Fearless
“C’mon, dad! Let’s go exploring!”, she yelled as she ran into the small forested area we would soon refer to as “The Jungle”. She didn’t need me to follow along but invited me anyway, which was nice. Though you wouldn’t know from the fearless way that she leaped into the woods, part of me wanted to believe that my presence made her feel safer in there.
We ran through the jungle carrying sticks, just in case we ran into trouble, and popped out at an old wooden bridge that covered a small stream. I tried to explain to her that this was the bridge I used to hide under with my friends when I was her age, but she was way ahead of me in making her way underneath. She’s adventurous, this one. Just like her dad was at that age. We played troll under the bridge for a few minutes, with her insisting on being the troll even though I was perfect for the part, before moving on to the next adventure at a nearby park.
As we walked down the pathway to the park, I felt like I was walking through my past. We passed the creek where I used to catch frogs, the baseball diamond where I found out that I made my first competitive team, the high school where I broke out of my shell, and the park that I spent countless hours pushing my limits. You’d think twenty plus years would have had their way with these places but they all looked exactly the same as I had left them.
Exploring is tough work, so while I didn’t get the chance to stop and take in all the memories that were crashing around in my brain, I did relish the opportunity to create a new memory with her in a place that meant so much to me in my youth.
We left the park, walked through the baseball diamond across from the high school, crawled under the bridge and ran through the jungle back to our original starting point. “Did you have fun exploring with me, daddy?”
More than you will ever know, sweetheart.
Awwww love this one. Such simple things mean the most. xoxox
Thanks, honey 🙂
What a lovely read. THESE are the kinds of things that our kids remember when they get older. (And parents, too.)
Thank you! I write these partly due to the fact that I want to remember them even clearer someday.
Such sweet memories being made with Daddy and his girl.
Love the creative mind that Julia has.
Memories last a lifetime.
She is a smart one, that’s for sure. That she gets from her mom 😉
Loved this so much. This is exactly the type of experience every girl needs to have with her daddy. I have five girls and love going hiking with them.
I can’t wait until they start to develop passions for specific things that I can share with them.
It’s the simple things that we hold onto as parents and ones our kids will remember. I feel sad at times kids have to grow up. but it’s also fun watching them do it.
Love this so much. We played Billy Goats Gruff and the Troll a gazillion and a half times and always had so many excellent adventures. All I know, Chris? What you’re doing matters a great deal. You are making memories and also helping her forge her way as a fearless adventuress. : )
I love reading your posts for a number of reasons, but especially because I’m fatherless, and these help me figure out the ways that daddies are supposed to feel. You’re so taken with your children and it really is touching.
Thank you for sharing with us.