Dad Entry #40

Sorry, this is very long. But shoot, it’s been 4 months since I’ve recorded anything about the kids. They do a lot, and change a lot, in 4 months! Thankfully, Mommy is a terrific photographer and blogger. Pictures are better anyway (every one a thousand words, right?). I wonder what the equation is for video? Maybe we should get more – like soccer and ballet – on video. But is dilution a concern? If rare, what is captured is more precious, isn’t it? Imagine, some day, how much Michael’s family would cherish – if it was all they had – that 5 minutes of footage of him as a little dude. I do wish we had captured, forever, Megan’s so wonderful and thorough prayer below. But catching these beautiful moments is tough, unless the camera’s rolling 24/7. Our video camera rolls more like 1/1. Actually, much less than that. And staging these moments diminishes the otherwise impromptu, genuine nature that makes them so remarkable. As for Megan and prayer, most nights when I ask her if she wants to say one, or if I can say one, she declines. But I guess if she’s inspired, she lets loose a real barrage! That’s right, balance that ‘account’ with God! I might recommend some day – albeit very humbly – more consistency in this area, like in 20 years I’ll make the suggestion if so moved, when she has a little more life behind her to evaluate. Sometimes it takes a few decades anyway, before kids will listen to advice from their parents! As for a relationship with God, well, in some ways it’s premature – healthy children twice Megan’s age can be persuaded to believe in the Tooth Fairy – but I think Meggie is off to a perfect start; she has a real compassionate, nurturing instinct. She stares and appears deeply concerned whenever a kid cries nearby. At Michael’s ‘Spring Fling’ school party, there was a little girl momentarily alone, afraid, and upset on the dance floor. Megan noticed and approached, just to stand right next to her – from what I could tell – and give her a caring look. The little girl was quickly rescued by an older sibling or parent. I think Megan is special in this way; I hope life only strengthens this awareness or characteristic in her. I think it will. After all, there are great nurturers in Megan’s bloodline, not to mention all around us, who maintain this great intuitive capacity to identify and then appropriately assist or comfort a friend or family member or any person in need.

Anyway, we’ve all been busy. Sara and I – like everyone else – are concerned and working harder and longer than ever before in this tough economy. I probably should consult with Motorola attorneys before making any public comments about my employer. Suffice it to say, it’s challenging there (and everywhere). Perhaps now I have to add the old ‘forward looking statements’ disclaimer that must get stamped on anything about anything corporate these days. Maybe we are too litigious, as a society I mean, but Megan and Michael haven’t sued us yet, over too many vegetables, or too few desserts, or too early bedtimes, or Meggie’s paci being retired, or a bump on the knee that might’ve been caused by our hardwood floors or an unsafe layout of furniture in our home, like placing the ottoman two feet in front of – instead of directly against – the couch, such that when Michael launches himself off the couch with hopes of landing – like a trapeze artist – on his designated platform, the ottoman, he comes up a little short and bumps his knee on its edge.

Michael knows I have to be at work more this year and he even knows how things are ‘structured’ there, as evidenced by thoughtful suggestions like, “Daddy, take this page to work and ask your boss if you can color it.” I asked Megan the other day if I could carry her for a bit, since she is kind of a slow walker given her small stride while dawdling along in little boot-cut jeans draped over sparkly pink Chuck Taylor All-Stars. Sparkly and pink is quite the double-whammy for Meg-Pie; maybe she just stops too often to admire her own shoes. Regardless, we needed to pick up the pace (and I love to carry and snuggle her anyway) so I offered transportation. She said, “No Daddy, I have my own feet.” Our favorite game right now is ‘Monster’. It’s basically me playing dead until one of the kids comes forward and prods or tickles me. Maybe I moan or stir but am usually all still and harmless until – suddenly! – I spring to life and grab or chase them down, tickling and wrestling until they subdue me again, mostly by counter-tickling or imaginary methods like touching my arm and hissing as if shocking or injecting me with a temporary paralysis-inducing nerve toxin. Then the game repeats itself over and over; the ‘monster’ is incapacitated and motionless until, well, Michael talks Megan into approaching and rousting me once more. Yeah, it’s true, Michael usually sends Megan; he’s sort of a chicken that way. Or maybe he’s just smart. He needs a dangerous service done and has found and convinced someone else – slightly less intelligent than him, but only so because of age at this point – to do it for him at a super price (nothing). He’s destined for management and a high salary some day! Although the price really isn’t ‘nothing’, because then Michael has to rescue Megan and he is quite brave and active in doing so once the scrum starts. No doubt about it; he’s getting to be a big, strong guy! Although Megan, by having to repeatedly approach the seemingly-knocked-out-but-likely-to-pounce monster, is developing some real courage too!