In the past few months, I’ve had some deep, late-night discussions with a good friend. We’ve talked everything from politics and religion to relationships and parenting.
As the year steam-rolled into the holiday season, I began thinking about my 2013. I always think of the annual calendar as a mountain climb, and here I am, on the precipice of the end of another year. When I turn around and look back, was it a good year? Bad? Did I do enough? Meet my goals?
Recently, the late-night discussions with my friend have steered toward my family’s history. It makes sense: In 2013, I lost all three of my remaining grandparents — my grandmother on my mother’s side and both grandparents on my dad’s side. Their deaths put to the forefront of my mind all the trials my family endured to give me, my wife and my children the opportunities we have today. Suddenly, it seems so much more important to honor that history in our present and in our family’s future.
Both of my grandfathers were self-made men — owners of a plethora of businesses in several different industries. My mom’s dad also was a World War II veteran, who fought for the Americans as a part of the U.S. Army Air Force.
Throughout their lives, my gathers worked, sweated and persevered. They both prospered and passed down their tireless work ethic.
My grandmothers dedicated their lives to their family, giving all of us grandchildren important memories to pass down. My children didn’t have much of a chance to get to know their great-grandparents, and this year, I am thankful for the challenge of being that connection.
It’s been my Thanksgiving tradition to share reasons why I, as a father, am thankful for my children, Lyric and Aria. This year, especially, I want to preserve these snippets of our lives with our little ones — so we don’t lose focus on what matters most.
This Thanksgiving, may your holiday be filled with family, friends and wonderful memories — both big and small. From all of us at the Plant City Times & Observer, Happy Thanksgiving!
And, without further adieu … These are the 30 reasons why I, a father, am thankful this year:
1. How I’ve convinced the kids that Daddy can hear everything. It works great, until I try to ask about their school day, and they assume I already know everything.
2. How Aria starts a race: “On your mark! Except! Go!”
3. Listening to Lyric read his first book all by himself. Unfortunately for my wife, it was the 63-page “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish,” so it took an hour-and-a-half for him to finish.
4. Cooking a meal for the kids — and having them actually eat it.
5. That Aria needs 100 hugs when we drop her off at school.
6. The way Lyric’s hair sticks out in all directions after a particularly good night’s sleep.
7. How when my wife and I have a chance to go out on a date — by ourselves — we inevitably end up talking about the kids.
8. Grandma!
9. Watching Lyric tackle his first homework in kindergarten.
10. Listening to Aria as she says our family prayer before dinner.
11. That both our kids, for better or for worse, are unfiltered. What you see is what you get, and they both still are completely comfortable expressing their true thoughts and feelings. I have been told I have a big, fat belly more than once.
12. That both kids still need their Mommy and Daddy.
13. iPads!
14. That Aria made good on her promise to be potty-trained by 3 years old. In fact, she did it the day before.
15. The way Lyric will want to sleep in Mondays through Fridays. But, on Saturdays, he’s out of bed and ready to play as soon as the sun warms his window. Like clockwork.
16. That I still remember nearly every detail of the days of both kids’ births.
17. That one time, when both kids sat nicely and read a book. Together. And yes, we have photographic evidence. Had to run outside and check the sky for pigs.
18. Fast-healing broken bones.
19. Four-way hugs!
20. The way Aria, now enthralled with the cartoon physician Doc McStuffins, gives my wife a checkup every day.
21. Lyric’s incredible sense of engineering and symmetry — which he demonstrates with his elaborate LEGO creations.
22. How toys inexplicably find themselves in every nook and cranny of the house. And how, when it is time to clean up, suddenly, the mess is just too large for a 3- and 5-year-old to handle on their own.
23. My morning trips to Panera Bread with Aria.
24. The way Lyric looks like a turtle when he carries his school backpack.
25. Watching the kids ride bikes for the first time.
26. The three times this year that we, the Engs, collectively, got that proverbial “good night’s sleep.”
27. The songs Lyric writes about his life experiences, including the classic, “Crackers Are Yellow, Cheese Is, Too.”
28. How Aria’s mouth barely opens for chicken but seemingly unhinges itself when a cookie or cupcake is in the vicinity.
29. Family movie night!
30. My awesomely patient and dedicated wife, with whom I get to share these memories and make new ones.