Sunday was a glorious day. So I decide to stretch my legs – and my 5-year-old’s legs – and walk from our house to the big chain bookstore. It’s just short of 2 miles one way.
The promise of new books, I think, helped provide some motivation. I’d like to think it was the time spent with daddy. Either way, we made it! And without much fussin’! At least on the way there.
We were on a timetable because my wife’s mother and stepfather were on their way. We managed to get in a few minutes shopping for books. I was ready to go, but Abby insisted that we buy a book for her little sister. So we did.
On the way back, there was the requisite complaining about aching legs and feet. But we made the entire trip in two hours. I was so proud.
I asked her later if she wanted to get up in the morning before school and go walking with daddy on Monday. To my surprise, she said yes.
Wow.
We did it! We got up at 5:15 this morning and walked about a mile and a half. There wasn’t much talking. But she held my hand the whole four miles on Sunday and the mile and a half this morning.
And she said she wants to go again Tuesday morning.
This morning during breakfast she asked if I could have lunch with her today. I had some stuff to do at work. But I did have lunch with her. Man, was it a hoot listening to those little kids. I really enjoyed having some water (Sorry, but I can’t eat lunch at 10:30 in the morning) for “lunch.” I enjoyed everything about it even though I watched Abby pour her milk on the table by accident (She was licking the applesauce off the milk carton. I’m learning not to ask.), lick ketchup from the packet, and jam a quarter of her hamburger into her mouth.
It’s the little times together that make a difference.
* * *
I talked to a teacher today about his school that has made the turnaround from near academic catastrophe to high academic achievement. He talked about all the steps the school took to turn things around despite having a high percentage of Title I kids. He said that it wasn’t an overnight success story and that you couldn’t put your finger on the one thing that made the difference. It was a whole lot of things tried and a number of them stuck, obviously.
But what he still lamented was the fact that despite the school’s success, parental involvement was still missing. He cited a dinner they had to celebrate their success. It was planned for some 90 students and their families.
For free.
Only a dozen people showed up.
* * *
When I hear parents complain about the demands on their time, their lack of resources, etc., etc., it’s hard for me to imagine. What does spending a couple of hours one weekend with your child cost? How about 30 minutes a night reading? Or two hours to celebrate your child’s success?
Sometimes I put work ahead of my family. But it’s moments like this weekend that make me realize where my joy in life really comes from.