Firehouse Dog

Dear Maddisen, Griffyn and Jaden:

One of the things I enjoy most about being a father is watching you children grow up. Each of you has made me proud so many times with your thoughtfulness, kindness and sincerity. Those personal characteristics help people become really cool adults, you know. You're already on the right path.

Although I enjoy seeing you grow up, I'm also sort of saddened by it. It used to be easy to spend time with you kids. I was in charge of the schedule, after all! It was the time-line kept by your mother and me that determined when we went here or there, when we cuddled on the couch while watching a movie or when we kicked a soccer ball around in the back yard.

Now? It's not so much my schedule as it is the three of yours.

Cheer-leading, dances, school events, gymnastics, birthday parties, pre-school activities, sports; all of it takes some precedence over spending quality time with me. And while I expect that--and even understand it--I'm still getting accustomed to it.

That's why, more than anything else, I enjoyed Firehouse Dog.

For the first time in a long, long time I realized all of us were in the house at the same time. No place to go, no plans to go anywhere. No work was on my schedule, the laundry was done and the house fairly clean.

The stars were aligned perfectly.


That you all answered: "Yes!!" so enthusiastically when I asked if you wanted to watch the flick together made me smile. That you watched it with me even when it became a bit boring made me happy. And when each of you asked in your own way if I liked the movie after it was over made me proud.

So, go on about your day and your schedule for now. I'm good for a while. But thanks. Especially for small moments like that.