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Have you ever heard the song “Cats in the Cradle” by Harry Chapin? If not, it is a song about a father who never spends quality time with his son during childhood and then when his son finally grows up, he decided to never make time for his dad. Real heavy shit, right?
Well, Phil Mickelson’s approach to parenting is the exact opposite of that. Mickelson has missed his fair share of family moments — the nature of being a PGA Tour pro — but he still always tries to show up for major events. He proved this by skipping this year’s U.S. Open to attend his daughter’s high school graduation.
This week, Mickelson explained his decision to skip the U.S. Open — the only major that has escaped his grasp — on Mike & Mike and it’s the most simple parenting advice anyone could give. Lefty said, “You just show up. You just show up for people.”
"As a dad, you just show up for those moments."
Phil Mickelson doesn't regret skipping the U.S. Open for his daughter's graduation. pic.twitter.com/SfPUtQwIp5
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) June 26, 2017
Of course there is a lot more to being a good parent than just showing up, but there are some moments in a child’s life where showing up is the most important part of being a good parent on that specific day. For Mickelson he thought that this was one of them. You can’t blame him for that.
[H/T FTW]