Great date

I've got a lot to learn as a father.  I'm constantly wanting to grow.  I do not have it altogether.  But I still think that sharing "best practices" in the area of fathering kids is important.  When I hear stories of good fathering it spurs me to be a better dad.  So I hope that by sharing some of my experiences as a father it will do the same for the dads who read this blog.  To wit...

Tuesday the kids were off from school.  I picked Tyce up about 3pm and took him back to the office with me for a date.  He had some homework to complete so we put a fire in the fireplace (he got to light the fire) and got him to work on his "What is Great about Being a Chicagoan Essay".  The fire helped him focus and he made some good progress on his essay while I finished up some things I needed to do.

Around 4:30 we packed up our stuff.  It was time.  Time for our Nerf dart gun battle.  3 guns, 25 assorted nerf darts, an empty room and lots of male energy.  I don't think I've had that much fun in a long time!  We were pegging each other left and right, rolling around the room, hiding, shooting, and laughing.  Tyce didn't want to stop but I was gassed after about a half hour. 

We looked outside and saw about 4 inches of light snow.  Found two lightweight shovels and went to work.  We started out just shoveling around the door but it was so much fun that we just kept shoveling all the way around the building.  Along the way I was able to share some spiritual truth--Ecclesiastes--two are better than one for they have a good return on their labor.  I got a laugh watching Tyce try to keep pace with me, shoveling as fast as he could to be just like dad. 

Shoveling done.  Time for dinner.  Tyce's choice--Jewel-bought sushi.  We grabbed that and a couple pops and went over to the new Lincoln Park location for phase two of our date.  Sat on the partially completed stage in the middle of the construction zone and munched our sushi in the half-light.  Chatted.  Enjoyed our soy sauce and California rolls.

Soon the volunteer laborers arrived and it was time to work on the building.  I teamed Tyce up with a volunteer named Mark, putting in Styrofoam insulation panels in the ceiling.  He got to mark the foam and then cut it with a razor knife and a hand saw.  Pretty much boy heaven.  I shoveled snow.  I like to shovel.  Seriously.

We left late--8:15pm--and my phone rang.  Wife.  Thought she was going to be concerned about Tyce's bedtime.  Nope.  Just wanted us to pick her up a treat on the way home.  No problem.  We stopped at Baskin Robbins and grabbed her a Heath sundae.  And then, in the midst of a snowstorm, we grabbed ice cream cones and headed for the door.

We get outside and Tyce says, "people are driving by and they're saying, 'hey, don't be those guys'--eating ice cream in a snow storm."  We crack up the whole way home about our ridiculous snack. 

Price of date:  $15
Effort level:  Low
Return on Relationship Investment:  Huge

Comments

[Matt Mason]

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for sharing that great story with us. Priceless! If only more dads took the time to just play and hang out with their kids!

[Gillian]

Hey Hon,

It was fun to read about your date with Tyce, even though I had already heard the story. You are a great dad! Aren't you impressed that I'm commenting on your blog! That's what happens when I'm forced to miss church and can't see you all morning and afternoon!