Well, it's time. I waited a couple of days to stretch out my fingers, to ponder and re-ponder about what I wanted to open up with. I couldn't come up with anything exciting as my inaugural foray into my wife's territory. But as I sit here this evening reviewing my role as a father as my two oldest boys are out lighting illegal fireworks in the backyard with an unnamed neighborhood accomplice, I can't help but think about how inept we are as parents. Well......mostly just me.
It takes me to this picture:
We spent a wonderful couple of days at Bear Lake with some good friends. We rented a boat and took the kids out on the water with tubes. It was a KICK. It's my new favorite place. (followed by all the other favorite places I have) As our friend drove the boat while towing Nick he turned to me and said, "I don't know if I should take it easy on him or what, you keep telling me to turn and go faster, and I can't help but think I should ease it off a little."
I said, "Why?"
Then it occurred to me that he didn't know how Nick would react to the whole tubing thing. If he should ease off because of his situation.
Nah. It was wonderful of him to be so considerate. I told him that we decided a long time ago that we wanted Nick to experience as much of life as any typical kids his age could digest. More importantly we wanted our whole family to be involved, as opposed to someone on the sidelines and the rest out doing whatever. I think he's experienced some incredible things. I think he has had a chance to develop memories that otherwise would have been lost. I don't fault anyone for their own circumstances, I know each are different and challenges exist. But I couldn't help but feel grateful for the blessing it has been in our lives to make the most of each experience and have our children make memories that will shape their history.
Maybe I need to be out there with them and their bottle rockets. But then again, I have already had a run in with the local authorities/ambulance/fire department.
3 comments:
Good to "see" you back! It will be fun to read both of yours & Jodi's posts. I think you've done a great job with Nick. It's really hard to know "when to say when" but you don't know until you try. Gotta live life!
I love that picture of Nick. His smile is always so priceless. Have I ever told you that Kaiya already has hers and Nicks wedding all planned out?? She loves him. She sees him as he his... the funny, sweet, kind, smart, and in her words "hot" 7 year old boy that he is. I love it!
Don't rent a boat next time... Let's plan a quick get away up to Pineview with our boat. We've got the skis, the wakeboard, and the tubes. We even have BIG MABLE!
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