Fatherhood

We had my parents over for dinner last night ... Patrick and Jen prepared dinner, even going as far as making brownies for desert! It was very cool watching Patrick cuddle with his Grandfather. It is always amazing to me how those two get along. It was also very cool watching Patrick and his Grandmother read a book together ... Before dinner, he got a chance to show off the cast-iron toy stove that Jen had played with as a child. This has become one of his favorite toys ... the parts certainly make a lot of noise when he tosses them across the room. At dinner, I sat next to Patrick, across from his grandparents ... their expressions as they watched him were sheer joy and a joy to watch, as well. At one point, I asked Patrick to show them the Moon and Stars in his room. He has a humidifier that lights up, projecting colored starts and a moon on the ceiling ... he loves them. He immediately headed for the stairs, and turned to his grandparents and signaled come on ... a q...

This morning was unusual. Patrick woke at three in the morning and was still up and about when I got up for work at five. While there was nothing unusual to this point, having him join me in the bathroom as I got ready for my work day was ... I was closing the door and turning on the lights, when the door opened back up and there stood my son. He joined me. I put him on the counter with his feet in the sink while we brushed our teeth. I left him to his mother as I got into the shower. Patrick quickly opened the door to the shower. "Patrick, Papa's going to get cold in there," his mother intoned. I told her that it was warm enough in the bathroom. No water was splashing out, so I had few concerns. I passed toys to Patrick, only to have them thrown back at me. All fun and games! Then, he wandered off for a few seconds ... and the toilet flushed. So much for a warm shower! All in fun. What an amazing way to start the day ...

You would think that the creaking floor (loud all over the house, but particularly in front of the crib), the hound dog next door, and the constant lights and sirens at night would be major issues for a child at sixteen months old. Oh, and do not forget the church bells from down the road ... every hour. Apparently not. Sleeping in a different bed, a different brand of diaper, a change in food and drink ... maybe a thunderstorm or two ... Not even close. Now, family that he has not seen in a few days ... that will keep him up and throw off the rhythm. And, the more time he gets around them, the further off the rhythm gets. And, it's all for love ... even at his age, he knows who loves him and returns it with his whole heart. The love of a small child ... what more do we need?

It is a guy thing. There is a level of control that we take when we have the Remote Control. I am not completely sure that this applies to all men, but I know that it applies to me. When the television is on, I like to have the control ... I can certainly give that control up without any qualms, but I would rather not. Becoming a father, I am quickly learning some things about giving up control by letting go of the Remote Control. Patrick loves to play with the "clicker" ... it has buttons, lights up, and changes things on the television (not that he watches, he just likes to see it change). This has become a constant "battle" ... no, too strong a word ... maybe "struggle" would be better. I have another clicker that does nothing ... and I watch and change channels when he has it, so that he thinks he is doing something. Oh, and remember that I cannot just give it to him. He has to discover that his father was not watching close enough. Recently,...