This last Saturday had a couple of father moments that were good.
Saturday morning found my family over at Angel's Grandfather's house helping in yard and house cleanup. Her aunts, uncles, and several cousins were there, with her parents and siblings contributing of course. We mowed, line trimmed, fixed a fence, and generally cleaned up. It was hot and dirty, but very satisfying. I love my in-laws and enjoy working with them. There were several father/son teams working on various projects together. Even one uncle working with his current and future son-in-laws. There were stories told and reminiscences experienced. Angel's family is a very hard working family it's clear that the sons learn it from their fathers, with her grandfather being the clear originator. I remember learning hard work from my father - unfortunately the lesson often required him to propel me into the work as I didn't always like to seek it. Lesson learned, I try to teach it to my son and need to make a conscious effort to. We were dirty, smelling, but happy when we came home and I was happy to get some things down around our house and yard upon returning.
That afternoon, it was clear that Tigger was in need of a nap. He has an violent temper as it is not stable and you don't know what might trigger it. He rarely hits his sister, but will occasionally take a swing at us, but this was just his usual yelling. Angel informed him that he was, "too ornery to be allowed" and told him to lie down for a nap. I had just finished showering from the morning's and my own cleaning efforts and had changed for a LAN party that night when I found him playing in the hall way while Angel was herself having a lie down. Being 26 weeks pregnant will wear a woman out and she was half gone already. I thought about sending him back to his room, but he was looking pretty wired and I knew he would stay down. However, I knew his weak spot. Tigger is a consummate snuggler. He will happy climb up on a lap or lie down on the couch with anyone who wants to snuggle. He recently got a twin sized bed, so there is room for him and an adult to lie down on his bed, so I led him in and we lie down together. He was a bit restless and kept asking me questions. I was wearing a shirt with big letters on it so we went over the letters. He finally started to settle down and eventually we both dozed off. I woke up twenty minutes later (my arm staring to tingle from him lying on it), and I looked up to see this Little Critter Poster that we have on his wall.
Saturday morning found my family over at Angel's Grandfather's house helping in yard and house cleanup. Her aunts, uncles, and several cousins were there, with her parents and siblings contributing of course. We mowed, line trimmed, fixed a fence, and generally cleaned up. It was hot and dirty, but very satisfying. I love my in-laws and enjoy working with them. There were several father/son teams working on various projects together. Even one uncle working with his current and future son-in-laws. There were stories told and reminiscences experienced. Angel's family is a very hard working family it's clear that the sons learn it from their fathers, with her grandfather being the clear originator. I remember learning hard work from my father - unfortunately the lesson often required him to propel me into the work as I didn't always like to seek it. Lesson learned, I try to teach it to my son and need to make a conscious effort to. We were dirty, smelling, but happy when we came home and I was happy to get some things down around our house and yard upon returning.
That afternoon, it was clear that Tigger was in need of a nap. He has an violent temper as it is not stable and you don't know what might trigger it. He rarely hits his sister, but will occasionally take a swing at us, but this was just his usual yelling. Angel informed him that he was, "too ornery to be allowed" and told him to lie down for a nap. I had just finished showering from the morning's and my own cleaning efforts and had changed for a LAN party that night when I found him playing in the hall way while Angel was herself having a lie down. Being 26 weeks pregnant will wear a woman out and she was half gone already. I thought about sending him back to his room, but he was looking pretty wired and I knew he would stay down. However, I knew his weak spot. Tigger is a consummate snuggler. He will happy climb up on a lap or lie down on the couch with anyone who wants to snuggle. He recently got a twin sized bed, so there is room for him and an adult to lie down on his bed, so I led him in and we lie down together. He was a bit restless and kept asking me questions. I was wearing a shirt with big letters on it so we went over the letters. He finally started to settle down and eventually we both dozed off. I woke up twenty minutes later (my arm staring to tingle from him lying on it), and I looked up to see this Little Critter Poster that we have on his wall.
I couldn't help but think, "I'm not doing half bad." I extracted myself and let him finish his nap.
Like I mentioned, I went to a LAN party that night with Leeroy Jenkins, Angel's next younger brother. We've always gotten a long well and share a lot of the same interests. He had some old friends in town and so we got together for some good old fashion computer gaming. Leeroy knows quite a few people who like to game and sent out invitations to a dozen or so friends. I was glad he invited me, but also glad that he invited my father. His own father was invited and Leeroy was really hoping to have him come. Unfortunately that morning's activities had worn him out and he wasn't feeling up to a late night. Despite having, "many irons in the fire," we talked my dad to coming and were so glad to have him. We were playing a game he had never played, and half of the people were unknown to him. Not to mention that I was the next oldest person in the room and he was old enough to be my father. But Dad came, enjoyed himself and helped everybody else enjoy themselves. He has the ability to almost seamlessly enter a group of people, put them at ease, and help them to enjoy themselves. Not to mention I feel immense pride in a father that can relatively hold his own at computer games.
Yeah. I'm proud of my Dad and prouder still that he's proud of me.
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