My wife and I, yet to have our own children, perhaps had a glimpse of a future with two tween-aged daughters. The experience was much different than I had anticipated.
We took Vanessa's sister with us for a California spring break. Preslie, now 12, is 18 years Vanessa's junior. She is a delightful child. Bubbly, positive, compassionate, tender, funny, and intelligent. My anticipation was that her bubbly energetic nature would supersede my capacity and leave me exhausted, wondering if I "had what it takes" to be a father one day. I believe this question remains unanswered, as the friends of our hosts had an equally charming daughter to whom Preslie took to quickly. Paris, age 14, and Preslie almost instantly became BFFs. (I try to know some of the lingo.)
Though I didn't answer my original question, I received an unexpected insight. There is great joy and satisfaction in facilitating the happiness of a child. Vanessa and I provided this opportunity for Preslie to have a great time. We got to enjoy countless smiles, near endless laughter. We were able to witness the two girl's curiously explore the cold ocean waves, writing in the sand, cartwheels on the edge of the surf. Later, we saw them exercise their adventurous spirits on the bow of a catamaran raising and lowering across the Pacific's tumult. Across these beautiful young faces was written surprise and glee, as a pod of 60 dolphins frolicking with the boat as though it were a playmate. Later, three gray whales showing us bursts of spray before waving goodby with their giant tail fins.
On that catamaran, I saw their youthful spirits play. It reminded me of what it was like to be a child. Every fresh experience, exhilarating. Every novelty, a source of pure excitement. It reminded me of that simpler time in life. It was beautiful. It was satisfying to know that I had made this experience possible for her. For them.
Out on the Pacific, as night fell and the coast line lit up like a horizontal Christmas tree... I tried to imagined what it must feel like to be a father, having nurtured an infant, watching them grow and develop into their own person... Then, to create this wonderful experience for someone that wouldn't even exist if not for the love that my wife and I share. It felt like a profound and beautiful adventure. One that would not only stand on its own as a miracle, but as an adventure that would undoubtedly grow the love between my wife and I even deeper as we face the challenge, privilege, and blessing together.
David
We took Vanessa's sister with us for a California spring break. Preslie, now 12, is 18 years Vanessa's junior. She is a delightful child. Bubbly, positive, compassionate, tender, funny, and intelligent. My anticipation was that her bubbly energetic nature would supersede my capacity and leave me exhausted, wondering if I "had what it takes" to be a father one day. I believe this question remains unanswered, as the friends of our hosts had an equally charming daughter to whom Preslie took to quickly. Paris, age 14, and Preslie almost instantly became BFFs. (I try to know some of the lingo.)
Though I didn't answer my original question, I received an unexpected insight. There is great joy and satisfaction in facilitating the happiness of a child. Vanessa and I provided this opportunity for Preslie to have a great time. We got to enjoy countless smiles, near endless laughter. We were able to witness the two girl's curiously explore the cold ocean waves, writing in the sand, cartwheels on the edge of the surf. Later, we saw them exercise their adventurous spirits on the bow of a catamaran raising and lowering across the Pacific's tumult. Across these beautiful young faces was written surprise and glee, as a pod of 60 dolphins frolicking with the boat as though it were a playmate. Later, three gray whales showing us bursts of spray before waving goodby with their giant tail fins.
On that catamaran, I saw their youthful spirits play. It reminded me of what it was like to be a child. Every fresh experience, exhilarating. Every novelty, a source of pure excitement. It reminded me of that simpler time in life. It was beautiful. It was satisfying to know that I had made this experience possible for her. For them.
Out on the Pacific, as night fell and the coast line lit up like a horizontal Christmas tree... I tried to imagined what it must feel like to be a father, having nurtured an infant, watching them grow and develop into their own person... Then, to create this wonderful experience for someone that wouldn't even exist if not for the love that my wife and I share. It felt like a profound and beautiful adventure. One that would not only stand on its own as a miracle, but as an adventure that would undoubtedly grow the love between my wife and I even deeper as we face the challenge, privilege, and blessing together.
David
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