So, you’ve taken the FDS test and you scored high … like 12 out of a possible 10. Contemplating this score, you’ve also discovered something else about yourself.
Mainly, that you can’t count. But we’ll let that slide because the inability to handle complex mathematical functions is a common symptom of FDS.
So, you’ve got FDS and got it bad.
Don’t panic. It’s not terminal. At least not in the classic sense (though after spending fourteen hours at the last feis, you had wished it was).
Now that you know you’ve contracted this vile disease, we need to answer the most important question of all.
No, it’s not how to get rid of FDS, because there is NO totally getting rid of it, unless you plan on moving someplace where there are no feis’—like on the dark side of Jupiter.
The real question we need to answer is “how the heck did I get myself into this in the first place?”
This is the critical question.
Why?
Because you NEVER want to make that mistake again!
Okay, to answer this question I’m going to take you back to the very beginning. Before feis’. Before the wigs. Before the dresses. Before the drinking … well, maybe not that far back.
Close your eyes. Think back … way back … think back to when your sweet little daughter asked you if she could take that “free” Irish Dance lesson.
You hesitated. Something just didn’t feel right.
Then your loving wife said, “what harm could it be to send her to one FREE dance class?”
You wanted to say no. You’re no idiot. You know NOTHING in life is ever really free.
This was it. The defining point in your life. The mother of all decisions. The battle of wills you’ve been training for all your life.
Then your daughter gave you that smile. You know the one. It could melt even an Exxon CEO’s ice-cold heart (though he still wouldn’t reduce gas prices).
Don’t feel bad. The battle was over before it really ever began. Daughters have that power over their father. It’s their secret weapon, with more destructive power than all the Back Street Boys albums put together.
With that one capitulating nod of your head you were absorbed into a society in which there is no escape. Think the mafia or … I hate to even say it … Amway… only even more difficult to get out of (by the way, I’ve got a great deal on laundry soap during the month of June—give me a call).
So that’s the story. You gave in. Your daughter took the class. Your wife met other mothers just like her and was sweet talked into the IDMM (Irish Dance Mother’s Mafia) fold. Ever see the movie The Firm? She really didn’t have a choice either.
She was hooked. And you were toast.
Feis dad toast.
So, what’s my point of all this? I’m not really sure (the inability to remember important details is a symptom of acute FDS—at least that’s the story I’m sticking with).
But, I do remember the bottom line.
It doesn’t really matter how you were tricked into becoming a feis dad. The reality is, if you’re reading this and nodding your head, you have FDS.
You don’t have to love it, but you do have to live with it.
Hint: It’s a medical fact drinking does help—ask any doctor whose daughter is involved in Irish Dance.
--feis dad
Stay tuned for the next post to learn the best ways to deal with FDS (including hangover remedies)
Welcome to feis dad
Hello, my name is Matt. I have a daughter ... no, make that two daughters ... who LOVE Irish Dance.
There. I admitted it. I’ve come clean.
It's the first step in recognizing I have a problem.
Did I say problem? Well, maybe that’s not quite right.
It’s more like a crisis of epic proportions.
If you’ve got a daughter in novice, prizewinner or championship, you know what I mean. Don’t worry, if you’re just starting this ride, you’ll find out soon enough.
If you don't know what a feis is. you're on the wrong blog. If you do know what a feis is and like it, you're on the wrong blog. If the thought of going to a feis makes you feel queasy, you're in the right place.
So, you're supposed to be here, now what?
Take a look at my first post, titled: Feis Dad Syndrome.
See if you've developed this terrible condition.
If you've got it, don't despair. There is help. I may not offer any right now, but don't lose hope, I'll get to it eventually.
Above all, I am looking forward to your comments, funny stories and helpful suggestions.
Thanks for joining me.
-- feis dad
There. I admitted it. I’ve come clean.
It's the first step in recognizing I have a problem.
Did I say problem? Well, maybe that’s not quite right.
It’s more like a crisis of epic proportions.
If you’ve got a daughter in novice, prizewinner or championship, you know what I mean. Don’t worry, if you’re just starting this ride, you’ll find out soon enough.
