My youngest son just turned 14. He planned his entire birthday weekend. We went floating on the river, got frozen custard at a new favorite restaurant, and ended the weekend with gourmet cupcakes. It was super fun (even though the cupcakes were a little dry and we didn’t reapply sunscreen as often as we should have….to our bodies, not the cupcakes.)
Anyway, I digress.
So as we exit the cupcake shot, I stop everyone and say “Hey! Let’s take a family selfie in front of the store.” My wife jumps right in beside me. My oldest rolls his eyes with the customary dissent of ‘Dad’. (You know the one I mean – the one that very clearly communicates you are the stupidest life form to ever exist in the universe.) My youngest son – the birthday boy – proclaims ‘Fine…but I’m gonna ruin your picture.’ (He’s the kid in the back – who, even with his sincerest attempt to grimace still looks like a fashion model.) And my middle son flat refuses, arguing with us that people are trying to come out of the store (to which I reply, ‘So?! Let them eat cake.’ Which I found quite clever and he found quite horrifying.)
And this still might be one of my favorite family pictures! Because it reminds me of a few things:
- My kids are gorgeous. They get it from their mother.
- It’s OK if we don’t agree on everything – and it’s OK to express it, even in tangible ways.
- We can smile in the midst of disagreement.
- We can relent and give in, even when we don’t want to.
- I’m always their dad…rarely their friend. And they want to see me that way.
- I have a lot of gray hair…and somewhere, that’s considered a crown of glory.
Enjoy the next photo gone wrong, trip with a hiccup, or child with a strong opinion. It’s real life unedited, and it's what makes you family….
