My daughter Casey is 13, and her favorite band is Green Day.
She knows all their songs.
She owns a couple of Green Day T-shirts.
She loves Green Day.
A few moments ago I dropped Casey and a friend off at a bowling alley. There was a kid standing outside the bowling alley, maybe a few years older than Casey. He was wearing a black Green Day T-shirt. Casey’s window was open. “Hey, great shirt!” I yelled. “That’s her favorite band.”
I looked at Casey. She was mortified.
“Did I just embarrass you?” I said.
“Yes,” she said, climbing out of the car. The guy in the T-shirt was still there, looking nearly as horrified as my daughter.
“OK,” I said, yelling quite loudly. “Sweetie, have a great time!”
I love the power of fatherhood.