Step by Step

Last week we enjoyed a wonderful family vacation in the Poconos with my Mom, Dad, brother, sister-in-law, and adorable new nephew.  Each day of the vacation we had a key word around which our activities revolved.  On Monday, it was “train”, on Tuesday it was “sweets”, on Wednesday “lake”, and Thursday was “outdoors”.  On Wednesday’s “family date” as Addy refers to them, we went to a lake and played on the playground and enjoyed the outdoors.  However, the temperature kept us from getting in the water.  As we watched many northern residents swimming and boating, our Texas blood kept us all from getting into the lake when the temperature was only in the high sixties.  Addison had a hard time understanding why she couldn’t go swimming with the other kids.  We promised her that she would get to enjoy the water the following day via paddle boating with Daddy.  On Thursday we headed to Bushkill Falls, an amazing place where we hiked among gorgeous waterfalls, picnicked, and enjoyed some of the kid friendly activities on site.  After lunch, we walked toward the small lake.  Addy was brimming with anticipation for her paddle boat ride.  She had practiced how to move her legs, we had talked about seeing fish and turtles, and she was ecstatic about having one-on-one time with Daddy.  As we approached the counter to pay for the paddle boating excursion, she was beaming.  The sweet girl behind the counter asked, “How old is she?”  Andy quickly responded, “Almost 3 (seeing the sign that read 3 and above were admitted.)  Her polite but very firm response was, “Children under 3 cannot go.”  Addy clung to Andy and turned her head away from the girl as big tears welled up in her eyes.  Then, not being able to contain her disappointment any longer, she began crying.  It broke my heart to see her like this.  She had been so excited and her hopes for a great adventure had been dashed.  Andy, however, used it as a lesson.  He hugged Addy and comforted her, but gently told her, “We don’t ever lie even when we want to.”   Since last Thursday when this happened we have had multiple discussions about the paddle boating experience (or lack there of) and it continues to be a teaching point for her.  Plus, Andy and Addy still got to have their time together putt-putting when the boating didn’t work out.