Mistakes

So, I didn't feel like a great Dad a couple of times today. The first time, Kate's class was having a picnic at Crawford park, and I was supposed to show up (apparently it was more certain in her mind than mine), and I was running late, and I got a little lost. One of our friends who was there called me, and said Kate was kind of upset. So I finally got there, and not only was she sad, but she was freezing, dressed for hot weather but it was kind of cool and breezy at the park.she had a sweatshirt, left at school. So I picked her up and she clung to me, all sad and freezing. We ate cold hotdogs, and the Magic Show started, and things got better. Finally.

At night, I saw Jack had this old video game of mine from the attic, where they aren't supposed to go, and I got angry at him and took it away. And his face kind of crumpled, as it does when he's really upset, and he said miserably, "But Mommy said I could have it...." And I immediately felt bad, and said, you know, I always meant for us to play it, it was mine when I was a kid, it needs batteries, but we'll get them and play with it. And he was brightening, and said, "Now that I know it was yours when you were a kid, I will be extra careful with it." And we read a dinosaur book and he went to bed.

I forget sometimes how much they love me, I guess, forget how easily they can be hurt, or disappointed, or sad. But they are also very quick to forgive, and to rally, and to cheer up. Quicker than me.