02 | Video

[halfblaked]

As a professor, whenever a holiday comes, it's always an opportunity for learning, and today happens to not be an exception, despite the personal nature of the holiday.

I suspect there are not many who celebrate such things, but perhaps it is a nice time to speak of them, considering it's father's day. I'm reflecting on fathers of myth, of course, not real ones -- but, ah, if you need someone to listen, I am, of course, here to listen.

There are, unfortunately, not a terribly high amount of good fathers in mythology, at least from my world. Sometimes, if you think of yourself as a poor parent, you can at least remember that you are no Zeus, or Hiranyakashipu. One was merely...devoted to sowing his progeny around Greece, as we all know, but Hiranyakashipu attempted multiple times to murder his son, because he worshipped a god he hated. [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ] I worried about moving too much, with mine! I suppose things could be worse. Then again, there is also Cronus, the god who ate his sons, [ he starts ticking on his fingers, ] Tantalus, Izanagi, Abraham...

Well, we're not short on those, are we? [ A soft chuckle, and a shake of his head. ]

I suppose there's something to be said, when we consider ourselves bad parents, yes? Not that we should ever excuse ourselves. [ A beat. ] I suppose I'm just...thoughtful, today. Moreso than I thought I would be. [ Another pause. ]

Are there others out there, who are thinking of things like this today?

Comments

[mostlyprofessional]

A fair few bits and bobs, yeah. And the journey to finding them can be a little too fascinating at times.

Do you have a favorite Bad Dad?

[halfblaked]

Oh, a favorite? [ David paused, as if he were considering. ]

There are so many to choose from... and I don't know what that would say about me, to favor any one "Bad Dad". Although I have often been fond of the greek myths. They're so...quick to anger, and kill.

Οὐρανός, of the originals, I should think. To start the entire pantheon, to create so much and hate it sounds just as fascinating as it is horrifying.

[ Well he can't pick his real favorite. ]

[mostlyprofessional]

Ah, always a classic. Starting an entire pantheon of piss-poor parenting, more like. I don't think it says that much about you, being a professor of - mythology, I take it.

[halfblaked]

Mm, I'll take the compliment as I can! [ A laugh. ]

Nothing large, just starting an era of generational trauma. How bad could it be, yes? [ A smile. ]

You seem well-learned, do you have a favorite yourself?

[mostlyprofessional]

[Chloe grins back, before going thoughtful.]

I don't, no... But I think while the murderous ones you've named are all very well and exciting, we've probably all met a Dushyanta: Abandons his wife and unborn child and gets so wrapped up in his work that he doesn't bother to contact them, even before getting cursed to forget them. A Bad Dad of mythology all too much like a Bad Dad of Earth.

[halfblaked]

[A soft snort. ]

Yes, quite. Any parent that abandons their child... [ A touch darkly. David loathed that he was the only parent in his home, the only one. ]

I think I could sympathize with his wife.

[mostlyprofessional]

[She nods, starting to fidget with her Ganesh figure again.]

Raising a kid alone with only a ring to remember her husband by, and when she finally finds him again, he doesn't recognize her. Shakuntala had a hard time of it.

[Rather like her own mum, only with magic and royalty involved.]

[halfblaked]

It's tragic, isn't it? And imagine the child... who he likely never even knew existed, and even if he did...

A child with a parent that wouldn't recognize them is very tragic. [ A pause. ] Those are the real monsters, the ones who... abandon their children.

[mostlyprofessional]

Yeah. And not every abandoned kid is lucky enough to reunite their family and later all of India.

[halfblaked]

[ A soft laugh. ]

No, in fact, very few children have such an honor.