Hey Dad,

Ahhhh—this is the life. I don't mean the easy life where you sit around a pool in sunny Florida at Disney World's Fort Wilderness enjoying the good life in peace and quiet; I mean the hard, Familyman kind of life where you sit around a pool in sunny Florida at Disney World's Fort Wilderness enjoying the good life while your kids argue and complain, and I yell at them.

This is real life—the place where bad attitudes don't take a vacation and you can't just coast on the fathering bicycle of life. Now don't get me wrong, we've had a great time of R&Ring. We've swum/swam/have swimmed … spent a day at the Magic Kingdom, and are looking forward to a couple more days of playing.

The thing is, I just always assume it will be easy. I picture laughter, smiles, and easy. What I get is hard.

Yesterday, I was pottied on twice, finger-printed with melted ice cream, and had a screaming baby strapped to my chest while pushing a giant tandem stroller filled with two crying kids, snacks, a backpack, a diaper bag, and who knows what.

Kidless old people watched us with our small herd and smiled. I smiled back, but inside I loathed them for the ease with which they ate, strolled, and laughed.

That was yesterday. By the time night fell, God reminded me how blessed I am to have my herd. The air temperature cooled and lights twinkled in the trees, but it was the nighttime parade that softened my heart. Surrounded by my children and magical music and lights, I felt the overwhelmed feeling of a dad who is truly blessed.

The feeling continued as we left the park, rode the boat back to the campground, pulled up to the Familyman-mobile and then proceeded to commence the hard task of getting everyone to bed at midnight.

Already this morning, I've had a "talk" with one of my children, hollered at others, and "sparred" with my wife.

But hey, this is the life—the real, good, Familyman sort of life. Just the way I like it.

So, remember, no matter how hard today is or how hard tomorrow might be, this is—the good life.

You 'da dad,

© 2008 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

[06/20/2008]

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