In many of our interviews with fathers, some themes emerge over and over. One common confession of dads, including us, is that we are wired to fix things.
We’re both old enough now to admit some shortcomings without being embarrassed.
Tom Tozer and Bill Black pose for a portrait Monday, March 28, 2016 at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.When his daughters were younger, Tom fancied himself the Great Fixer. One of his daughters would share a problem she was having at school, perhaps with a classmate or a teacher, and Tom would jump on his faithful steed and gallop to school to confront the principal. Whatever the issue, whether his daughters were experiencing catty rivalries in landing the lead role in the class play or catching the eye of Mr. Right, ol’ dad would reach into his saddlebag, grab the appropriate tool and ride off to save the day.
A cereal killer
The irony is rich! More times than not, Tom’s daughters did not want Super-repairman. Tom, quite literally and often figuratively, couldn’t fix anything. He would try of course, only to be forced to call a real Mr. Fix-it or seek help from his wife.