» Spring break last week. The Bug's first of many. An opportunity for us to spend more precious time together.
At the playground, I was pushing him on the swings with two of his girlfriends (both named Lucy), while cracking silly jokes.
Had them laughing pretty good. (The girls were actually squealing with delight.)
After working up a sweat I said, "I need a break. You kids are wearing me out."
While walking toward the shade, I heard the Bug say (to the girls), "Isnt my dad great?"
Difficult to describe how that made me feel. Very satisfying. A warm glow came over me as I sat down.
I try to give him as much attention & affection as I can muster .. in the limited time (visitation) we have together each week.
Parenting is difficult. There's a big difference, I've found, between the *idea* of parenting .. and the act itself. Anyway, this is something I've already discussed and I see no need to repeat myself.
But it's easy to see why some kids grow up not getting the emotional nourishment they so desperately need.
Because even under the best of circumstances, parenting is hard (.. and increasingly few middle-class families these days are enjoying the best of circumstances).
Every once in a while, you get a gem like this thrown your way. But we dont do it for the gems .. or we'd spend most of our time waiting in disappointment.
"Okay," I'd ask them, "do you want a REGULAR-underdog push? .. a *SUPER* underdog? .. or a super-DUPER underdog?" (Of course, they always want the SUPER-DUPER. Even the girls.)
"Okay," I said, "we better wait for this airplane to go by .. cuz I dont want you to hit it on your way to the moon." =)
Later, as I was resting on the grass under a tree, they all came and jumped on me and wrestled me to the ground. Even their little 2-year old brother got involved in the carnage. It was ugly. I was massacred. "Somebody call 9-1-1."
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The mom of one of the Lucy's came up and introduced herself, and asked when we might be returning to the park. It was clear her daughter was enjoying herself. (What an adorable laugh she had.)
In fact, when it came time for us to leave, the little girl teared up. (I was touched.) They stood and waived 'til we were nearly out of sight.
Since I only have the Bug for a few days each week, I constantly work on ways to improve the quality-of-love I give him. I think kids can sense when they are genuinely loved.
And we all know that (like a Porsche) there's NO SUBSTITUTE for real love. Cant fool a kid .. at least, not after he's had a taste of the real thing.
It's like they have a love-antenna .. capable of sensing that frequency .. thru which they also receive emotional nourishment.
Later we rode our bike's down to Balboa Island for an ice-cream at Dad's donut shop (.. his favorite is the blue 'bubblegum' flavor) .. and then we went to see Rio at the movie theater.
It was very good. (Much better than Hop.) Colorful. Easy to recommend. Make sure you see it in 3D. (And dont forget the popcorn!)
Jesse Eisenberg, the nerdy kid who starred in The Social Network (« an ironic story, by the way, about the most socially inept kid you've ever met) plays the voice of Blu .. the main character.
Sexy Anne Hathaway plays the part of his love-interest (Jewel). You'll also hear the lively voices of Will.i.am and Jamie Foxx in there, among others. ■
