Fatherly Thoughts

Or, reflections from yesterday (Father's Day)

• Just because you are a Dad yourself, you shouldn't forget to send your own Dad a card for Father's Day (doh).

• A 3-year-old boy is an amazing amalgam of cute, energy, angst, frustration and potential. Not a baby, yet not quite a confident boy.
• Use caution when leaning over to kiss said boy on top of the head - he is prone to spontaneous jumping. Your penalty for forgetting this will be a fat lip and a crying boy, rubbing his head.
• I have not sustained this many consistent injuries since I was a boy myself. Parenting is a contact sport, always be prepared. When was the last time you were kicked in the jaw while reading a book? Happened to me twice last week.
• Grab moments as often as possible - make mental snapshots of the good moments, run through them a few times, cementing them into your synapses, these little ones get big so fast.
  
• There is nothing ironic, meaningful or sad about finding youself carrying a wailing child through a Wal-mart listening to Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" over the store's PA. It just is what it is - reflection and judgement not needed.
  
• Never underestimate the power of misdirection and humor. When a child is stamping his/her feet refusing to go to brush their teeth, and you find yourself clenching, ready to put your foot down, step to the side a bit and tell them "Get in here and brush your nose right now!" Giggles have a good chance of chasing the grump away (at least for younger ones).
• When your young daughter performs her dance number at The Big Recital, apparently she will expect a bouquet of flowers afterward. Every other girl will have them. Your penalty for not knowing this tradition will be severe.
• When picking out said flowers for the next recital, be sure to remember to smell them first. Looks alone will not rescue your ineptness when it's discovered that the flowers are foul-smelling stink blossoms.
• That whole "I can't believe I just said that, I sound just like my Dad" thing? You'll get over it.
• There really is no better thing in life than when you walk in the door after work and are greeted by loud and happy shouts of "Papa's Home!", followed by energetic hugs and overlapping summations of the days events.
• Remember those happy bits when the boy pushes over a very expensive mirrored ball at the local garden store. Yes, they shatter in spectacular fashion.

Happy Post-Father's Day.