Kids These Days:

I was desperately looking last week for a way to connect the Tiger Woods saga to our neck of the woods when I read in the Daily Pilot that he is a “part-time Corona del Mar resident,” and that one or more of his liaisons took place at the Island Hotel in Newport Beach.

For the record, I do not play golf, do not follow golf and prior to his auto accident, the only thought I had about Tiger Woods was that his endorsement contract probably creates an increase in the cost of Nike clothing.

Now I have other thoughts about Woods, the first of which is deep appreciation, for he has made me feel very good about myself. If you are a good husband or father, you should appreciate him, too.

For me, what Woods is alleged to have done has reinforced my belief that there isn’t anyone in the world with whom I would trade lives. So even though I have an annual income that is a tiny fraction of his, my life is now much more attractive. And even though I struggle with the everyday issues we all face, with no handlers to handle them for me, I’m still better off than he is.

What Woods allegedly did was a new kind of stupid. Texting, sexting and leaving voice messages with his assortment of mistresses was like putting with a three-wood.

But the final straw was the weak message he left on his website and his failure to fully take ownership of his actions.

Calling his reported multiple trysts with multiple women “transgressions,” he “apologized” instead of using the words, “I’m sorry.”

His actions were not transgressions. Having sexual intercourse with a woman, or women, outside of marriage is breaking a promise he made in front of friends and family, and, depending on the type of wedding ceremony he had, he may have broken a solemn vow to God.

Woods also defaulted to the “I’m human” excuse as though being a member of the most intelligent species on the planet is supposed to absolve him. It doesn’t work that way. It is because we are human that we are supposed to avoid this type of behavior. Not only are humans supposed to know better, they are supposed to have the sense to keep their urges in check. In a marriage, that means for life.

Woods, the father of two small children, also was reported to have cheated while his wife, Elin Nordegren, was pregnant with their second child. Woods’ alleged cheating has forever changed their household dynamic. Sure, Woods and Nordegren can get some counseling, and she may even be able to forgive him. But even the best counseling will never completely hide the damage he appears to have done to his relationship with his wife.

Kids notice these things.

But, hey, what do I know? I’m not a sports champion adored by millions and worth a few hundred million dollars.

Those of us way below the fame and fortune level of Woods struggle with other issues, whether that’s money, raising our kids or worrying about Iran and nuclear weapons.

One thing we have in common with Woods is that in a serious personal situation such as his, we do not have handlers — we have only ourselves to clean up the messes we make.

That’s what we have in common.

The rest of us have an edge: We know better than to break a vow to our wives, particularly one with ready access to golf clubs.

STEVE SMITH is a Costa Mesa resident and a freelance writer. Send story ideas to [email protected] .