Shop Art

I've been working on a small project for Julie in the shop. Whenever I get an hour or two I'll try to make some progress on that project. Friday afternoon, Jersey was out with Julie so I picked up Atticus and Wren from school. I didn't have anything else pressing, so I decided to work on my shop project. Atticus was doing his own thing, but Wren wanted to stay right with me. It was the end of the week, so I was maybe a little more chill than even my norm. I was letting her help me measure and she would hold one end while I fastened the other. I was making progress, albeit a little slower than normal, and I could tell Wren was enjoying our time together. I needed some bolts that I knew were in another building, so she stayed in the shop while I went to get the bolts. When I got back with the bolts she had drawn with a sharpie on a piece of cardboard. There was a dinosaur, a flamingo, and this heart. Written inside the heart was "Me and Dad Working Together". Yes, my heart pretty much melted in that moment. That was firm confirmation that she had been enjoying her afternoon in the shop. It made me even more happy that I was relaxed and had been very patient with her. Of course I always want to be loving and patient with my kids. I try all the time. Sometimes though, life gets hectic and busy and stressful. I try not to let those conditions influence my interaction with the kids, but honestly it probably does sometimes. I recently heard a man say he used a method I have now adopted. When I feel myself reacting improperly or not being engaged the way I want, I pretend that an 80-year-old version of me has come back to this moment and is watching. This may be the only moment that 80-year-old version gets to see. I simply want him to be proud of what he sees. That probably seems a little weird to some, but for some reason it really hit home with me. Hopefully, it'll resonate with someone else out there too. There are plenty of things to do in life, and lots of things that cause stress, but showing love and patience to the little ones should never be compromised.