One of my favorite songs tells the story of a boy whose rough upbringing stems from the “meanest thing” his father did before leaving him and his mother—he named him Sue. In the aptly titled “A Boy Named Sue,” penned by Shel Silverstein and brought to life by the legendary Johnny Cash, Sue navigates the challenges associated with his unusual name.
Some girl would giggle, and I’d turn red,
And if a guy laughed, I’d lose my head,
I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a lad named “Sue.”
Growing up tough and resilient, Sue often moves around to escape the embarrassment of his name. Fueled by anger, he eventually confronts his estranged father in a bar. The reunion culminates in a rough-and-tumble fight, where they exchange punches and even draw guns. During the chaos, Dad reveals the reasoning behind the name he bestowed.
“Son, this world is rough,
And if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough.
I knew I wouldn’t be there to help ya along,
So I gave ya that name and said goodbye,
I knew you’d have to get strong or die,
And it’s the name that helped to make you strong.”
With this newfound understanding, Sue forgives his father and, whenever he conquers a challenge, he thinks of him.
As a longtime Johnny Cash admirer, this song resonates with me on a personal level. My son, Jake (not Sue), has just started kindergarten, and I find myself in a somewhat similar scenario to that of Sue’s father. (Rest assured, I’m not abandoning my family, so please hold the criticism.)
As a diehard New York Giants fan, I grew up in North Jersey, about 30 minutes away from the team’s home. I’ve endured countless dismal seasons and celebrated four Super Bowl victories. However, for the past 15 years, I’ve lived in Philadelphia—Eagles territory.
Philly often gets a bad rap as a rough city, especially with sports. (I mean, people are still talking about the infamous incident where Eagles fans booed Santa Claus and bombarded him with snowballs nearly 50 years ago!) Still, I’ve gotten used to the humorous jabs I receive while wearing my Giants gear on game day.
Now, my concern shifts to Jake. He’s just starting to grasp the game of football, and whenever we watch together on Sundays, he’s full of questions. What does that yellow line on the field mean? Who’s that team in red? How many points is a touchdown? These moments are precious and make watching the game even more enjoyable.
But here’s the dilemma: should I encourage him to root for the Giants so we can cheer together? Or, am I setting him up for a life of being “Sue,” risking ridicule from his classmates who are likely staunch Eagles fans? The thought of my son facing any form of bullying over something as trivial as a sports team is heartbreaking.
Yet, like Sue’s father suggested, am I not preparing him for the tough world ahead, where challenges are inevitable? All of these thoughts will come to a head when the Giants and Eagles face off on Monday Night Football. I can already imagine the lively discussions on the playground leading up to the game.
Of course, I may be worrying for nothing. In true six-year-old fashion, Jake will probably choose his favorite team completely on his own, unbothered by my preferences or attire. And honestly, that might just be for the best. Just as long as he doesn’t develop a liking for the Dallas Cowboys—then we’ll have a serious issue!
In conclusion, parenting can be a balancing act between guiding our children and allowing them the freedom to make their own choices. Whether it’s about football teams or more significant life decisions, it’s essential to support them while preparing them for the bumps along the way.
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Keyphrase: Parenting lessons from Johnny Cash
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