Did you watch the Bachelor on NBC last season? Yeah…me neither. I mean, come on why would I watch something so vapid and vacuous? OK- I have seen a few episodes of the Bachelor in its 56 seasons(It really hasn’t been that many but I swear they pack in like 4 seasons per year). Amidst the many many disturbing aspects of this show, chief among them is the sadness of their dates. Let me give you a fictional but probably representative snapshot:
Man: You look really hot tonight.
Woman: Thank you Bryan.
Man: Call me the Bry-man.
Woman: Ok…er..um Bry-man.
Man: You look so freakin hot. I totally want to make out with your hot face.
Woman: Bry-man, we just met. Can you tell me anything about yourself?
Man: Totes McGoats. A little about the Bry-man. Well, for starters, I’m awesome and I like to make out. Speaking of, did I mention that I want to make out with your hot face?
Woman- Bry-man, please do not give me a rose tonight. You are simply terrible.
Now, I know the contestants on the Bachelor are not usually the best and brightest among us but it still is a little depressing watching the trajectory of male and female relationships develop. It makes me worry about that day when I finally give my daughter permission to date when she turns 42. Will she be treated well? Will she meet and fall in love with a man of substance? Will someone like the Bry-man come knocking on our door?
Some things you can’t control but you can be influential in their outcome. That is why I took Halle on a date night recently. Just me and her. My wife was gone for a girl’s weekend and I was rolling solo on the homefront. Now, for those of you who have left your husbands alone with the children for a weekend, you are probably just happy that the house is still standing and the environment has not devolved into some kind of Lord of the Flies situation with children running the house.
True to form, I was busy and barely treading water watching my active child by myself. But I decided to do something special and take her on a date. So I put her in a dress and we walked to a local restaurant. Halle and I had a beautiful time. She had mac and cheese with a nice merlot water. During our date, we talked and played and hopefully she felt loved and appreciated. I hope to make this a tradition in the coming years so that 1) I get to regularly spend some special time with my princess and 2) So she knows how she should be treated on a date. There are several Bry-man types in the world, I just don’t want them knocking on my door.
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So funny! Dating in Dallas is the WORST. Move to podunk, Idaho and you’ll never have to worry! She’ll meet a sweet, door opening gentleman in no time.
I don’t know Vanessa, I lived in Po-dunk, Texas and there’s Bry-man’s everywhere!!! Great story Gabe! Love the daddy diaries!