Dad’s Weekend

You showed up three hours late

It was your daughter’s sixth birthday

But you, you had a hot date.

I thought of a million things to say;

Like, “She’s upstairs crying in her pillow.

Since her friend’s all left early

Because all she did was watch by the willow

Waiting for daddy, trying not to be surly.

You say she’s important, you decry your love,

Yet you’re never there

When push comes to shove

You’re God knows where.

You missed the school play

Where she was an outfielder behind 3rd base

And where were you on Parent’s day

When she fumbled her notes looking for your face?

You think a new doll will fix any trouble

When she just wants her Daddy to care.

You unthinkingly keep bursting her bubble

And that just isn’t in any way fair.

She needs her mommy, but she also needs a dad -

One who remembers to call when he’s running late

And hugs her when she’s feeling sad.

Who she knows will worry when she goes on her first date.

Some day she’ll stop crying… and then it will be over for Dad

Because that’s the day she’ll have stopped caring.

When she decides not to let your apathy keep her so sad.

That’s what you should truly be dreading.

You say you want weekends and summer

But at your home she’s neglected, forgotten

Comes home looking like all of life’s a bummer

Because she spent the weekend feeling misbegotten.

Left with a babysitter and Mac and cheese

While daddy went out on the town

You spend your “Us Time” like she has an infectious disease.

When she comes back she doesn’t even know up from down.

Yet she loves you with all her heart,

Refuses to hear any bad said of you

So, maybe you need to look a tad closer at your part

And show some actual concern for her happiness too.

We covered this in court where I tried to be fair.

While you swore I was a useless bad mom.

But I’m there when she needs me, no matter where

While you toss her off her like a hot potato or stink bomb.”

But I say none of this, I merely sigh.

I open the door, call her down from her room

I, unlike her, no longer bother to ask “Why?”

Instead I send her to neglect’s silent, court-ordered tomb.