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We were swimming at the pool, relaxing, getting a little time just my daughter and I. She found a couple of other kids close to her age and as kids do they started playing a game involving little buckets and a beach ball and a pool noodle.
I relaxed in the water, far enough away to not interfere with their game.
Little girl: “So, how come your dad is… white, and you aren’t?”
(very long pause)
Daughter: “I have no idea!”
today was grocery shopping, cleaning, etc. day. My daughter came over this afternoon and we swam at the pool for a while.
And after, just as I had told her, the new Big Time Rush came on and we watched it together.
Big smile. Even though I hate BTR.
Today was much easier for me. I spent the day with the kids, everyone was nice to each other. We cleaned their bedrooms a bit, did a few other things around the house, and hung out at my apartment for a while.
This afternoon I took my two eldest to see Cars 2. Quick review: entertaining, not as original as the first, and I know I’m a jaded old fart but I kept seeing video game elements as well as toy / marketing tie ins. Fun.
Now my daughter is sleeping over, watching ICarly (she’s missing her dvr, though, her brother is “lucky” because he can watch the Big Time Rush that was recorded earlier since he chose to stay home this evening). This post was interrupted for a while while we went looking for frogs with a flashlight. Found one, even. Scared the hell out of her! I held him up so she could get a good look and she was already upstairs on the balcony before I could turn around.
Bonus for today: less stress, the kids and I got along really well, we worked together to do things today. Extra plus is I was up at 6 for a run and waited until after 9 pm to have an adult beverage.
And tomorrow is another day.
I’m tongue tied about things because I know what I’m seeing is just one side, one perspective, one whatever.
And anything I say comes out, quite simply, wrong. I don’t have the words to describe what I’m seeing and feeling. I’ve been trying (this draft has so far taken me three hours and has been re-written from scratch several times)
Whatever.
Two of my kids almost got into a fistfight tonight over who was going to push the DVD into the player. “It’s my turn to push the button on the washing machine” (I did two loads tonight so each child could push a button). Everything is a race, a competition.
Then watching the movie one child bursts into tears when the other manages to squeeze between us for a moment. Constant motion, constant “look at me.” No answer I give to any question is the right one. “I’m going to go in and look at the picture.” It’s a picture of me and the kids that my wife gave me for father’s day. “Can I get the blanket from your bed?” Yes, but you have to share. The grudge match that ensued for the next 45 minutes was MMA worthy.
A while later my son says “You know this movie is mine. You can have it.” No, I don’t want your only copy of Cars. Take it home, son, you can bring it over and watch it anytime you want. Really, really.
My oldest is trying to turn things to his advantage, asking for a Droid X2. He also wants me to get a PS3 so we can play online. Oh, and I’ve seen all the PG13 movies at Redbox, let’s rent “Drive Angry.” He seems to only want to see me when there is something material to be gained. This is nothing new. At least he is being civil.
I am not bitching. I’m just observing. I don’t see them for most of the day (I’m at work) so I’m getting just a slice of them. I don’t know how my slice compares to any other slice.