Best Dad in the world
Said Matt today as we were walking up the path home, “You’re the best Dad in the world.” Said Matt immediately after that, “Of course, you’re the only Dad i have!”
I’m not, of course, the “best Dad in the world”. I’m grumpy and impatient with the kids lots. I’m tired all the time. I yell at them more than they deserve. I never make enough time to play with them.
But I am the only Dad they have, so I guess they’re kinda stuck with me.
Ah, but we have such fun sometimes. This morning I was dancing round like a fool and making up songs about them - songs about Matt eating garbage and Josh eating cat-food. They’re of an age where that sort of thing is the most fun in the world. Although Matt is of an age where he can do the “I’m so embarrassed he’s my Dad look”. As this morning.
We had all walked up to school - well, Josh and I had walked up together and Matt had run on ahead of us - and Josh and I were in the corridor putting his bag away. Matt walked past with him friends, ignoring us. Josh pipes up, completely happy to see his brother, “Hi Matt!!”. I piped up, completely wanting to make Matt and his friends look, “Hi Matt”. Matt half-waved and grimaced and walked on. But at the end of the corridor, he turned back, and gave me this wonderful little smile. Like, yeah, I am actually his Dad and he’s pretty cool with that.
Josh snuck into our bed last night. I woke to him curled up around me, his little leg draped over mine, both of us curled up on the edge of the bed. He wakes up in the morning, smiles and says, “I love you Dad”.
Moments like that, and Matt’s smile in the corridor and an unexpected comment walking up to the house.
They’re moments when they forgive you all your sins.