nice, even pleasant. At some point, while discussing family and how much I love my kids, I work into the conversation, "If anything bad ever happened to my daughter, they'd never find the pieces."<br><br>With a good hearty laugh to button it up nicely. </div><div><br></div><div>Then maybe the googly eye a little bit.</div><div><br></div><div>Then sudden silence.</div><div><br></div><div>That's how I roll.</div>

Response by Cpl Anthony Pearson made Dec 20 at 2013 8:00 PM

Cpl Anthony Pearson — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:00:10 -0500

Of course, being a member of an all-Marine Corps motorcycle club, and having large uncles who are cops or prison guards, helps. There is no shortage of people lining up to make sure the right impression and tolerance levels are set. :)

Good stuff.

Response by Cpl Anthony Pearson made Dec 20 at 2013 8:06 PM

Cpl Anthony Pearson — Fri, 20 Dec 2013 20:06:40 -0500

My wonderful daughter and I. :)

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Jan 5 at 2015 11:42 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 11:42:52 -0500

I don't have a daughter. I do have cousins and nieces. I've been present when they were picked up for a date, and on one instance I did warn their suitor that they'd better be on their best behavior. I said it jokingly, but the look on my face was anything but.

Response by 1LT Voyle Smith made Nov 6 at 2022 2:59 PM

1LT Voyle Smith — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 14:59:25 -0500

The first time my daughter brought a young man home to meet us, I stood over him like a mountain. At 6’3” and 225 lbs, the poor kid thought I would kill him if he even touched our daughter. She was 16, blond and blue-eyed and cute as a button. He was also 16 and looked like he weighed 120 lbs soaking wet. He trembled as he stuck out his hand to shake mine. I gripped his hand firmly but gently and told him we were confident that he would treat our daughter with respect and bring her home safely by 10:00 PM. He brought her home at 9:45 and she was giggly happy to have survived her first date. She’s 44 years old now, with a young son of her own.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 6 at 2022 7:53 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 06 Nov 2022 19:53:21 -0500

You just implied that you think the "young man" is a sexual predator or violent. Has he ever given a single reason to assume such a thing.
-If he has, why are you letting her go with him?

Or

-You don't think that your daughter has good judgment. Why are you letting her date?

If not, you might think you're just being protective. In reality, you're just pissing on their night out. You made sure that the date started with him being uncomfortable, possibly pissed off. And your daughter will probably sense something is wrong and wonder what. Is that what you really want?

If I were the young man, I'd be tempted to let her know right then and there what you just said, that you're bullying her dates. The only thing that would hold me back is that I wouldn't want to ruin her evening. But she'd here about it before there was another date.

These are the sea stories that dads bellied up to the bar like to tell. It all about them and actually has little to do with their daughter.

Response by SSgt Ronald Krogel made Nov 8 at 2022 11:28 PM

SSgt Ronald Krogel — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 23:28:40 -0500

Never. It is called plausible deniability.

Response by SFC Jim Hall made Mar 11 at 2023 5:52 PM

SFC Jim Hall — Sat, 11 Mar 2023 17:52:05 -0500

No I haven’t. Although, from their earliest age, I told both of my daughters that I would do just that. I also told them I was going to get a life size picture on me in BDUs with my .45 in hand and them on either side of me and display it on the wall facing the front door so that it would be the first thing a boy saw when he entered the house. They have both been very selective in who they bring home.

Response by Neil Addams made Mar 14 at 2023 9:44 PM

Neil Addams — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 21:44:18 -0400

Awesome blog. I liked reading what you wrote. I enjoy reading this