Had a great adult ski day today. Adam and I were on the lift by 8:40. It’s snowed about 20 inches over the past two days. We got the tail end of it this morning. First tracks on most of the runs and plenty of untracked on each run, and were home by 12:30, in time to take the kids to a geology activity at the local Salkum library.
April 1 is right around the corner. The kids are already prepping. Almost prepping to tears. It’s fun and painful. M can’t seem to understand that an April fools prank is supposed to be a surprise. She is busy setting up tricks and asking me to do things, “Dad, will you please brush your teeth now.” As my eyebrows raise, I ask what’s up, and she is forthright and says, “It’s an April fools trick.” Now I don’t know if I should be looking over my shoulder or throwing away my toothbrush.
If you are a regular reader, you know that there are kids in our family. They grow fast and get smarter and sassier every day. You all know what I’m talking about. From the kind and gentle moments with people like the librarians, the grocery clerk, or other parents, to wild and crazy moments with their friends and each other, and playing and joking with me.
The expressions they display, and exhaultations they emit are truly wondrous and, at times, frustrating. The highs and lows are exhilarating. During the frustrating outbursts, I find myself getting caught up in the energy and, despite knowing better, I sometimes don’t help them gently back down but rather I end up being stern, unforgiving and frustrated. During the peaceful, quiet times, I sometime watch from across the room. I see, not the growing, sassy child, but a beautiful young person. A calm, serene human in a moment of peace.
I wonder what they will look like when they are older. Which Reiter-Nixon features will dominate and which Birks-Klein features will dominate? I can see both sides in all of our kids. Parenthood is a fascinating journey. I would never have guessed it when I was young.
Later, Brad
