Readers beware: if you don’t like
maple syrup stop reading now, because this post involves pancakes and a whole
lot of sappy love. Being a dad on
Father’s Day, it’s hard not to reflect on the past, present and future. I feel so incredibly lucky today, maybe more
so now than ever before.
The past: My very favorite memory of my Dad is playing in the backyard
in our house in Houston, Texas. He’s
chasing me around under the tree house that he built for us. As I’m caught up against the fence, happily
defenseless against his wisdom and strength, I remember a powerful thought that
sticks with me to this day.
Look at Dad, being a Dad must be so fun. I can’t wait until I get to be one.
For many more years I was lucky enough to have an amazing Dad who was
my scoutmaster, baseball coach and friend.
The whole time, I couldn’t wait until it was my turn.
The present: I have two great kids.
At three and one, they’re exhausting but great. Too many times, I look forward to them being
asleep rather than them being awake.
After a date night gone wrong where I got called into work until
midnight, Jenn took the kids at 5:30 and let me sleep in. Sleeping in means 7:00. I watched 10 minutes of uninterrupted
Sportscenter (glorious!) and headed downstairs.
I had good reason not to sleep in too much, this morning we were having
blueberry pancakes. This was only the
beginning of an amazing food day, but more to follow on that front. After breakfast, I got to open my present and
Jenn outdid herself. A Playstation 3,
complete with Batman – Arkham City. I
immediately turned it on and started playing...that is until one of the game’s
characters said, “Hey Wayne, I’m going to make you my bitch.” I promptly turned it off until naptime. Such an amazing present, I wonder if Jenn
loves me immensely or just doesn’t want to see much of me in the next
year. Either way, it’s awesome.
We have a low-key day at home, but nothing could be better. We got a coupon to Dominoes pizza for half
off any pizza that expires today so we cash in.
Hard to remember the last time we ordered pizza and my stomach places a
vote for more often. After putting the
kids down for nap, I fire up Batman and proceed to button-mash my way to
glory. By glory I mean being one percent
done after 3 hours. It’s going to be a
good/long year.
Dinner was one of my favorites: cream cheese enchiladas. A recipe we got from our great friends the
Nelsons, for some reason, they have never been better than tonight. I’m already salivating at the thought of the
leftovers tomorrow. After watching Arrested
Development on Netflix, Jenn insists that I, “Play your game!” and I
oblige. The fact that I’m not playing
right now is a credit to how much I want to pay tribute to today.
The future: two moments today took me 15 years in the future. We’re all playing downstairs following
nap-time (that ended right before I got to beat Harley-Quinn!). After chasing Jonah for a while, Brynn
stopped to twirl in her skirt Mom picked out for her. With her hair that mom did looking way too
grown up and the skirt twirling, my heart seizes up as I picture her headed to
a date with some jerk who’s hair is too long and who drives too fast. I made her sit with me a read a book way
beneath her age to help re-establish her role as my little girl. Not 10 minutes later, Jonah is running around
with a sharp colored pencil. I take the
pencil and tell him, “No running with pencils.”
He looks at me, actually shrugs a shoulder and says the only word he
knows: “Maaa.” I am instantly
transported to my teenage years. I did
the same thing to my Dad as he tried to impart wisdom when I was being
especially dangerous to myself. While I
didn’t exactly say “Maaa” (though likely not enunciated much better), it sure
brought the whole day full circle. Moms
and Dads are a timeless thing, something that hasn’t changed much in the past
thousand years. I hope that even if they
don’t remember it their whole life, that at one point, my kids think, “Look at
Dad, he loves being a Dad.” Because it
sure it true.
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