I am sorry if this post is later than usual. I had to get my heart restarted after this afternoon. Now, please before my inbox fills up the first comment is metaphorical not literal. However, after our daughter’s comments this afternoon, I am surprised that it is not both. In the end, as with the rest of this past week, it all comes down to lessons learned. I learned today.
My brother-in-law came up to celebrate his birthday with us. We had a great breakfast and were just sitting around talking. Our daughter becoming bored with adult talk started playing around. She started bringing out stuffed animal after stuffed animal. Each one has a unique name and place in her little family.
Next came our cat in the stroller. This cat has to be one of the mellowest animals I have ever seen. It sits in the stroller and gets pushed around. She will even wear sunglasses on certain days. The cat soon had friends in the stroller. She didn’t care as long as she got her ride. Before we knew it, we each had a family member sitting with us – we were charged with its care. Then it happened.
Our daughter ran into her bedroom, giggling all the way. A few seconds later, out comes this little eight year old with a bump under her dress. “I’m pregnant!” came the gleeful voice. Her uncle started laughing – yeah thanks for that encouragement. She walked around patting her belly. She sat on the couch. Two minutes later, she jumps up screaming, “My water broke!” Out she ran. From her bedroom, we heard a couple screams of pain. She then re-enters the room holding a new stuffed animal. “I had my baby.” Her face was all smiles. She then introduced her new baby to all of us. My heart was no longer beating.
Once I regained my composure, I saw the humor and posted about it on Facebook. Currently more than 50 people have also found humor in it. Some made comments about how fast she is growing up, others aimed their thoughts at me being a Grandpa.
Now before I talk about the lessons, I want to state that yes, she probably learned this from television. We were watching a tweeners movie that had a nice message to it this morning. However, in the movie, the aunt had a similar event occur while at the Eiffel Tower. It is a natural part of life, and we are okay with the fact that she has an introduction to what goes on with birth.
So what could this possibly teach me in the lessons of life? Well the first lesson is – I AM NOT READY TO BE A GRANDFATHER! My age is that of a grandpa and I get that. However, even though I have been asked if I am one, I am still just learning to be a dad. After tonight’s homework session, I am not even sure I am doing such a great job at that. It did, though, make look into the future. I learned that I need to do whatever it takes to be here when the real event happens. I have written in the past about my want to get in shape. I have struggled at this of late. Today came more as a message that this will happen one day, but I need to change my habits if I want to witness it – okay, I don’t want to witness the water breaking.
The other lesson that came to me is how, even though we try to block certain things from our daughter, life will seep in, and our daughter will learn. I know that this particular one came in via a movie we allowed her to watch. But I see that she observes anything and everything. She takes it all in.
The thing I learned is that we better make sure that we are ahead of the world. If we cannot be ahead of the world, we better be willing to explain things to her. I have heard it in the past and even said it to others, if you, as a parent, are not willing to talk with your children then somebody else will. We have already talked about today’s subject in the past. We just let this one alone. However, I need to make sure that I have open-ended questions ready when the next play issue comes up. My wife and I better be prepared to answer her questions no matter how much we want to avoid the topic. We don’t have to go deep, but at least enough to let her know she can talk to us at any time.
So now it is time to go put the grand baby to bed. Thank you for meandering with me tonight.