Be There!

My mom and dad came up recently for a visit. We had a blast. We went out to the beach and enjoyed the water and played in the sand. We ate pizza and watched football. The girls went out for pedicures while we men stayed home and swam in the pool. It was a really good visit.

At one point during the weekend, my dad started telling stories. The kids laughed as he wove semi-true tales about my brother and me when we were younger. My kids have heard most of these stories before, but my dad has a way of telling these all-too- familiar anecdotes in such a way that you feel as if you’re hearing them for the first time.

As Mom and Dad recounted many good and lasting memories, I realized, maybe for the first time, that Mom and Dad had always been there for me. They never missed a basketball game. They showed up at school functions and music competitions. During the good times and the bad, they were there.

One of the things I hope my kids can say about me is that, “Dad was there.” Not just in body but really there—engaged in their lives. I want them to see my face sitting in the crowd when then sing or play an instrument. I want them to hear me yelling encouragement: “Good play, Drew!” “Nice tackle, Caleb!” “Fantastic goal, Makayla!”

When the boys were very small, I wrote down a list of things I wanted to do in the next 5 years. I only remember two things from that list, and they both had to do with my kids.

One Response to “Be There!”

1. Dennis Moles says:

   October 19, 2011 at 6:23 am

   fyi…Drew had his next-to-last soccer game last night at 5:15. Amy and I were there. He scored his first goal of the season. We cheered and he heard us ).