The Adventures of Baby Arthur

by Lincoln

I know I'm one of those annoying parents that's constantly marvelling about the tiny but new things their child does. While I try not to do it too much in "real life", I know I do it all the time on this blog. Sorry, I'm at it again.. but for the past week, Arthur has been running around the apartment exclaiming "dada! dada! dada! dada!". And Grandma has reported to me that he sometimes even looks around for his dear old dad when he's not around. C'mon, how could I not report this event to the Adventures of Baby Arthur?

Quite honestly, I'm not really sure why he does this. He's certainly still a Mamma's boy and whenever I come home, I'm usually greeted with a scowl and a fervent, disapproving shake of the head. It's as if he was expecting someone else more interesting to come through the door, like Mommy! It's ok, he warms up pretty quickly after about 30 seconds of attention. It's touching to see I've been making an impression!

It's also a bit terrifying. While it doesn't take a genius to know that parents have an overwhelming influence over their children, it is still quite difficult for me to comprehend the fact that someone will be hanging on my every word and action, no matter how innocuous, unintentional or absent minded it may be. I still feel like a big kid and I don't feel like I'm anyone special either. I mean, why should anyone listen to me??

I remember back in the third grade, my father, with all his wisdom, revealed to me and my next older brother (there were 4 of us) that we were "accidental". Not knowing what the hell that was supposed to mean, I automatically took that to mean "unwanted". This comment was used as ammunition against my father throughout my teen years and I probably didn't really understand what the hell it all meant until I was much older... until about, 18 months ago! For some reason or another, my father never bothered to sit us down and explain to us what he meant: That accidental doesn't mean unwanted, and that sometimes life is unpredictable, and that you just can't plan everything. Sometimes the best things in life are bourne out of accidents and parents love their children unconditionally! Thank god for champagne!

At least, that's what I hope my father meant and felt. That's the line would give to Arthur anyway.

Labels: fatherhood