If you don't know what a feis is. you're on the wrong blog. If you do know what a feis is and like it, you're on the wrong blog. If the thought of going to a feis makes you feel queasy, you're in the right place.
So, you're supposed to be here, now what?
Take a look at my first post, titled: Feis Dad Syndrome.
See if you've developed this terrible condition.
If you've got it, don't despair. There is help. I may not offer any right now, but don't lose hope, I'll get to it eventually.
Above all, I am looking forward to your comments, funny stories and helpful suggestions.
Thanks for joining me.
-- feis dad
Blog Posts
The following are posts. Please read, laugh and comment.
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-feis dad
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A serious message from feis dad about being a feis dad
This blog is not to be taken seriously. It’s meant to take a good-natured poke at how Irish Dance affects fathers (something many wives and daughters may not think about).
The reality of the situation is that most dads just don’t get the Irish Dance thing. It’s like asking our wives and daughters why they don’t throw high fives every time our favorite player hits a three-pointer in the playoffs.
I love my daughters, but I just can’t sit through twelve hours of accordion music at feis’ once a month. It is beyond me. And I truly believe that forcing me to do so would make me begin to resent their activity, which none of us want.
BUT, that doesn’t mean I don’t support our daughters in my own way.
That’s exactly what this blog is about. For good or bad, THIS is part of my support for them.
Some may say I’m not a good father if I don’t go to each and every performance or feis. But I believe both my daughters know I think what they are doing is important and good for them even though it’s hard for me to spell feis or oreach … orack … that big national feis thing.
My point in all of this is that although there are some things we just won’t do, I believe real feis dads need to ensure they:
Support their daughter’s (or son’s) love of Irish Dance.
Take interest in how they are doing.
Are excited when they perform well and move up.
Comfort them when they don’t.
Support their activity as much as we can within realistic financial and family obligations
Although we may not understand the specifics (like the difference is between a slip jig and a reel) we take an interest in the general idea
We tell our children we are proud of them every chance we get
Although we make light of some of the aspects of Irish Dance, they are never mean spirited or hurtful
We ensure that our children know what they are doing is important to us
Do what dads do best: build things—practice dance floors, sound systems, etc.
Take them to practices and performances when possible (even if it means missing part of the game, but maybe not if it’s the playoffs).
Again, this blog is not meant to be taken seriously.
No one is perfect. Not even feis dads. If you can’t laugh about it (or about yourself) then you’re missing out.
--feis dad
The reality of the situation is that most dads just don’t get the Irish Dance thing. It’s like asking our wives and daughters why they don’t throw high fives every time our favorite player hits a three-pointer in the playoffs.
I love my daughters, but I just can’t sit through twelve hours of accordion music at feis’ once a month. It is beyond me. And I truly believe that forcing me to do so would make me begin to resent their activity, which none of us want.
BUT, that doesn’t mean I don’t support our daughters in my own way.
That’s exactly what this blog is about. For good or bad, THIS is part of my support for them.
Some may say I’m not a good father if I don’t go to each and every performance or feis. But I believe both my daughters know I think what they are doing is important and good for them even though it’s hard for me to spell feis or oreach … orack … that big national feis thing.
My point in all of this is that although there are some things we just won’t do, I believe real feis dads need to ensure they:
Support their daughter’s (or son’s) love of Irish Dance.
Take interest in how they are doing.
Are excited when they perform well and move up.
Comfort them when they don’t.
Support their activity as much as we can within realistic financial and family obligations
Although we may not understand the specifics (like the difference is between a slip jig and a reel) we take an interest in the general idea
We tell our children we are proud of them every chance we get
Although we make light of some of the aspects of Irish Dance, they are never mean spirited or hurtful
We ensure that our children know what they are doing is important to us
Do what dads do best: build things—practice dance floors, sound systems, etc.
Take them to practices and performances when possible (even if it means missing part of the game, but maybe not if it’s the playoffs).
Again, this blog is not meant to be taken seriously.
No one is perfect. Not even feis dads. If you can’t laugh about it (or about yourself) then you’re missing out.
--feis dad
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