Family Valentine's Day

Saturday, February 14, 2004

Valentine's Day this year was a family day. Courtney got a special gift from me & I got a special gift from her. We spent the day with cousins Cindy, Laurie, and Karen (and company) at Ethan's First B-Day.

Dad and Daughter Dance

Friday, February 13, 2004

[Coming soon]

Griswald-Style Family Vacation

Wednesday, January 28, 2004

We decided to drive to Oklahoma this year for Christmas! That's right, we are making it a Griswald-style family vacation. Two parents, two kids, two dolls, many presents, enough clothes packed for a small army, one minivan, and 20 hours of America's best country roads. What more could you want? [Cont'd . . .]

Date Night with Daughter

Monday, January 19, 2004

As we sat at Pomadoro's sharing a piece of pizza and a large Sprite, Alex asked me a question in the way only a six-year-old-going-on-twenty-year-old can ask, "Dad, when you were a kid did you ever think your parents were idiots because they wouldn't let you play and they were always telling you to be quiet?"

I just smiled.

". . . because that's how I sometimes feel. Not that you and mom are idiots, but that's how I feel."

Think quickly, Matt. First, why is my 6-year-old more articulate than some of the people I deal with on a daily basis? Second, did she just call me an idiot?

"I don't know that I ever called my mom and dad an 'Idiot.' (But I can think of worse names I used.) I do know that I did not always agree with my mom and dad. In fact, I would get real angry when I could not do what I wanted to do, but I learned that they had a reason for their decision. Sometimes I learned that immediately, and other times it took many years. But parents have a way of knowing better than kids."

"Well, I know more about PLAYING than you," Alex chided back.

There's no arguing on this one. No matter how much I want to join this debate on PLAYING, I have to force myself to let it go.

["Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." Colossians 3:21]

I realized something better. Our date night was achieving its purpose. My young daughter told me how she felt and even realized that it might hurt my feelings. But she told me, nonetheless.
"I agree, Alex. Kids do know more about playing than adults. Want some ice cream, beautiful?"