It is the dawn of another new year, which seems an appropriate time to check in our favourite family and the antics of their beloved Father.  The last we saw them, Father had been focusing his thoughts and feelings on gratitude, introspection, humility, choice and love; the seasons had just changed from the warm evening’s of Summer, to the cool breezes of Fall, and now, with a January frost painted across the windows, we find the center of our story in the shivery embrace of Winter.  No doubt their adventures, even over a few short months, must have brought with them new experiences, observations and, of course, lessons.   So let’s crack open the pages of Father’s journal and see what we can gleam.

Lesson Thirty-Eight, in which Father Recognizes Pressure

There are many things in this world which provide Father excitement, and with no exception does he enjoy sharing these things with his two incredible children.  Be it outdoor adventure, the art of solving a mystery, the reward of building new structures big and small, or the gift of the arts in every form they take.  So when the eldest of his daughters expressed interest in the pursuance of piano lessons, he was, indeed, elated.

While the lessons continued for a stretch of a few months, an aura of resistance began to hang in the air, and it is on that particular note that Father realized perhaps his passions would not be the passions of his kin.

“I don’t want to go to piano today, Daddy.”

“But, my dear, why not?.  Music is such a lovely gift that we can embrace and give back to the world.”

“It’s just that now that the season is over I would like to take a break for the Winter to do other things.”

“But I am have been so excited that you’re playing and practicing and growing in your skill.  I’d love for you to continue pursuing that; I believe you could really grow to love it even more!”

“But Daddy, piano doesn’t excite me the same way it does for you.  And sometimes when you are so excited about something for me, I feel like I am supposed to be excited too, but instead I feel sad when I’m not.”

Lesson Thirty-Nine, in which Father Defines Adventure

Since their inaugural meeting, the life of Father and Mother had always been full of grand travel and excitement.  Whether it was immersing themselves in last minute road trips to New Orleans, hiking the trails that border the Ligurian Sea, embarking on grand culinary adventures in far away cities, or soaking in the Aurora Borealis under a crisp Yukon sky, they have adventured well together; it was, after all, on their first trip together when they truly realized just how in love they are.

But times have changed, as they tend to do, and in a moment of reflection and, perhaps a touch of self-pity, Father had something to say.

“I miss it my dear.  The adventures we’d find ourselves in.  10 years ago it was travelling through Italy on our honeymoon, now here we are  lucky to find a handful of hours to ourselves in which we could go find a new rug for the front hallway.  Will we ever get back to seeing the world again?”

“My love; brave, bold, kind, inspiring and whose beauty knows not the harshness of time, we are full of the good fortune to be able to carry with us the memories of experiences past, just as equally as we should be full of gratitude for those that have yet to come.  A positive experience should not be defined by the grandeur of it’s itinerary or the distance it took to achieve, but rather by the feelings and that surround it.    Our lifetime will be made up of countless adventures, this just happens to be the one we’re on right now.”

Lesson Forty, in which Father Feels Hypocrisy

There is little else that Father prefers than spending time with his wife and two daughters; the joy it brings him is insurmountable, to say the least.  That said, the desire to spend time playing, reading, and adventuring does not dispel the responsibilities of being a working adult with chores, tasks and duties a-plenty.  At the innocent young ages of 7 and 8, the children are still learning what that means, but that shouldn’t suggest that they can’t offer stark reminders to their elders.

“Daddy, can you please come play with us?”

“I would love to but I am in the middle of preparing dinner, so I’m afraid that I can’t.”

“Please, Dad, we really want to show you something!.”

“Sorry but I’ve already given you my answer.”

Now, this common back and forth exchange will last a number of minutes and see its share of tears before it draws to its predictable conclusion.  This time, however, it came with words which gave Father pause…

“My loves, I can’t just stop everything I’m doing to play with you whenever you want.”

“But Daddy, as soon as dinner is ready, isn’t that what you expect us to do?”

Lesson Forty One, in which Father Heeds Instruction

With the purest of love in his heart, Father loves to provide and to act, both within and outside the walls of the family home.  As of late, however, he has begun to carry a feeling of being taken advantage of.  It’s a feeling that has filled his belly with guilt, as he knows full-well that their home operates as a team, with each family member contributing in their own unique and valuable way.  Still, for as much as he know that deep in his core, there are times when it would seem his children would rather not carry the weight of responsibility.

This feeling came to the surface one evening as Father, in all his frustration at the request of his eldest, prepared her a plate of late-night snackage, and he could think of nothing else to say.

“Daddy, am I allowed to have a snack?”

“You know, there’s going to come a day soon when you’re going to need to prepare your own snack.  I won’t always be here to do it for you and it shouldn’t be my responsibility to do things for you that you are capable of achieving yourself.  What kind of life lesson am I teaching you by modelling that someone else will always complete a task for you, or be at your beck and call?  You  are at an age where you need to learn and practice some true independence.”

“But Daddy, I know.  I was just asking if I could have a snack, I wasn’t asking you to get it ready for me.”

And So…

Along with a blanket of fresh snow falling, so too come the feelings of another new year and another new chapter in the live of The Beandricks.  Father continues to appreciate everything in his life, recognizing, always, that the older we become, the more we realize there so much more to learn.  Without a doubt we will catch up again throughout 2024, for who knows what new roads they’ll travel, and what new lessons Father will learn.

FOR OTHER LESSONS LEARNED:

Lessons from the Family, Part 1
Lessons from the Family, Part 2
Lessons from the Family, Part 3
Lessons from the Family, Part 4
Lessons from the Family, Part 5
Lessons from the Family, Part 6
Lessons from the Family, Part 7