Can you remember a time when you surpassed your parents at something they taught you?

Or, conversely, when your children started doing something better than you ever did? It is the strangest experience in a parent’s life when you start asking your kids for advice!!

My daddy starting teaching me to shoot pool when I was about 10. Well, from about 14 on, that’s about all I did when I was out, cattin’ around in the evenings. Shot pool and played foosball. I probably averaged 20 games of each a day. In fact, after I was old enough to go to bars, I wouldn’t even go to a bar that didn’t have a pool table. And that’s where you’d find me, shootin pool, not out on the dance floor.

When I was about 19 my dad and I had occasion to shoot some pool for the first time in about four years. I could tell he was ready to resume lessons…he gallantly gave me the break…and I ran six balls before I finally missed. I was workin’ that table, like a dance…when I missed I stood up and leaned back on my cue stick, slightly disappointed at the miss, but satisfied overall with the run. I glanced up at my dad with (what I thought) was my cool, confident, level look, the one I’d shot at people a thousand times. Slight nod of my head to indicate “Your shot,” like I had done a thousand times. My dad was staring at me…..then he said, “Valre Lynn. I have one question. Where have you been spending your time?!”
Then he stepped up and I realized…I was better than him…. : ( and : ). Mixed feelings.

Well, I started teaching my son when he was 5. Put him up on a chair. By the age of 17 he could totally kick my butt. I remember the first time he beat me solid. I thought, “This just ain’t right, man!”