By Steve Metsch
It’s a tradition for new fathers to hand out cigars after the birth of a child.
The cigar’s wrappers are blue for a boy and pink for a girl.
If they’re non-smokers, new dads have been known to hand out bubblegum shaped like cigars.
Sometimes, proud grandfathers get into the act. Especially if this is their first grandchild.
Such was the case for Countryside Mayor Sean McDermott, who had a surprise up his sleeve at the city council meeting of June 12.
Two days after the birth of his first grandchild, McDermott was busy handing out Oh Henry! candy bars, the small sort that you often see on Halloween.
Why Oh Henry! candy bars?
Simple.
His grandson, Henry James Martin, was born at 1:57 p.m. June 10 to McDermott’s daughter, Maggie, and her husband, Jon. They live in Darien.
“Twenty-one inches. Eight point nine pounds,” McDermott said. “It feels wonderful. Exciting, My wife, Barb, is dancing on air.”
“We’re thrilled. Mom and baby are both doing really well. Both healthy. That’s the most important thing,” McDermott said.
McDermott said he “had to learn to hold a baby again.”
Some planning was needed as he learned Oh Henry! candy bars are no longer produced in America. He had to order them from Canada, he said.
Several aldermen and city staff members offered their congratulations during the council meeting.
McDermott joked that in a few years, Henry will be able stump for votes with him if he decides to seek another term as mayor.