THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD

To many, it's probably a little thing. To others, like myself, it's extremely rewarding and viewed as a big deal.

For years, while attempting to play competetive amateur sports, I often had the Sullivan kiddie clan along with me. When I "rented" Steeler tickets in the 70's I would often try to find a way to take along my two sons, Bruce and Michael.

When I worked for an insurance company, that my daughter also joined, the trend continued.

My kids were known as "Barry's kids".

Now that they are grown and aging well at 50, 49, and 46, they are no longer "Barry's kids".

It is me that has switched positions in the identification game.

When I visited Michael, out at Levins furniture - I was "Michaels dad".

When we attended grandson Stevie's birthday bash last evening and I was introduced to strangers, it was as "Beth's dad."

At last weeks St. Maurice golf outing at the old Buffalo Country Club golf in Freeport as a guest of my eldest and part of his foursome, everyone, including many of the other golfers, knew me as "Bruce's dad."

Like I said at the beginning, to many the transformation would seem to be a natural progression - a little thing.

To me, it's a "big deal."

Being a parent of young kids who were holding my hand crossing streets and asking dad to pick them up in stores, told both dad and child they were dependent on me.

When they were hiding behind me while I got into one of my protracted conversations with friends, they were acting like me when I was with my Dad and was "Sully's kid".

We all raise our kids differently. Sometimes, as we grow older, we may even wish we might have done a little more of this and that with them as they were growing up.

Times have changed. So has parenting. Perhaps even parenting skills.

And, the latter is meant as a compliment for those little kids of mine who have grown into "super parents" - all very involved in the lives of my grandchildren.

Sometimes, as we age, we look for a legacy.

I'm proud to have mine be as "Bruce, Michael, and Beth's dad".