Today was a “daddy day” (this is what we call days where mommy works and I take care of the kids). Normally I stay up till three in the AM and am a zombie (but not the fun kind) until 11 AM. Last night I went to bed at a reasonable time (for me) and purposed to really enjoy the day with my kids.
So while I’m cleaning the dishes (enjoyment can be found many places), I noticed Abby (6) is running around the backyard with an inflated trash bag being pulled behind her by the dog’s leash. Soon Luke and Anna both want a trash bag as well so they can have “pet air” as well. Its moments like these that bring me such joy as a parent. Even as I write about it 12 hours after the fact a smile is plastered across my face.
Abby is the most creative, unique and amusing child I know. She’s always saying the funniest stuff. She’s the class clown, but suffers like her dad from a serious case of insecurity when in new situations. Once she warms up though, nothing stops her and her imagination. I have this idea of just putting a camera on her 24/7 and see what crazy / creative stuff she says and comes up with.
Luke (4) loves his daddy. He’s pretty ruthless toward everyone else it seems, but toward me he melts and becomes a teddy bear. Recently he’s been begging to hear my stories every night. Its a weird feeling to have someone begging to hear my ideas, I’m not used to such an enthusiastic audience. I often look at him when we snuggle at nap times and am overwhelmed by a mixture of joy, pride and grief. Joy and pride for the obvious reasons, but grief when I think that other fathers have lost sons like my Luke (or any of my kids). I hug him closer, say a prayer and thank the Lord that the angels are getting paid overtime for all their service to my family.
Speaking of overtime, Gabe (3) is still the most coordinated, inquisitive and counter-intuitive of my children. My wife thanks that the mischief, like Samson, is in the length of his curly locks. This may be true, but its hard to cut them too short since his misadventures are becoming stuff of legend. I still remember a couple of months ago when Anna came running into the house screaming. I ran into the backyard to find Gabe hanging happily from the monkey bars. It seems his life may be a tightrope between pushing the boundaries and when failing holding on tightly until help comes unsolicited. He has such boldness balanced by utter faith in his parents rescuing him should he ever need it. I just hope he can transfer this confidence and responsibility to God – soon.
Anna (8) is our GT student in the classical sense. She’s smart, verbally clear, hard working, friendly and creative. This past weekend I visited family in Tulsa and took Anna and Abby with me. I loved spending some time with my older girls. Anna created a scavenger hunt at my parents house and then interpreted all of the clues for the participants. The joy as she created, and then shared her game was infectious. I also found her insistence on the fact that she was going to live in the jungle and rescue animals when she is older very enlightening. I didn’t feel the need to argue with her and her life plan. When I suggested that she was something like Diego she informed me matter of factly that she was going to be nothing like Diego. Her pet animal was going to be a dolphin, not a jaguar. “Sheesh Daddy.”
Nate (10) is so much like his mother and grandfather when it comes to meeting people. He has never met a stranger. He makes friends so quickly and then tells them any and everything that’s on his mind. Usually video games. I don’t think he gets the idea. I take him to the park to get him away from the video games and TV, so to go to the park and then talk about the video games defeats the purpose. I can’t complain though, he is my playmate and reminds me so much of myself at that age – if we had had video games and I wasn’t a recluse.
Abby loves to hold Leah (6 months). Luke loves to kiss Leah. Nate loves to protect and defend Leah. Anna loves to miss Leah when they are separated but when we’re home hasn’t really noticed Leah. Gabe is pretty oblivious to Leah, he’s too busy getting into stuff, but I’m sure he’ll love Leah once he realizes that she exists. Everyone loves Leah. And Leah knows it. She is the easiest going baby we’ve had. And that is saying something because all of our children have been great babies. I think they saved all their energy for their exploits in the toddler years.
Today was a great day. I stopped and enjoyed my kids and the things normally my focus (work) I won’t miss, and the things I caught by focusing on my family were things I couldn’t afford to miss.
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