Two nights ago, on Tuesday, Karley and I finally got our date night in. She had long been waiting since her big sister had a date with me a few weeks ago. We decided to go to the mall for pizza and Build-A-Bear.
Karley was giddy as she made her new bear on our date.
She was so excited all day long. When I got home from work she was waiting at the top of the stairs for me. It was good to spend time with her in the car just talking and singing along with the radio. After pizza, she got to pick out a new bear to make. I’ll never forget the look on her face that night.
Of course, no daddy date in the Patrick family is complete with out ice cream. On the way back to the car we played a rousing game of “step on your shadow!”
I love the tradition that has begun with my girls this summer. Admittedly they started with a bang, a concert for one and a new bear for another. Not all future dates will be as extravagant. I hope to use these times to build our relationships and teach them that the greatest gift we have is each other.
My good friend Judy made a statement this week that has stuck with me. She said, “don’t get so caught up in reliving the past or envisioning the future that you miss the beauty of today.” If my kids can grow up knowing that we live this out in our family, then I will count it as a success.
How are you finding the beauty of today? How are you building your life into your children?
Here’s a little video recap of the evening (RSS readers – if you can’t see this video, click here)
20. August 2009 at 3:51 PM
As G gets older, she’s unearthing more about my personality than I’ve cared to notice or reflect on. Children tend to be a mirror of our successes and failures. For example, she’s shown me how impatient I can be due to how exasperated I can come across to her. She doesn’t reflect it in those moments, but I can feel it and hear it coming from me when I do it. Which beckons the challenge to not let it come across at all.
Kim’s recently made the suggestion about G and I having a routine date night. Seeing your post is even more inspiration of how important it is…for the dad and the daughter.