Being A Dad is an Amazing Thing

This was supposed to be a quick short post...

I tucked David in tonight - don't get any Rockwell type images in your mind... It was a battle. He asked for a story, so I came up with a short story.... somehow it involved a fish tank and a particular fish that sucked a boy into the fish tank never to be seen again....

umm....Dad? That story creeps me out. I'm gonna have really bad dreams about that tonight....

So.... what is your story? Tell me a short story that won't make ME dream scary dreams about swimming armless in a child's aquarium?!

And David proceeded to tell me the exact same story and finished with "a mermaid grabbed me and swam me to a beautiful tropical island...." Pardon my Polynesian exclamation, but "damn him." I wanted to be in his dreams!

His ending was way more perfect.

So anyway, bedtime, he was in bed, top bunk and promised to stay.

Battle #2 was getting Matthew to stay in either his bed or agree to go to our bed and at least read - but only 1 book. Sheesh - it is almost 10pm and it is a school night AND a work night!

He says, "I have a story too!"

So I listen and in his 5-year-old little voice, he proceeds to tell me a deeply sincere version of his version of the fish tank and the big fish and the aquarium and .... it ends with a banana bread his Mom made....

As David is falling asleep, I pass my fingers through his hair and I say, "I love you, G'night."

He says, "Love you."

And I say, "Hey, just so you know, being a Dad is an Amazing Thing..."

He says "Huh?"

I say, "nuthin. G'night."

and he says, "Dad?"

and I say "huh?"

and he says, "Yeah. I know. Thanks for that. "



.Being a Dad is an Amazing Thing.

Tomorrow is a whole new gift.

.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day

It is dark. The house is kind of quiet now. I still hear voices and a little bit of laughter - David is reading to Matthew. They are all cozy in baggy pajamas and curled up on my side of the bed I must lament, but they look oh-so-bright. Dr. Seuss books are everywhere.

Today was Mother's Day. We take being a family pretty serious around here. We are not all overly sappy or dramatic, but I think Michele will agree that there is an overall calmness when we enjoy the little things as a family. We all worked together, did some cleaning in preparation of having company staying with us for The Jammers and we did some painting.

We got Mom a card and promised her Chinese Food. That is pretty much like hitting the Powerball in this household.

I called my own Mom this morning like I do most weekend mornings to have a cup of coffee with her over the phone from 1250 miles away. I love talking with my Mom.  I'm not sure if this makes sense, but think about someone distant that you love ----- and I love that I finally recognize that she looks forward to my calls as much as I enjoy calling her. The older we get - sometimes it is something as simple as a regular phone call that can mean the most. (And I am talking for me too, cuz I am old too)

Happy Mother's Day Mom.

I also called MaKenny. MaKenny is Paul's Mom. MaKenny is our Mom away from Momness. She is a very special lady, who loves us, and loves our boys. MaKenny is sweet, funny, cranky, and probably the next best thing to our own Mother or Nana.  MaKenny is in rehab following open heart surgery. Yeah, almost 80. Open Heart Surgery. They sawed her open, pulled out her heart, watched it flop around and fixed it and then put it back. Then installed a big ol zipper, as she says, right down the middle of her. I love this woman and her way with words.

I have to admit - I was nervous about calling her - what if we didn't know what to say - or what if she didn't remember me after all this surgery and psychadelic medication?

All my fears were immediately put to rest - there she is, going through everything it takes recovering from having her insides pulled out, played with and stapled back, and she makes ME feel so glad I called!

Halfway through our conversation, she asked if I didn't mind holding - someone just walked in - no, of course, I don't mind holding - and I could hear everything said. It was a minister coming in to offer Communion. At first, I felt like I was violating a private moment - but then the minister said we'll finish with the Lord's Prayer -- and it may sound crazy, but I joined them secretly from half a state away, and said the Our Father along with them on MaKenny's behalf.  I'm not really sure how to describe it, but there is some higher-power-swelling-feeling going on inside my chest that is hard to explain.


 Happy Mother's Day Pauline.

We had friends stop by today, totally out of the blue, to say Hello and wish Michele a Happy Mother's Day. We so love that. We hadn't seen Kelly B in over a year - halfway up the walkway we hear this - "So where do you all keep the beer in this place?" Yeah - Kelly B is family.

Donya spent the afternoon with us an stayed for supper.

Tito enjoyed the evening with us.

We really like having friends over that feel like family.

I watched Michele today, help Matthew change the batteries in a remote control smash-em-up-kinda-car and you know what? I watched in awe. She was so patient and almost teacher-like - explaining the + goes here and the flat part of the battery goes here and so on and so on. (She had on a low-cut blouse, so I kinda lost the next part of her instructions, but she did have my total full-on attention)

Matthew was captivated (and so was a particular Dadman, hubba hubba) but I did realize something - I realized that I probably would have handled that same whole situation SO differently. I would have replaced the batteries myself, played with the toy for at least an hour myself and made him go to the fridge to get me a beer at least 3 times in the meantime.

Happy Mother's Day Michele.

Those "little" things that go unnoticed or seemingly unrecognized? We see them. So do your boys. Never underestimate the power or the influence you have.

Being a mom is a pretty powerful thing.

Being Mom is even more special.

Thanks for that.

Yes, you. Michele. Nana. And MaKenny.

Thanks for that.

.