Reflections: One of these moments...

My day today was long and somewhat difficult. I won't go into the details as it'd be border line complaining- and I'm really not looking for pity. I know a whole lot of folks who work harder than I do, so not only would it be careless I suppose some might think it rude. Needless to say- it was quite the day. I returned home feeling exhausted, and the rest of my night I felt a little drained of energy. It wasn't until a few minutes ago that I felt replenished.

I was just tucking my little girl into bed tonight, and had one of these moments...

Our nightly routine finished, I tucked her in, said our I love you's and exchanged huggies and kisses. I turned and nearly made it to her door. As I was leaving the room, her tiny voice tugged at me, I could make out the few whispered words: "I dared".

She clutched two tiny stuffed animals, one whom we call mama bear- a white curly furred bear whom she pretends is mommy, and the other a white beluga whale. The sun was setting casting a yellow glow in through the windows, and her fan was on high, sending a constant breeze swirling about.

I turned and saw her curled up watching me leave, she repeated the statement: "Dared daddy..." Now if her intonation didn't melt what was left of my heart, her little quivering lips did the trick- sinking all manner of resistance left in me.

I walked back to her bed and asked her what she was scared of, and she didn't respond. Her bed is low to the ground, so I sat down beside her, and rested my head sideways on her toy box, bringing my head level with hers a couple inches away.

Her eyes looked up at me, and I was still trying to make out what was troubling her. So instead of focusing on her being scared, I changed the subject, and started asking her if she remembered things in our past.

"Do you remember when we saw the beluga whales hunny? And the big turtle?"
"Penguins too?" She smiled and asked back. "Ahh-haaah.."

We talked for the good part of twenty minutes, about our recent vacation, about the aquarium, and swimming, and visiting with friends. We talked about the trains, and about the moon. It was just one of those moments where the whole world seemed to disappear along with my worries and stress.

Being a father is an amazing thing, it is so rewarding to share moments like this with her. I can only hope that one day she too, can share moments like this with her children.

Umm. After she's forty.