Moments… It’s not only the time we spend with our kids, it’s the moments we create that truly matter.
Making Moments that Matter… |
Like most busy dads, I try to carve out as much time as I can to spend with our fast-growing daughter but I must admit, at times I am just just ‘there’ – sending her here, sending her there (i.e. for parties, playdates and classes); stand around here, look around there….It’s very tempting to be just passively be ‘there’ and assume the duty’s done.
Today being Youth Day holiday, I took the day off just to spend time with her. After a leisurely breakfast at home and sending Mommy off to work, we headed for West Coast Park for some ‘Daddy & Dana’ time. It was one of our favorite parks and looming before our eyes was the familiar Big Rope Pyramid structure – almost 2.5 stories high! Our intrepid little one was immediately drawn to it and urged me enthusiastically to join her in ascending the Pyramid. I hesitated initially…not so much for her safety but primarily mine!!! I contemplated just letting her climb it on her own but that would be such a dampener. Moreover, what if anything happens to her 2-storey high?
End of story?…It didn’t take me long to put away all my inhibitions and perceived threats to life and limb. At the daughter’s insistent request, I challenged myself to step out of my comfort zone to scale the Rope Pyramid with her and together, we slid down the steel slide from almost 2 stories high! She was elated and so was I (Gosh, I can’t believe it that at 41, I conquered my first Rope Pyramid Obstacle climb!) ….we then scaled the Pyramid and slid down a 2nd time! There’s when I snapped this beautiful shot with my iPhone – another one for the memory bank.
If I had just stood there at the base of the Pyramid to watch her climb, or worse, forbade her to attempt it…I would have saved myself some awkward moves (it’s actually pretty strenuous) but I would have lost a very special bonding moment with my daughter…which is far more precious.
So dads (and moms), be bold, step out of your comfort zones to play, engage and reach out to your children. In that way, you will not merely spend time with them, but create moments that matter.
Evelyn says
It’s a thin line between “here” and “there”! Even though I’m staying home to be with the kiddos, that doesn’t mean I’m always in the moment. That really is something I need to work on.
Susan says
Love this post from a Daddy’s perspective. I posted about similar when I brought my daughter to the POLW in Sentosa. We are indeedn creating moments for them 🙂 Thanks for linking up.