It's been a really great day so far and I've been able to get work accomplished while also spending time with Abney and the boys. She stayed home a little late this morning to have breakfast here and snuggled up next to me on the couch to watch Strawberry Shortcake (3 episodes in fact!) while I worked on my laptop. It was really fun and she told me how happy she was which always makes me smile. Then we had even more fun getting ready for school:
She is so my child I cannot even stand it! The outfit she helped pick out when we were at TJMaxx and she insisted we pair it with the boots for school. The hair? Listen, I do what she allows me to...
The other fortuitous part about working from home today is that I was here when USPS dropped off a package that requires a signature. Nothing worse than trying to find time to get to the post office to pick up these types of packages! What was delivered? Oh, 21 Disney DVD's that I bought on Ebay after two months of searching for The Little Mermaid for my Abney Rae. She met Ariel while at Easter brunch and has been asking about her ever since. Watching a few clips on YouTube just doesn't cut it and with her little sister on the way I knew we NEEDED this movie. So yes, I stressed out and searched Ebay and finally found what I thought was the best option and did the watch and bid and the whole nine yards...It was a bit eccentric, a bit ridiculous, but if you could hear that sweet voice asking for Ariel...I couldn't resist.
The delivery got here about an hour ago and while digging to find another document in my archives I happened across the Eulogy I read at my Dad's funeral. Yes, it is almost the anniversary of losing him and the hormones at 9 months pregnant should have warded me away but I had to open and read it. It brought tears to my eyes but mostly happy tears, because I am certainly living those lessons for my daughters. :)
Lessons from my Father
My Dad was the kind of person you
could always depend on to bring you a Coke slushee when you were sick, to bring
home at least one arrangement of flowers per trip to the store, and to always
tell you “Wow, you look great!” even if you weren’t particularly looking up to
par. He was by far the most generous,
loving, and doting father a girl could ask for.
While it saddens me that I am never going to get another hug or “I love
you Bear” from my Dad, I have to admit that what makes me most upset is that he
will never get to be a Grandfather.
I do not mean to diminish whom his
role as Dad, Teacher, Captain, Son, Father-In-Law, Uncle, Friend, Husband, or
Fraternity Brother meant to each of us.
Nevertheless, in my opinion the role my father was always born to play
was Grandpa. In the past few months this
was something that he and I had began to talk about more openly now that it is
closer to becoming a reality.
My Dad was so excited to see his
girls become adults and eventually parents.
While I know I will always wish he is there for birthday parties, first
steps, and college football games; I know that in some way this will make these
occasions all the more special. As one
of my good friends reminded me, every day lessons I learned growing up with my
Dad can still be passed down to my children.
Lesson #1: The art of indulgence is in knowing when to say “why not.” If your spouse loves flowers and you find
roses on special, why buy just one dozen when you can buy twenty? When your daughter falls in love with
Strawberry Shortcake, why not buy the house, the berry-mobile, and all of
Strawberry’s friends? After you see how
easily your new lawn-edger works, why not keep going down the rest of the
street? When you have the ability to
give someone their heart’s desire, sometimes you just have to ask yourself why
not. As giving to others is truly one of
life’s greatest joys.
Lesson #2: Why be a fan when you can be a fanatic? It is easy to be loyal when you are sitting on the winning side, but even when you support the mighty Gamecocks football team and your 2008 forecast for probable wins is less than five, you still fly the Carolina flag and wear garnet and black at least three times a week. When you go to the game and their down thirty, in the fourth quarter, you stay and you cheer because that is your team. You show the same loyalty no matter what team it is you are supporting.
Lesson #3: If your child gets the gimmees, you do not always have to act like the “parent.” When you hear the ice cream truck ringing its bell, grab their hand, and run to the corner with them. When your baby girl tells you, she wants to not only go to an expensive out-of-state school but to the one school you have loved to hate for the past twenty years…not only do you happily oblige her but also join the Parents’ club and secretly hide your “Clemson Dad” tag in the basement. Far from where any of your Gamecock friends can catch you.
Lesson #4: Man’s best friend is not just a dog. Most parents call the exterminator when a
pesky rodent is tearing up their flowerbeds.
You be the parent that sets a trap loaded with tasty treats for the
chipmunk to snack on while waiting for your return. When you do find the little animal, alert the
troops, load up the car, and head to the nearby park. Whether it is a chipmunk, squirrel, baby
skunk, or even an opossum, love and respect for their well-being is the
ultimate sign of a caring heart.
Lesson #5: Superman is not the only one that can stop a train. When they are three and want to be a
cowgirl, you have a pony at her birthday, buy her the hottest pink cowboy hat
at the rodeo, and film her riding lessons every week so she can see her
progress. You let her continue to live
this dream until she finds another, because no matter what her dreams are or
where they are going to take her, you will be there to support her every step
of the way.
Love this post. Great lessons.
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