10 Jan 2012, Posted by Isaac in Children,Family,Owen, 1 Comments

Father

I get to be a dad. I am not a mom. I am a dad.

Yesterday Owen (6) and I went to work on replacing our car battery. I was excited to have “car project” with him. I figured he’d get to unscrew some things or start the car when it was together.

How idealistic was that? The light was waning and the 4 bolts I had to work on weren’t hard to get on and off, but would have been nearly impossible for him to get to.  He eagerly watched for a moment. Then he started to wander around the garage while I used pliers to grip a bolt and the wrench to turn the nut.

Then Owen returned and picked up the unattached negative battery cable. (positive was attached to the battery) With one hand, he started to try to find what the cable should affix to.

I saw him doing this and knew it wouldn’t be a big deal. Unless he touched it to the positive terminal…ahem…

That’s what he did.

Sparks. Yelp. Run. Mommy! Stop, no, come here. Mommy! No, show me.

A zapped thumb. A sigh of relief. No harm done. So sorry son. I should’ve guided you better. It’s okay daddy.

Daddy.

What a job, task, privilege, calling.

I am blessed. I am blessed to change diapers still.  I am blessed to learn to control my anger when I am being sassed. I am blessed to have to learn how to put down my projects so I can get on the floor to build block towers for my 20 month old to knock down. I am blessed to go to bed with fathering regrets so I have to lean into God’s grace again. I am blessed to apologize to my son.

Being dad makes me think about what is important in this world. Sometimes what is important being careful to guide the next generations away from sparks and unwise poking around.

And other times what is important is mom learning about such adventures as those on her husband’s blog…