Growing and Growing

Dylan thinks, “Mom, why did you dress me like this?”

As the weather gets better, Mom and Dylan enjoy the afternoon sun. While I am working hard at the office, I find out what Courtney and Dylan are doing . . . looking cool, smelling the flowers, and chilling in the grass.

Dylan has been so grumpy over the past few days….a combination of an ear infection and teething. Our answers: (a) Antibiotics for the ear infection; (b) carrots for the teething. Everything is going to be okay.

. . . for a little nap in Dylan’s pack-n-play. Ouch! That must hurt.

That’s right, we packed up our minivan and headed south to Jon & Elizabeth’s house for the weekend. Preparing for his own son’s arrival, Jon and Dylan just hung out all weekend. Alex chilled with the dogs. After much pressure, Courtney allowed Dylan to play with J&E’s current kids.

What a good lookin’ family!

Valentine’s Day this year was a family day. Courtney got a special gift from me & I got a special gift from her. We spent the day with cousins Cindy, Laurie, and Karen (and company) at Ethan’s First B-Day.

We decided to drive to Oklahoma this year for Christmas! That’s right, we are making it a Griswald-style family vacation. Two parents, two kids, two dolls, many presents, enough clothes packed for a small army, one minivan, and 20 hours of America’s best country roads. What more could you want? [Cont'd . . .]

As we sat at Pomadoro’s sharing a piece of pizza and a large Sprite, Alex asked me a question in the way only a six-year-old-going-on-twenty-year-old can ask, “Dad, when you were a kid did you ever think your parents were idiots because they wouldn’t let you play and they were always telling you to be quiet?”

I just smiled.

“. . . because that’s how I sometimes feel. Not that you and mom are idiots, but that’s how I feel.”

Think quickly, Matt. First, why is my 6-year-old more articulate than some of the people I deal with on a daily basis? Second, did she just call me an idiot?

“I don’t know that I ever called my mom and dad an ‘Idiot.’ (But I can think of worse names I used.) I do know that I did not always agree with my mom and dad. In fact, I would get real angry when I could not do what I wanted to do, but I learned that they had a reason for their decision. Sometimes I learned that immediately, and other times it took many years. But parents have a way of knowing better than kids.”

“Well, I know more about PLAYING than you,” Alex chided back.

There’s no arguing on this one. No matter how much I want to join this debate on PLAYING, I have to force myself to let it go.

["Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." Colossians 3:21]

I realized something better. Our date night was achieving its purpose. My young daughter told me how she felt and even realized that it might hurt my feelings. But she told me, nonetheless.
“I agree, Alex. Kids do know more about playing than adults. Want some ice cream, beautiful?”

(Need you ask?) We are gearing up for the elections in November. It seems just like those college days when final exams begin in three weeks and you realize that you are so far behind you wonder what to do first. . . .