When does life slow down? When does anyone learn to appreciate where they are now, what they have now, who they are now?
These highly philosophical questions (along with the other more mundane questions like, “have I forgotten anything at the venue? Did everyone who was supposed to be there arrive? Was I supposed to give some soul a lift home?”) raced through my mind in the aftermath of the birthday party. The impetus for this introspection?
My “Now-I-Am-Eight-I-Am-Nearly-Nine” year old.
The birthday party in question had been in design phase for at least six months. As with any thoroughly planned enterprise, it had changed goals, directions, venue, cost, size, and theme a few times. These changes were sometimes in direct response to external stimuli such as someone else’s party, a new toy, a new craze, a varied interest, a passing attraction. Sometimes the changes (and the guest list) were simply as a result of mood. As any experienced Dad will know, interest was expressed in each change, knowing that on the day, the only likely constant would be the central character. The only thing that had not changed was the overarching purpose behind the occasion: I-Am-Eight!
The car was packed, the venue and debris of the occasion behind us, we were exhausted and ecstatic (for different reasons; him because of a sugar high, me because no-one broke any bones) and on our way home. The topic of conversation was what a great time it was and the mention of the antics of the guests.
Then...
From nowhere...
“When I turn nine I think I will....”
Now this was not the exclamation of an unappreciative brat, (although that variation of the character in question is not unknown). This was an appreciation of the event to the extent that it could be improved on and the success repeated.
In hindsight, I was too quick to point out that this was a year away and that there were many things to appreciate with being eight. I got to thinking. How many times when I achieve a goal or an objective, do I take time to stop, appreciate and be thankful before I move on? How many times do I almost negligibly acknowledge where I am before reaching for the next rung on the ladder, the next fruit. Mmmm. Maybe not as often as I try to convince my eight year old to do.
So maybe next time I am in a position of completion, of fulfilment, of achievement, I should stop and say “Wow, that was great!” and not simply move on to “What’s next?”
Who says that Dad’s are beyond learning?
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