Bad Dad

I'm a bad Dad.

When my daughters were of age for "destination" birthday parties, our Care Bear invitations stated "Join us at Chuck E Cheese for pizza and games". It was nearby, inexpensive, and, I now realize, totally inadequate. This week's Sports Illustrated reports that international (and possibly intergalactic) soccer star David Beckham (AKA Mr Posh Spice) is renting the British castle used in the Harry Potter Movies as Hogwart's for his son Brooklyn's 13th birthday party.

As we all know from "Deathly Hallows Part 2", the castle absorbed considerable damage during the final assault by Voldemort's minions, but even a ravaged Hogwart's beats the crap out of Chuck E Cheese or even McDonald's as the site for a kid's birthday party. Let's see Chuck E or Ronald McD make gargoyle statues come to life to fight off the bad guys.

There is a down side to Hogwart's as Party Central. Imagine the personal injury lawsuits if Brooklyn's guests get too close to the Whomping Willow or stumble into The Chamber of Secrets. Imagine the psychic damage if some poor little girl is joined in the castle potty stall by Moaning Myrtle. Even David Beckham can't carry enough liability insurance for that.

But the soccer star obviously loved his kid enough to take those risks. 13 year olds now realize that the extent of their parents' devotion can be measured by the location of their birthday party. In ascending order, McDonalds, Chuck E Cheese, the roller rink, the ice rink, Madison Square Garden, and, top of the list, Hogwart's.