A shared parent goal is to be present around their kids.
It’s unclear if this term and idea – being present – is a fancy new age parenting ideal, but it sure feels new age amplified.
I told some friends recently “I think I’m actually doing a decent job at this being present thing. Perfect? No, definitely not. But maybe actually pretty good? Or at least not bad? Like maybe I would probably give myself a good grade?”
After mopping the humble brag vomit off the floor, I figured out what’s going on in my head:
- I think about this stuff constantly because the stakes feel so high.
- The high stakes vibe is driven by an endless internal dialogue.
The dialogue bouncing around sounds like this:
- Today is the only July 29, 2022 you will ever, ever get with Mazey and Courtney.
- You will never, ever get this afternoon with Mazey in the park back again.
- Hearing Mazey yell Dada! tomorrow morning when I walk in her room means one less time it will ever happen.
- Mazey or Courtney or both could be gone at any moment.
This stuff is on loop in my head non-stop. It’s not just a passing thought. I say this stuff to myself word for word. I stew on it.
- And what’s beneath it all is a realization that time is speeding up.
- And what’s beneath that is a scary reality that everything is happening too fast and ending too soon.
Tonight was a Dada and Mazey bedtime. We had a blast. Unfortunately, that means one less bedtime ever for us. A July 29, 2022 bedtime will never, ever happen again. Tomorrow’s Saturday Morning Snuggles™ in bed with Mama and Dada means one less time it will ever happen.
That’s both terrifying and a good reason to get serious about the whole be present thing.
Gratefully Dad 