I always celebrate Valentines' Day with a teeny, tiny bit of disdain, not because I don't like chocolate and flowers, but because showering people that you love with treats on the fourteenth of February is fine; however, shouldn't you tell people how much you appreciate them more often than that?
I feel the same way about Fathers' Day. Celebrating Jake on the third Sunday in June doesn't do how I feel about him justice. Being a dad is quite a job - to balance and complement us crazy mothers. Yes, I am quite comfortable admitting that I am a crazy mom...and a mean one, I've been told. So, on Fathers' Day, I always plan something fun to say 'Thanks for being a great dad!' But I strive, throughout the year, to let him know that I know I couldn't do this thing called parenthood without him.
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This year I reserved an access permit to a local park for a short hike. I figured that the boys wouldn't balk too much at a four-mile hike. We do that distance all the time. I hadn't counted on the grade and the long stretches without shade. I had hoped for breathtaking views. I hadn't anticipated that what would be visible from our trail would be the buildings, roads, golf courses, and homes along Carmel Valley. I definitely didn't think that we would be able to hear the roar of cars throughout almost the entire hike.
Suffice it to say: this was not the most peaceful hike we've ever done. But we did it as a family. And Jake enjoyed it. For that reason alone, we'll call it a success. Happy Fathers' Day, my Love.
