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THE CAR RIDE HOME FROM THE GAME — We all know Jeff Daniels as Harry from "Dumb and Dumber" who endeared us all with his Mutt Cuts van, and his excruciatingly long experience in the bathroom after consuming a laxative-laced cup of joe. But did you know that he's just a regular hockey dad?
In an interview given one year ago to the "Off Camera Show" hosted by Sam Jones, Daniels talks about being a father, and what he thinks is key to being able to have a good relationship with his adult children. In the interview clip, Daniels credits long drives to and from hockey games, and the conversations he and his kids had, to the close relationships he has with his children today.
"The time you spend in the car driving two hours to the rink for that 8 a.m. game, and the time you spend driving back — that's why you do it. And you talk to them about anything other than hockey. If they want to talk about the game, OK, but it was never about, 'You got to get that slapshot working because if you want to be at a D1 school, and I know you're only 10, but you gotta start getting to work.' We were never that, and I think that our time spent with the kids in those car rides not talking about hockey paved the way for the closeness we have as a family in their 20s and 30s. That was more important than any career success I might have had."
As a mom of several athletes, including one who recently wrote his ticket to a D1 school, I will forever remember the two-hour drives to and from games and practices as some of the best relationship-building moments. And while there are key moments during those games that I will remember, I will mostly remember the steaming box of Little Caesars pizza we shared on the drive home while listening to his Spotify playlist and talking about anything but soccer.
And like Daniels, a relationship with my children as they enter adulthood is more important than any career (or other) successes I might have.
