I am. Here's one reason why:
The boys and I met some friends at McDonald's Playland for lunch today. We're there enjoying our Chicken Nuggets and whatnot when a Dad and Daughter join our line of barstools. This, not so surprising. The DVD player, headphones and movie that became planted on the table in front of the daughter...surprising.
What????
The Dad worked a bit to situate the DVD player so that all of the kids in line at the bar stools could see (how kind)...and then he disappeared. Really. He left his daughter with the movie playing, walked over to the pseudo-video-games and planted himself on a chair. While his daughter was watching a movie. In the middle of McDonald's. With perfect strangers. She's maybe 5.
A conversation between my friend and I ensued: Single dad who has completely run out of ideas so he's simultaneously using his two best ideas? Maybe. Sad little girl now really wants to run and play as our kids finished eating and ran off...should we suggest she go play? Maybe. Should one of us venture over to the dad at the video games and ask if the daughter can play? Maybe.
I was sad. And confused.
And then I was thankful.
Because yesturday morning, during a week that was so busy he could barely think straight, Brian offered to take the boys to preschool...just because he wanted to. And then he stayed longer than he had planned just to hang out for story time. And because next week Wednesday, Zach's 5th Birthday, Brian is surprising Z by picking him up from school and taking him for a special treat prior to our family birthday party. And because 2 Saturdays ago Brian offered to take both boys out to the lake so I could have some solitude. And because nearly every night when he walks through the door Brian gets tackled by two little boys who are out-of-their-minds-excited that he is home. And because sometimes, he even takes them to McDonalds...and eats with them. And talks with them. And then cheers them on as they play and slide and explore.
I am still sad for the little girl. But I am even more oh-so-thankful for my husband.
2 comments:
I've been trying to figure out what possible set of circumstances could have led to this dad's actions making sense. Like...what if this little girl had misbehaved over and over at home (while he was watching her, which he does every day while his wife works the late shift at the docks). And what if he had tried loving redirection, time-outs, and removing from context, all to no avail. And what if she has an unusually mature understanding of abstract forms of discipline, as well as a hatred of barstools, the smell of grease, and watching movies. The logical choice would be to remove her from her surroundings and put her in a context she doesn't like in order to compel her to listen and obey.
Yeah. That must be it.
It is a rare and special woman who spends a day at a McDonald's Playland and ends up writing about how awesome her husband is. What a great tribute to him. I hope you had him read it.
Oh Cathy, that breaks my heart for the little girl. How sad. Bruce recently read that the average father spends a whooping 5 minutes per day taking to their child. Humm we wonder what's happening to the youth of America?
Well at least we can feel truly blessed by our own life and the hubby's that we have for life partners, one's who have taken a vested interest in our children and will gladly give up their free time after they have worked long days to get to know their children and to take the time to let them explore and just be kids.
I can't believe the big boys are almost 5!!! Happy Birthday to Zachary.
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