One of the most memorable songs I know tells the story of a young boy whose life is shaped by a tough upbringing, largely due to “the meanest thing” his father did before leaving him and his mother behind: he named him Sue.
In the iconic track “A Boy Named Sue,” written by Shel Silverstein and popularized by the legendary Johnny Cash, Sue learns to navigate the challenges that come with his unusual name. He faces ridicule, and each laugh he encounters fuels his determination to become tougher.
“Some gal would giggle and I’d get red / And some guy’d laugh and I’d bust his head / I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a boy named ‘Sue.’”
As Sue grows up, he moves around a lot to escape the embarrassment tied to his name. Driven by a desire for revenge, he eventually finds his estranged father in a saloon. What follows is a dramatic confrontation, where Sue boldly declares:
“My name is Sue! How do you do? / Now you’re gonna die!”
The ensuing fight is as chaotic as one might expect, culminating in a brutal exchange of punches and chairs. The conflict halts only when both men pull guns on each other, leading to the father finally revealing his reasoning behind the name choice:
“Son, this world is rough / And if a man’s gonna make it, he’s gotta be tough / And I knew I wouldn’t be there to help ya along.”
With this newfound understanding, Sue ultimately forgives his father. Whenever he faces a tough challenge later in life, he thinks back to that defining moment.
As a longtime fan of Johnny Cash, this song strikes a particular chord with me now. I find myself contemplating its parenting lessons as my young son, Ethan (not Sue), has just embarked on his kindergarten journey—a situation that somewhat mirrors that of Sue’s father. (Rest assured, I’m not abandoning my family; please save the critical emails.)
You see, I’m an ardent fan of the New York Jets, having grown up in New Jersey during the ‘80s and ‘90s, not far from where the team plays. After enduring countless disappointing seasons and celebrating a couple of championships, I’ve now found myself residing in Philadelphia—home turf of the rival Eagles.
Philly has a bit of an undeserved reputation as a rough sports town. (People still talk about that infamous incident where Eagles fans booed Santa Claus decades ago.) Yet, I often hear some colorful comments while sporting my Jets gear around the city on game days.
As a 37-year-old, I’m ready for the playful banter. However, I can’t help but worry about my son. Ethan is just beginning to grasp the intricacies of football, eagerly asking questions like, “What does that yellow line mean?” and “How many points is a touchdown?” I treasure these moments we share, making the games even more enjoyable.
But I face a dilemma: Should I guide him to root for the Jets, allowing us to cheer together, or should I let him choose his own team? By pushing him toward my team, am I setting him up for the kind of teasing that Sue endured? It pains me to think that something as trivial as a sports team could alienate him from his peers.
Conversely, as Sue’s father believed, aren’t I just preparing him for a world full of challenges, where he must learn to stand up for himself?
All these thoughts will come to a head soon when the Jets face off against the Eagles in a highly anticipated game. I can only imagine the playground chatter that will ensue!
Of course, my concerns might be for naught. In typical 6-year-old fashion, Ethan will likely pick a team based on his own whims, completely indifferent to my preferences. And that’s probably the best outcome.
Just as long as he doesn’t declare allegiance to the Dallas Cowboys! Now that would be a problem.
For more parenting insights, check out this related post on modern family dynamics. And if you’re considering options for starting a family, visit Make A Mom for reputable at-home insemination kits, or explore Hopkins Medicine for excellent resources on pregnancy and home insemination.
Summary
The article draws on the lessons from Johnny Cash’s “A Boy Named Sue” to explore the challenges of parenting, particularly when it comes to guiding children through social dynamics, such as sports fandom. The author reflects on their own experiences as a sports fan and the potential implications for their son as he begins to form his own identity. Ultimately, the piece emphasizes the importance of resilience and the balance between parental influence and allowing children to make their own choices.
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