Grammar school playgrounds haven’t changed much. Nor has the quintessential debate between primary-school children been resolved. Eavesdrop on the conversation between any two boys who are arguing during recess, and you’ll hear the declaration: “My dad is stronger than your dad,” followed by the retort, “NO! My dad is stronger than your dad.”

These assertions go back and forth but are never supported by evidence because young kids don’t know how to craft an effective argument. Instead of offering proof to support their claims, they scream louder and louder, hoping their opponent will either give up or be the first to become hoarse. Usually, the end-of-recess bell rings out the unresolved tie, and both juveniles remain friends because they are self-assured that their dad is the strongest man in the world. Oddly enough, he IS… at least in their world.

The true resolution of this dispute actually takes place in the trunk of the car and at the airport when the family is about to go on vacation. Mom and Dad have packed three matching suitcases. The largest holds the mother’s clothes. The medium-sized case holds a few emergency items for the kids and the mother’s several sets of shoes. The smallest case is Dad’s. He travels in sneakers and stows a solitary pair of flip flops and his swim trunks. Mother wears comfortable shoes but needs several pairs of beach sandals to match her multiple outfits and accessories.

Trekking down the airport concourse, the children are pulling their own roller boards filled with stuffed animals and various distractions. These under-the-seat totes are much lighter than the adult versions, which will just fit in the overhead compartment, but only after a mighty tug and hefty shove from dad.

Hence, the answer to our “who-is-the-strongest” paradox is solved by the fact that fathers end up carrying all the luggage along with the youngest child, who gets tuckered out before the troops reach their holiday destination and a welcomed night’s rest.

At the end of the day, every boy believes his dad is the strongest, every girl wants her dad to tell her she is the prettiest, and every wife is grateful that her hubby can get by with one suitcase while transporting all the others.

The true mystery of fatherhood is a dad’s ability to do so much with so little.

Holy Homework. Let’s wish a Happy Father’s Day to the men who have the strength to haul the family’s provisions, the charm to protect their daughters’ virtue, and the firm example to teach their sons how to become the world’s strongest future fathers by acquiring the virtues of good manners, patience, and love.

Comments may be sent to FatherBobPagliari@Yahoo.com