Is it just mine…

Hey Dad,

Is it just mine or all kids…stupid. Maybe that sounds harsh, but I find myself thinking those thoughts a lot lately. Maybe it’s the heat.

Right now we’re gearing up for a weekend trip to Cove Valley Youth Camp (PA) for a weekend of family camp. That doesn’t just happen, and there’s a lot to get done…like packing the trailer, finishing up odd jobs around the house, and…stuff. One of the “stuff” that I wanted to get done is to cart our mountain of cardboard, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans to the recycle collection bins a 1/4 mile away. So I asked the kids to fill up the van. Easy right?

I asked again…and one more time with a threat. Finally, they do it, and I go to the van to drive to the site. Of course they missed the huge cardboard box right outside the garage…and when I got back I saw small scraps of cardboard all over the place where the boxes sat.

“What are they, stupid?” I said to myself wondering how they could just miss the big box and leave all the little scraps. I don’t know who answered but I thought I heard a voice say, “No, they’re just kids.”

I knew that…and was probably worse when I was their age…

It’s all part of being a dad, and for that I am thankful.

So just in case you’re wondering if your kids are stupid, let me remind you, “No, they’re just kids…and you were probably worse.”

You ‘da dad,

Todd