Back when I was 4, my dad would occasionally take me with him to work on the weekends. I don’t know if he did it as a way to skirt daycare or because he just loved having me around (I think I know the answer, but it doesn’t matter). Point is, I would often entertain myself playing PC games on his backup computer in the backroom. I was 4 and didn’t know what I was doing or how to win basic problems, but I amused myself all the same.
One day, I got super stumped with one level on Lemmings, and left to enlist my dad for help. He wasn’t in his office, so I checked around the building and eventually found him with one of his coworkers getting really close. I don’t really remember this specifically because I was a clueless child
All I remember is not getting help and going back to the game in the backroom no closer than I was.
Fast forward to that night when I got home and my mom asked me how the day with dad was, and I relayed the day’s events: getting a scratch off lottery ticket at the convenience store, eating some candy, playing and losing Lemmings, seeing my dad kiss the pretty girl, and seeing a cute dog on the street. I remember my mom getting a very weird look in her eye and I knew I said something funny. I didn’t know what it was, but my mom found it extremely interesting. I didn’t ask any questions though. Part of the fun was figuring out the game. But over the next few days, I would occasionally mention the day’s happenings to my mom in passing again just to see what got a rise- “We should get a cute dog” / “if you want, I can show you how to play Lemmings” / “I LOOOOOOOVE candy!” to no reaction.
Anyway, long story short- he moved out and guessing what was wrong without asking wasn’t as fun in the long run. I ask more questions these days because I figure it’s better to be informed than to be drifting in ignorant cotton candy land. This entire experience went over my head for years and is something my mom never readily explained to me until much later, which on one hand I appreciate so my young brain didn’t have to comprehend. On the other, I should’ve just asked why it was a problem, because I think I was still old enough to understand that wasn’t an appropriate thing to do in a healthy relationship.
Very slick...
