Fatherhood

We had a visit to one of the local malls recently ... they have a very nice play area for the children with a padded floor and a "space" theme, shuttle and all. There are things to climb on and through ... and, as far as Patrick is concerned, the coolest part is that the shuttle has pilot and co-pilot seats with steering wheels. He immediately headed for the "cockpit" and waited patiently as child after child (many of them significantly larger than him) jumped into the seat. I stepped over after a few minutes in the hopes that some child would give him a chance at the pilot's seat. No luck ... they certainly didn't care and their parents were doing nothing , as well. Patrick, getting bored noticed that he could crawl through the body of the shuttle ... all cool until he got boxed in by several children (again, not small) heading toward him from both sides. This is the point where I stepped in ... especially since I could see that the pilot seat was a...

Patrick has a long and glorious future in front of him. That does not mean that I have a clue about my future as a parent. There were so many things that I was sure of before I had a child. I got an e-mail this morning from the  LEGO Learning Institute, Denmark. They want to use one of my images ( Adjusted Lego Heart ) in a video about "Systematic Creativity" ... actual academic research, to be used both internally and externally. I cannot even remember when I got to take a photograph that did not have Patrick in it ... and I love it! Now, I am sitting home ... Patrick is asleep in his crib ... on a Friday morning (my work schedule has aligned with the day-care in-service day ... I never knew they had such a thing; once a month and we have to arrange for one of us to be home). I've got an ear cocked for sounds from above ... praying that today will be a fun day. Maybe this afternoon, we will invite Papap for lunch at McDonald's and spend some time over ther...

I always kind of chuckled when parents started bringing out the pictures of their kids. Yes, they are cute (those of you that have shown me photographs over the years, I did enjoy seeing them) ... but, the depth of their excitement was, at the time, beyond me. Now, I find myself loading pictures of Patrick on my computer, home and at work, and on my phone. I don't hesitate to trot them out ... showing off cutest and most amazing "little dude" I know (does that make me a "big dude?")! I am quickly learning that there was something to all those "proud parents" ... that being politely excited as a non-parent was not as impressive as I thought ... To all those parents that trotted out their pictures, you have my sincere apologies (I did enjoy them). To all those non-parents I hope to torture with pictures of an amazing child ... I plan to enjoy every moment and hope you one day understand what I mean here.