Playing hooky with my kids
Posted on 13. Apr, 2010 by Nick the Geek in All, Dad
This past weekend I was blessed to be able to spend time with my wife without the kids. They stayed most of the weekend with some friends and the last several hours before we got home with my parents. We had a great time with the retreat but missed our kids.
Today we decided to keep out kids home instead of sending them to school. We had a picnic at the park with them and then let them play for a couple of hours. My oldest is growing up quickly. She can play on every piece of equipment without any help. She knows how to swing, do the monkey bars, climb pretty much anything. All of that without any help.
It is kind of sad to think she is growing up so quickly. On Easter she found me in the sound booth to ask if she could take Communion with everyone else. I explained what it was about to her to make sure she remembered. We have done this before but I always want to remind her what Communion is about. I walked her down to receive the elements and looked down at my little girl holding my hand in the back aisle of the church. In that instant I had a flash of the future. My little girl wasn’t so little and I walked her down the aisle once again as she wore a white gown.
I think some songs are written intentionally to try and make grown men cry. Butterfly kisses has no purpose in existing beyond that. Still, I remembered that event and that song when I decided to take time from this week to spend with my kids. They grow up too quickly and there is no way to recover that time.
School is very important and I know my kids learn foundational stuff every day, but I also know that those things can be made up. It isn’t easy but it is possible, unlike the time lost between a parent and a child.
Did you ever play hooky with your kids?
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Helen
Apr 13th, 2010
There are things you teach your child that no one else can, or at least not as well. The lesson that time together as a family is important not only can only be taught by you and Mrs. G, but by prioritizing it above school and home, you hit the lesson home.
Nick the Geek
Apr 13th, 2010
Yep, I feel the same way and that’s why we made that choice. Thanks.
Ally
Apr 13th, 2010
I must agree to the fact that Butterfly Kisses has no purpose… it makes girls cry too (well 28 year old single women in this case)… Should be outlawed from weddings, though my mother thought it was hilarious several years ago sitting between me and my father both trying to actively block out the song, so I guess there is amusement in it for those who aren’t bothered by it.
Only thing worse than Butterfly Kisses? the book I Love You Forever – should be OUTLAWED!
Nick the Geek
Apr 13th, 2010
Have I mentioned my sister is named “Aly” … anyways I haven’t read the book so I will keep that trend going.
jasonS
Apr 13th, 2010
Sorta funny- my daughter was a flower girl in a wedding on Sunday afternoon where I was officiating. After it was over and they took pictures, my daughter was walking with me down the aisle and I said, “should we practice?” She started singing, “Here comes the bride” and my wife gave me the stink-eye and said, “I am NOT ready for that.”
I thought it was funny, but I know I’ll be a wreck when it actually happens…
Nick the Geek
Apr 13th, 2010
That is horribly cute, and I mean horribly.
Ron
Apr 13th, 2010
That song is ridiculous
It had me crying about giving my girls away before they were even born.
Ron
Apr 13th, 2010
I just mentioned this to my wife her response? “That is such a stupid song!” sad!
Nick the Geek
Apr 13th, 2010
Smart woman that wife of yours.
Nick the Geek
Apr 13th, 2010
Yep, it can do that.
The OC Josh
Apr 14th, 2010
Back when I was in elementary school, my parents would call in the principal and tell them we were taking a family day. We did this every once in a while and it was a great time for me.
Nick the Geek
Apr 18th, 2010
My parents did that with my sister but not me. Kinda sad, but I survived.
Peter P
Apr 15th, 2010
We’re having a ‘family week’ next week. We’re pulling our kids out for the whole week.
It always annoyed me at school that my friends would miss school for family vacations and ‘family days’ and stuff (my parents even made doctor/dentist appointments for after school whereas most of my friends would go during school).
However it instilled in me an ingrained belief that kids should be in school whenever school is in.
Apart from this coming week, we have very, very rarely (if ever) taken our kids out for the day.
I know… they’re abused children
Nick the Geek
Apr 18th, 2010
I was raised pretty much the same way, but oddly my sister was raised with very different guidelines. I think it is funny since we have the same parents and the only real difference is 11 years of age. I guess in 11 years my parents views changed.
I do keep my kids in school as much as possible. I will pull them if they are ill, but my kids missed one day of school this quarter and that was the day I pulled them this past week.