A few weeks ago, this image of Scott Mackintosh out on the town in short shorts went viral.
I heard my wife ask our daughter if she would please change into some longer shorts before leaving. She said "NO!" Instead of turning her response and disrespectful attitude into a major battle, I decided to make a "small" statement on how her short-shorts maybe aren't as "cute" as she thinks!I ran into my bedroom as the family was loading into the car. I grabbed some scissors and cut some old worn out pants into a set of short-shorts with the ends of the pockets hanging out the bottom. There was only about an inch of material below the crotch of the shorts. To add frosting to the cake, I looked down and noticed a shirt that my older daughter had given me for Father's Day. At the time I thought "where the heck would I ever wear this?" Wow! I just found the perfect moment! I was a bit worried about going through with this, but felt that it was "OKAY" to make this statement in the privacy of our own home. I was certain that when my daughter saw me, that would be as far as it would have to go to make the point.As I walked out to the car I could see my daughter and my son in the back seat with their heads down focused on their phones…needless to say they didn't even notice.
The Mackintosh family arrived at the hibachi restaurant and received a few stares from some confused eaters.
As we entered the restaurant we were greeted by many funny looking stares from a slightly small crowd. "Wow, at least it is a small group that I am making a fool of myself in front of" I thought. Then realized we knew two of the people. They laughed and said they couldn't wait to tell our son-in-law what they had just seen. I gave a quick explanation. They laughed. My son, daughter and wife took a couple of pictures and posted them to social media. We ate dinner and it wasn't a big deal.My daughter didn't seem to care however like I had hoped she would, so the question to myself was, "Do I let it fail or take it to the next level?" Take it to the next level of course!
By taking the family mini golfing at a local fun park.
As we arrived to the small amusement park, we were met with many stares and pointing fingers as I walked through the lobby and to the miniature golf area. I tried to keep up with my daughter who had expressed that it didn't bother her, but was not about to let me stay very close to her as we walked through the crowded room. Once we got our clubs and were waiting in line for our turn to start, a couple of girls were "acting" like one was taking a picture of the other when in fact they were lining themselves up for a "Kodak Moment" …of Me! My daughter then being bold said, "If you want a picture of him, just ask, I am sure he won't mind." They were embarrassed and continued to act like that wasn't what they were doing.
According to Scott, the last straw for his daughter was when they went to get ice cream after mini golf.
As I pulled into a stall, my daughter said, "Uh, no! We are NOT going in!" I said "Sure we are, let's go!" "No!" She said, "Let's go through the drive up." We went in, but she stayed in the car. She had had enough and did not want to go through any further embarrassment.There was no "Dad I get it" or "Dad you're the best…. thanks for that awesome lesson." ☺ I don't think my object lesson of "modest is hottest" made the statement I had intended. But no matter if social media gets the story mixed up and twisted, my daughter will always know that her dad loves her and cares about her enough to make a fool out of himself.
Scott's story and viral photo made such a splash that he ended up on the local news, saying that after his jean cutoffs experiment, his daughter has been dressing a little more appropriately.
