Adventures Of Fatherhood

Adventures Of Fatherhood
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After missing it by about an hour last year, Beckett finished his first grade year with perfect attendance.

This was important to him throughout the year. I think it was mainly due to the fact he felt like he got robbed last year. He didn’t realize perfect attendance comes down to hours attended rather than days and last year — kindergarten — he missed three hours of school. It was news to us as well.

This year he was focused and fortunately he made it through the school year without any sort of illness. He just woke up every day, asked what day it was and went to school. If the answer was not a school day, that was fine by him, too. He approaches every day with the same zeal, and I love that about him.

I think perfect attendance is a great accomplishment and I’m proud of him for it. Although we never put pressure on him to achieve it, we also weren’t going to stand in his way either.

For example, back in March when we drove to Disney World during a school vacation, I was anxious to get on the road as early as possible on Friday, the day before our check-in date. The hold-up was determining how much time he could miss at school and not jeopardize his goal. If he had already missed a day or two, we might have gotten on the road first thing in the morning to make the trip a little easier. Once we learned he could miss 90 minutes, we decided that our departure time would be exactly at 1:30 p.m. because his school day ends at 3 p.m.

I remember walking into the school office that afternoon and there he was waiting and standing looking at the clock. He said it was 1:26 so we had to wait.

It certainly does make a parent proud to see a child — no matter the age — set a lofty goal, demonstrate a commitment to achieving something important to him and reaching it.

Of course, as luck would have it, one week into the summer he got sick and had to sit out a weekend with a high temperature and body aches and pains.

Come Monday morning he was fine and ready for his first camp. Of course, he wants perfect attendance at that as well, but we have told him not to expect any sort recognition this time around.

Poor Pam has not been sleeping well the last couple months.

The culprit is Carson, who has been sneaking in our bed in the early morning hours. Sometimes I feel him get in bed with us and sometimes I don’t.

The reason is because all he wants to do is snuggle in close with his mom. Snuggle might not even be the right word to describe it.

I’m an early morning runner and many times when I get up I find Carson in various states, but almost always in our bed and draped all over Pam. It might be directly on top of her or it might be with a leg cocked over her or an arm across her neck (so as to ensure she does not go anywhere without him knowing it).

There’s no question he’s a mommy’s boy. I know she loves it, but I know it comes with mixed emotions for her when she wakes up to find herself in a major headlock from her youngest son.

Keeping the head on a swivel is always the best approach when outnumbered by my kids.

Whether it’s the park, beach, pool or even in the house, it’s always a good idea to keep eyes on the kids.

Beckett has earned some freedom and can be independent, but Carson can’t be trusted just yet because the mantra “expect the unexpected” rings true with him. That’s why we often have to shadow him.

As odd as it may sound, when I am in the pool with both kids I can let my guard down a little bit more because it’s a confined area. I should clarify this is while in the shallow areas.

During this week’s heat wave, I was in the pool with the boys and Beckett wanted to play a game of hide and seek in the pool. I thought it odd, but went along with it, so long as there was the agreement that nobody was allowed out of the pool.

With the various rafts and toys, it was actually quite fun. While Beckett was creative with his designated hiding spots, Carson was a little bit more predictable after the first time.

The first time I found Beckett immediately hiding between some rafts. When I asked where Carson was, Beckett just pointed under the water. There Carson was at the bottom of the pool holding his breath with a big toy over his head. I just waited for him to come up and he seemed shocked to discover I knew where he was.

That played out for the next half dozen or so times and each time Carson seemed more and more tickled because he held a new toy over his head while underwater. I didn’t get it but his laugh is hilarious. It kept him entertained so we indulged him. Next thing the three of us are underwater doing the same thing.