Just as it seemed that my wife and I were settling into a summer routine with the kids, the season was done.
Not the actual season’s end mind you; the official beginning of autumn is in fact today, Sept. 22. Most parents I’m sure will agree that summer actually concluded with the commencement of another school year, and I am certainly included in that demographic. Soccer, swimming lessons and kinder camp ended, and all of a sudden my oldest is back in school.
Let the fall extra-curricular madness begin.
It’s really not that crazy in comparison to some households that have older kids, and more of them. Regardless, it does take more time for newer parents to adjust to an after work/school schedule that doesn’t include lounging on the couch after dinner. Those days are long gone for yours truly.
My son has indoor soccer, skating and likely extended swimming lessons on the docket over the next couple months. Those are fairly cut and dry aside from the scramble of attempting to get him to these engagements on a weekly basis.
My daughter began her first official extra-curricular activity last weekend, a little gymnastics class adorably coined ‘Tumbler Tots.’ This one is slightly more involved in terms of parent engagement; the kids are aged two to three and obviously require some (constant) guidance, encouragement, etc. My missus was away at a wedding and missed the first class, so dad got the call.
Not that gymnastics class is reserved for mothers and grandmothers accompaniment only, even though I was in fact the lone male parental unit at that first class. Piper really enjoyed it and that’s the most important thing. Dad did as well once his semi-decrepit, sparsely used, 38-year-old frame warmed up to manoeuvres that likely hadn’t been attempted in a solid 20-25 years, if ever at all. Not that I was getting on the miniature balance beam or anything like that. Those things definitely have a weight limit.
It’s interesting seeing your kids grow older and begin to experience sports for the first time, and how they interact with the other tykes around them. In many ways Piper is the opposite of Finn, who is a bit more tentative when it comes to those initial interactions with people he doesn’t know. My daughter is fearless – she dives right into most things with her usual gusto.
As I’ve written previously, I wasn’t sure if my kids would be as avid ‘sportsers’ as I was as a young lad. If anything it’s probably far too early to tell for sure. Finn’s transformation into a bit of a soccer/swimming nut this past summer happened fairly quickly. Piper displayed a lot of interest in skating in the couple times we got out last winter, and I can already tell that gymnastics may be something that she wants to stick with.
And while I miss those lazy, lounging evenings on the couch from what seems like ages ago, I’m perfectly fine with being a little busier in the hours outside work. My parents did it for me, and it’s only appropriate that I return the favour.
Now if I could get them both golfing regularly, I’d truly have it made in the shade…
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you back here in a fortnight.
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This is a bi-weekly opinion column; for question or comment contact Dan McNee at dmcnee@midwesternnewspapers.com.
