Daughters rule dads with cunning: Phillip Morris
The Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez once wrote that, "one does not love one's children just because they are one's children but because of the friendship formed while raising them."
The 81-year-old Nobel Laureate has a wife and two sons. If Marquez had had a daughter, I'm not so sure he would have written such a clinical assessment. A daughter's love is different from a son's.
Men often form close friendships with their sons, friendships that in some ways resemble the loving relationship they might have with a family pet or a remote control. The relationship is simple and transparent.
But daughters present a different set of challenges. The father-daughter friendship is more one-sided and complicated. The clever daughter quickly learns to reduce the disparity in age and experience of the father to level the playing field in her favor.
She does this by constantly testing and winning her father's heart. She hones her conspiracy by becoming a perpetual flirt. From the time she comes to understand the power of the word, "Daddy," she uses the expression to her advantage and stealthily takes control of the friendship.
She uses the word and all that it implies to constantly reassure her "Daddy" that she loves him and, more importantly, needs him. She uses it when she prepares to spring surprises. She uses it lyrically and softly whenever she wants something.
The most highly skilled and manipulative daughter can magically turn the word into a gentle command.
This sort of "friendship" maneuvering does not work on mothers, unless perfected by a son. Women understand the cunning that courses through a young girl's veins. Where fathers see innocence, mothers recognize trickery. Mothers are immune to the traps girls set for fathers but are sometimes willing to assist them in their deceit.
I learned this lesson in "friendship" again this past Christmas. This time the lesson came with a boot.
I had never heard of Ugg boots
before Friday, Dec. 19. I had seen the boots on women and teenage girls, but I had no idea what they were or how much they cost.
I was mostly struck by the boots' ugliness and the willingness of some women to wear them in the summertime with shorts or pajamas.
But when I heard Faith's mother tell her, in no uncertain terms, that there would be no Ugg boot
for Christmas, I should have recognized the fix was in.
Faith, who rounds her age up to 10, shot me a glance that was both pensive and authoritative. But she said nothing.
"Your feet are still growing and I will not pay that much for boots. Maybe you'll get a knock-off brand, if they're not already sold out," she continued.
I'm now convinced they were Ugg
co-conspirators. The child silently played me like the viola she tucks under her chin whenever she conspires to soften my resistance. Her mother assisted.
The next day, I bought Faith her $160 pair of Uggs
.
I knew it represented conspicuous consumption. But I rationalized. It's winter in
No, she didn't.
But that's what daughters do:
They carefully raise their daddies.
Daughters rule dads with cunning: Phillip Morris
The Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez once wrote that, "one does not love one's children just because they are one's children but because of the friendship formed while raising them."
The 81-year-old Nobel Laureate has a wife and two sons. If Marquez had had a daughter, I'm not so sure he would have written such a clinical assessment. A daughter's love is different from a son's.
Men often form close friendships with their sons, friendships that in some ways resemble the loving relationship they might have with a family pet or a remote control. The relationship is simple and transparent.
But daughters present a different set of challenges. The father-daughter friendship is more one-sided and complicated. The clever daughter quickly learns to reduce the disparity in age and experience of the father to level the playing field in her favor.
She does this by constantly testing and winning her father's heart. She hones her conspiracy by becoming a perpetual flirt. From the time she comes to understand the power of the word, "Daddy," she uses the expression to her advantage and stealthily takes control of the friendship.
She uses the word and all that it implies to constantly reassure her "Daddy" that she loves him and, more importantly, needs him. She uses it when she prepares to spring surprises. She uses it lyrically and softly whenever she wants something.
The most highly skilled and manipulative daughter can magically turn the word into a gentle command.
This sort of "friendship" maneuvering does not work on mothers, unless perfected by a son. Women understand the cunning that courses through a young girl's veins. Where fathers see innocence, mothers recognize trickery. Mothers are immune to the traps girls set for fathers but are sometimes willing to assist them in their deceit.
I learned this lesson in "friendship" again this past Christmas. This time the lesson came with a boot.
I had never heard of Ugg boots
before Friday, Dec. 19. I had seen the boots on women and teenage girls, but I had no idea what they were or how much they cost.
I was mostly struck by the boots' ugliness and the willingness of some women to wear them in the summertime with shorts or pajamas.
But when I heard Faith's mother tell her, in no uncertain terms, that there would be no Ugg boot
for Christmas, I should have recognized the fix was in.
Faith, who rounds her age up to 10, shot me a glance that was both pensive and authoritative. But she said nothing.
"Your feet are still growing and I will not pay that much for boots. Maybe you'll get a knock-off brand, if they're not already sold out," she continued.
I'm now convinced they were Ugg
co-conspirators. The child silently played me like the viola she tucks under her chin whenever she conspires to soften my resistance. Her mother assisted.
The next day, I bought Faith her $160 pair of Uggs
.
I knew it represented conspicuous consumption. But I rationalized. It's winter in
No, she didn't.
But that's what daughters do:
They carefully raise their daddies.
Podiatrist: Ugg Boots Do Uggly Things To Your Fe
At more than $100, they're not cheap but they've become a must have -- especially for teenage girls. What many Ugg
lovers don't realize though is, according to one podiatrist, the flat, shear ling lined boots are actually bad for your feet.
"They keep your feet warm in the winter and summer. You don't have to wear socks with them, that's the main reason I bought them," said
"They're comfortable," said
They're a major fashion trend that hasn't gone out of style yet in
"I think they're ugly," said Weinkauf.
That doesn't stop thousands of women and girls from wearing and loving the Ugg boots
.
"Very comfortable, they feel like pillows on your feet," said Peterson.
However, podiatrists warn the shear ling boots are actually hard on your feet.
"The biggest problem with them is the fact that they have no support. They're completely flat on the bottom," podiatrist Dr. Kari Prescott.
Doctors say that lack of arch support can lead to foot and leg problems.
"If you don't have external support, all the muscles in your legs, really from the knee down, can become achy, sore. Some people refer to that as shin splints," said
A foot condition called plantar fasciitis, or heel spurs, may also happen. Slipping in an arch support can help.
"This provides some curvature and it's not ideal," said
And even forewarned about potential problems, Uggs
wearers still love their boots.
"No, I'd probably still wear them," said Peterson.
"I'd still wear them," said Weinkauf.
"It's always fashion over practicality, isn't it?" said
Ugg
As for arch support, Ugg
Doctors say flat shear ling boots can actually be harder on feet than high heels because they're worn for longer periods of time. And it appears Uggs are recession proof because they remain a top seller.