Dad In Action

For the past three years, we’ve been camping with the YMCA Adventure Guides. Adventure Guides is a co-ed program that specifically encourages active parent engagement in every aspect of the program. In this case, it gives sons and daughters alike a chance to spend time with their Dad and to learn about the great outdoors. It’s tough to beat for the quantity time it brings and the inevitable quality time that comes out of it. Next year, I’ll have all three boys in the program. What could be more fun than stomping through the woods with all those boys?

This past weekend, my two oldest boys went with our group to Oklahoma. As always, we had an absolute blast. We climbed rock formations, saw waterfalls and crossed spring fed creeks. We shot BB guns, got multiple bullseye with bow and arrows and fished some, too. Is it still called fishing if no fish are ever present? We didn’t even see a fish let alone catch one.

Oddly enough, we played a completely random game of kickball. Kickball. While camping. For whatever reason, my son fixated on kickball. We’ve all had experiences where our child suggested an activity which we deferred to a later time, hoping they would forget. My wife uses the same technique on me, with some pretty consistent results. Most of the time, it works with our boys, too. Not so with kickball. Sometimes, you just have to go with it.

My oldest started scheming and planning on the way to breakfast, as soon as he saw the field. He started actively recruiting his friends and their Dads. I was impressed with his tenacity. It’s a tough crowd and tough recruiting environment. Remember the list of activities? Archery, BBs, fishing, hiking, horseback riding and kickball. Can you hear the Sesame Street song? “One of these things is not like the other, one of these things is not the same…”

After several hours of full throttle negotiation, and despite my clearly stated objections, he managed to get another Dad and his two kids in. We had a game whether I liked it or not. We played and the carnage took just 20 minutes from my beloved camping agenda. The game, after all, wasn’t quite as painful as expected. It was pain free, really. Wait, it was fun!

Our camping trips are a great example of quantity time turning into quality time. Although I was reluctant, we spent time doing what my son wanted to do, not what I had “planned” for our activities. Since we were camping, I wanted to do camping stuff. Even more though, I wanted the boys to have great memories. Good thing. Apparently, kickball was the highlight of the trip. Who knew?

When we take the time to focus on others, instead of me, me, me, everyone wins. In this case, my sons got kickball and some great quality time with Dad. I got those great memories I wanted. Everyone wins. That’s a great lesson for the kids to learn. Maybe I should start practicing first.