KASIA'S DAD

My husband is DOD today for getting our child to sleep. It's taking forever and this mama is TIRED.

Velocity October 31, 2009

I overheard a conversation between a dad and his two sons today at Green Lake. The boys were around 5 and 7 years old and all three were on bikes. After one of the boys says something about being far away and sad, Dad assures him this won't happen because he (the son) will be sticking closer this time. Dad then says "C'mon guys, let's get the velocity going!" What a great line. I wonder how it took them to get around Green Lake while maintaining the balance of sticking close and getting the velocity going. Oh the patience of fathers!!!

Three Generations at a Lake in June

One of the best sources of knowledge and teaching comes from the family. In these modern times, the American extended family seems to be more geographically extended. Our children miss out on so many of the subtle but important day to day interactions that occur with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. My niece Abby, fortunately, lives near a lot of her extended family. Her daddy, my brother, recently took her on a fishing trip with Grandpa Bill in WY. Grandpa Bill is an avid fisherman and will happily share his hobby with anyone who shows interest. He is a patient and thorough teacher and is so encouraging. How wonderful that Abby has not only a dad who takes her fishing but a grandfather as well. These three had a great weekend connecting with nature and more importantly, each other. This is the stuff of father and child memories.

The Happiness That Fathers Bring -- June 21, 2009

To all of the wonderful fathers, father figures, step fathers, fathers who are no longer with us and fathers to be, thank you. Our lives, hearts and minds are richer because of you.


Only a Dad
by Edgar A. Guest (1916)


Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd,
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad but he gives his all,
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

in cam's own words... june 20, 2009

i would do anything for my daughter. for true. not an exaggerated boast. she teaches me so much. i try to do my best for her in that realm. ultimately, i know that she will be amazing and do amazing. her golden light brings an energy to my life that no one can duplicate. together since she was a fresh newborn sleeping through the night upon my bony chest our bond has not slept. she is part of me. i am part of her. she is an individual i enjoy knowing…
i cherish past payton.
i cherish present payton.
i cherish future payton.

From our books Le Petit Prince + The Profit:
“Look up at the sky. Ask yourself, ‘Has the sheep eaten the flower or not?’ And you’ll see how everything changes… And no Grown-Up will ever understand how such a thing could be so important!
“Your children are not your children. They are of Life’s longing for itself.”

Three Plus a Dog June 14, 2009

This weekend my husband, baby and I went on a little weekend get away to a resort on the Hood Canal. We chose to take the Bremerton ferry back to Seattle to which we arrived 45 minutes early. To kill some time and entertain our almost 11 month, old we took a walk up to the near by Starbucks. Our daughter promptly alerted us to the doggie sitting outside by calling out "waaa waaa waaa". I took her outside to meet the doggie. The dog owner was a dad who was out with his three small and smallish children. He too had an 11 month old, strategically strapped into the stroller and a 4 and 6 year old. We had a nice little chat about our children. He highlighted to me that his oldest had just finished Kindergarten. I found that to be such a nice thing to say in front of his daughter to make her feel special. Being the oldest I'm sure she doesn't necessarily get all of the attention she deserves. He also handled a possible fight over whose turn it was to walk the dog with the perfect mixture of kindness and authority. I was so impressed by his method and how his children immediately listened to him and trusted his judgement. I admired this daddy not only for the courage to go out alone with three children and a dog but with the ease and kindness he displayed doing it.

Daddy Time June 11, 2009

One of the best ways we can teach our children and make them feel special is by simply spending time with them. David makes Aidan feel special every time he includes him in a project or chore, which he does often. He loves teaching him about nature, sports and animals. Aidan, of course, adores his father and soaks up everything he says and does. David takes equal enjoyment in watching the world unfold before his three year old's eyes. The relationship between father and child is truly magical. No amount of money or toys could ever nurture the soul of a child the way that David is nurturing his son by washing the car with him or showing him a parakeet for the first time. I can't decide who is more in awe, Aidan playing with the parakeet or David seeing his son experience something for the first time. Do we have a future zoo keeper duo in our midst?