Sunday Morning Serenity

When I was a kid, I had no idea how blessed I was in the daddy department. I thought all dads let you wade in the fountain at Eastwood Mall, play the juke box as many times as you wanted, and order room service when you were barely old enough to use a phone. Yesterday, I got a little reminder of why all kids love Daddy. It came in the form of Martin Everitt, an adorable iPad-wielding toddler who belongs to our friends Mike and Amanda. While Amanda and her mom visited with us, Martin Everitt taught Daddy how to practice his alphabet on the iPad. This came after they had gone to the barn and climbed on a few tractors, blown a million bubbles from one of those little bottles of soap with the hoop inside, and worked a job together with Martin Everitt's collection of plastic construction equipment. Watching them made me flash back to a time when my baby cousin Dane (who is now a father himself) was a little boy and lived near my parents. I don't think he realized that Daddy was an adult. He just thought they were fishing buddies.

Daddy has a way of meeting kids wherever they are, speaking their language and looking at the world through their eyes. Sure, he has a few basic rules of engagement. You're not allowed to be mean. Or disrespectful to the grown folks. You can't run through the house screaming and breaking things. But who cares if your shirttail's tucked in or you want to ride your bike in your Sunday clothes? And if you don't like squash, you shouldn't have to eat it. Here—have a Hershey bar instead.

What kids pick up on right away, I think, is unconditional love. It's a wonderful gift we've been given. This Sunday morning, I'm feeling very thankful for parents who have always shared that gift so freely. And I'm hoping I can follow their example and pass on this message to other people: You are loved.

Comments

[Candy Hicks]

Lovely, how wonderful ! ! ! !

[Valerie]

Thanks so much!