Nostalgia I

 

I was riding in the streetcar to work today and I saw a man about thirtyish get on with a stroller with a kid in it and another kid who was ambulatory on his own.   The older kid sat in a seat and the Dad held the stroller and stood.  For some reason the dad didnt want the little kid in the stroller touching a metal bar across the window.  He kept saying "no" and then he pulled the stroller away from the window so the kid couldnt reach the bar. But the kid was still trying to stretch out of the stroller and reach the bar.  Whatever, kids like to touch stuff or push buttons or stuff like that. I couldnt think at first why he didnt want the kid touching the bar, but then I thought he was pretty smart because you know it is flu season and you figure that so many sick people are still going outside and they touch the hardware in the street cars and then someone else picks up the germs.  You know little kids always put their hands in their mouths too, so it is easily passed on.  Come to think of it it was pointed out to me how much even adults touch their eyes and mouth during the day even every couple minutes, so we arent much better.  

But the point being that here was a dad. Here was a dad being a dad to the young ones.  

I thought about my days 10 years ago when I pushed the big baby buggy and

held another kid by the hand and we walked down to the park at the train station.  I still remember quite clearly being very conscious of being the only person walking under the viaduct while the cars went by.  Not only the only one walking, but a dad with a carriage and kid holding my hand.  But I wasnt the first to be in such a situation.  No no.  In fact I was impressed in the 90s a good friend brought up his son alone.  And he was a foreigner bringing up a kid alone as a Dad.  How tough that must have been? 

I remember even then, after we got to the park, I guess the littlest one wanted to follow her sister. I think it was that day that her older sister climbed to the top of the rope pyramid. (Pictured above in the upper right corner)  She was three and over, probably four.  The younger one wanted to climb the ropes too, but she couldnt even get on the first rung.  

The point being that it was fine. It was a nice day, I had fun.  I remember it fondly. I dont know what was wrong with me bringing the kids to the park.  Just the walking to and from the park along the busy street got my nerves shaking.  

Well, I hope this guy on the street car didnt feel conscious carrying his kids around. I hope he had a nice Saturday out with them, maybe took them to a park for the couple "warm" hours (this is the beginning of January, so warm is relative) in the day.  I hope he watched them and helped them climb the bars and get to the top and afterwards maybe some french fries from a restaurant or better some fruit slices.  I hope he had a nice day that he will remember for much longer than ten years. 

Be strong dads.  This is not weakness being out with your kids. The opposite. It is stronger to be a dad to your kids.