Kindness

Aidan, I've always known this. The way you are so sweet to babies, how you hug on your mommy and me, how you wanted to hold Julia from the second you met her... But a few recent events have made me really realize that you, my son, are so very kind.

***
A few weeks ago, you and Julia emptied your piggy banks to get ready to go shopping. Julia had four dollar bills. You had six dollar bills.

She said "Aidan, I have an idea. If you give me one, then we'll both have five!"

You thought about it for a little bit.

Your mother and I watched in silence.

You said "Okay!" And you gave her your dollar. Julia had a big smile. You had a bigger smile. It made you feel good to be so kind!

That is a hell of a lesson that adults- including me- need to learn!

***
The other day after dinner with Aunt Sham and Uncle Joe, you earned yourself two Girl Scout cookies (Samoas...so good) for eating your whole dinner, including the salad. You ran back to the table with your bowl. You almost took a bite. And you looked at your Aunt and Uncle and said..."Do you guys want some cookies?"

They said yes, and you ran back and got each of them two of your treasured samoas.

Sweetness shared is better than sweetness alone.

***
We heard from your teacher today. And it was an incredibly touching story. She tried something new with the lunch seating arrangement in your class. And you liked it. You told her "Best day ever!!"

She was grateful.

Then, you looked at her, tapped the seat next to you, and asked her to sit next to you for lunch.

She said "Me?"

And you said "Yes!"

And so you and your teacher, Miss Gwynn, sat next to each other for lunch.

The way Miss Gwynn told us the story, she sounds like she might have been grinning too much to eat. She told us that you make her happy nearly every day!

Kindness can fill your heart while you are filling your belly.




Your kind heart is one of your best strengths, and it makes me so proud to be your Daddy.

And you've given me a lot to learn from. If I could be as selfless, and sharing, and kind as you, I know I would be a better man.

I will try, my son. I will try.

Thrilling Sunday

On a grey, rainy, coldish Saturday, we still had fun. But we were all hanging from the rafters a bit: 

To follow it up with a sunny, thrilling Sunday was amazing.

You were both in moods to create:

Lego masterpieces...

Solutions to daunting mazes...

Collages...

Face art...

And you wanted to play and work together:

Bear family:

Giant 100-piece puzzle that you opted to do by yourselves, on your own...and to completion!

and...of course...dancing. Always dancing...

Then we went outside with the dogs...

and with neighbors:

Finally we reunited with old friends (your "old bestie" Lennon and Harrison) for a fun-tastic dinner and yogurt outing.

Just a slice of life in the amazing story of Aidan and the amazing story of Julia. What a thrilling sunday!

4.5

I was about to head out for a run on a brisk, but not too cold, Saturday morning.

You said "can I ride my bike with you while you run?"

It had been a while since we tried this. And you've gotten so much better at the bike. So I said "YES!"

We packed up the car, headed down to the Bath House at the Lake and started our ride/run!

It was a LOT of fun!

We talked and chatted and talked about life and all sorts of things a long the way. I know that's not specific, but the specifics have vanished into the ether, and that's left is the warm glow of talking with you.

You rode so proudly, and rang your bell.

Passersby cheered you on, much to your delight.

We rode and rode, much longer than I thought you would want to. But you didn't want to turn back until we hit the bridge.

We saw the big bridge over the lake, and we conquered it.

You sped down to the other side, and we kept going!

Over more trails and bridges we went together, happily moving along towards nothing in particular.

We stopped many times. For water, to look at interesting sticks and sites in the water. To check out the birds, and practice reading on the "birds of white rock lake" sign.

You even stopped when you eagle-eye spotted some horseshoe prints in the sand! You deduced which way the horses were heading, we asked some other bikers if they saw the horses. They confirmed your deduction and we tried to find them. But, alas, they had already clip-clopped too far away.

We decided to turn around. And it was kind of poetic too. Because there, across the lake, was the white Bath House building where we started!

We headed back, back through the 'bird poop' area... (pardon the smell)

 ....back up the hill...

and then back home to Mommy and Aidan.

When all was said and done, we went 4 and a half miles! You could not wait to tell your Mommy three things.

1) We went 4 and a half miles!
2) You saw horseshoe prints!
3) We went over the big bridge!

We were sore the next day. But we had a blast. And I can't wait to do it again.

New Years Day, Taking Flight

A Cold New Years Day.

Bitter chill in the air.

Warmth at home. 

We spend the day at home, doing nothing in particular. But it is the most special kind of nothing.

I load up the car with donation stuff your Mom has been gathering. 

While Mom runs to Yaya's house, the three of us drive to Goodwill.

You help me unload the old coats and clothes and glasses and toys and hand them to the young woman manning the donation truck.

Piece by piece we shed our households belongings, hoping that the the donations help someone else.

We pile back in the warmth of the car and head home.

As we pass the White Rock Lake, shimmering with the reflection of the year's first sunset, I take quick poll: "Do y'all want to go home or drive around the lake a bit and look at the birds."

The vote is unanimous. 

We turn off Mockingbird and down onto the lake path.

We drive slowly around looking at the few bundled-up people walking their dogs, looking at the birds floating in the cold, calm waters. 

We park to take it all in.

You both spot the grounded birds at the same time and ask if you can climb out of the car and chase them.

The decision is unanimous.

In the chilly cold air, you run after the birds, forcing them to take flight.

Despite the temperature and a few skinned knees, you also took flight into the new year. Disappearing into the golden January sky for moments at a time. 

Giggling and whispering and running.

And returning to me...and we, in turn, returned to our home and to your Mommy.

Then we all went to get tacos.