Fathered Five

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Luke looking cheesy, Maya looking bored

That’s not actually true; I wasn’t trapped inside. The weather was perfect and the kids spent lots of time outside. And the place is a “cabin” only because it’s surrounded by pines, is located on a lake, and has faux log siding. It’s actually a 4 bedroom home with a separate pool/bunk room that sleeps about 60, so there was plenty of room for kids. It’s not like they were climbing on me the whole time, though it felt that way at times.

I learned a thing or two, though. Well, not learned so much as remembered:

• When kids are along, it’s not a vacation. It’s a change of scenery.
  And the change of scenery comes with the suspension of what little judgement my kids possess in their native habitat. Everything—clothes, trash, food, sisters—stays where it lands. Not naturally clean, my kids turn into thoughtless warthogs on vacation.
• Watching them have fun is as rewarding as having fun myself.
  “As” rewarding? Well, maybe “almost” as rewarding. At any rate, it struck me during this trip that when Luke claps his hands and shouts, “Waaaay!” (he can’t make his initial ‘y’ sound), that’s a big part of why we keep doing this. It’s for the kids. It’s all for the kids. I’m finally getting used to that idea.
• In a competition for kids’ attention, parents lose to just about everything.
  They’d rather chew rocks than listen to that guy telling them to put on their life jackets.
• Amid 10-kid chaos, a few minutes watching the full moon reflected on the lake is priceless.
• Rusted metal is really cool.
  Eric explored the rocks on the shore and collected pieces of rusty metal. I tried to contain my enthusiasm.

Freaked Out Fathers learned that guys need to get away from the kids—a real vacation with just your woman. You clinched it for me, brother! I just needed permission. Mothered Five and I are going on a cruise for our 20th. I don’t know what I’ll learn, but it won’t involve picking up after anyone or wiping noses or other body parts.

This post was prompted by the group writing project at Middle Zone Musings.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 at 8:34 am and is filed under Musings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.