Over the hedge: The coolest dad to stop by day care

When one of my home day-care charges, Paul, was 4 years old, another boy's father came in to drop off his son on his way to work. The dad was decked out in a full police officer's uniform with his hat on and accessories on his belt. Paul was wonder-struck; he couldn't take his eyes off the other boy's dad until he was out the door.

Then Paul dropped his head down, looking very dejected. I asked him why he was so sad. He answered softly, "My dad is not anything – not anything at all. He's just a lawyer."

Tempie Stahlin

Dexter, Mich.

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