Two kids, a dad, and some ball games
Monday night, as someone told me, I got the chance to really experience what being a dad is all about.
After 20 minutes of getting ready, which included two diaper changes, gathering of snacks and juice, an outfit change, lots of tears, and strapping two kids in a stroller, it was time to take a walk.
However, one step out of the garage and the rain came.
It was Murphy's Law at its finest, and I knew we should have just stayed inside and watched SportsCenter.
Nearly two-year-old Mitch doesn't mind watching for about 30 seconds, and then he asks to go outside.
Fortunately, 10 minutes later the sun was back out, and it was off to the ball games.
As we arrived at the park Mitch immediately found his great-grandma and aunt watching his cousin Cheyenne play ball.
Baby Addison was scooped up by her aunt and I was thinking this was pretty easy.
Of course, Mitch didn't stay in one place for more than two seconds, as he was off swinging a baseball bat 10 times too big for him, leaving me wondering what, or who, he was going to break.
Addison was ready to come back to me, and it was off to another ball game on the other side of the park.
We headed to C field with Mitch in Grandma's arms, Addison in mine, and Grandpa pushing the stroller.
The game before the one we wanted to watch was still playing, so we waited.
Mitch didn't care as he was off running with some kids, as Addison cried in my arms.
While I was tending to her I realized this would be hard to do in a lot of bigger towns. The trust I had in family and friends to keep any eye on my son if he got away for a second was great.
At one point I tracked him down, he had somehow finagled some fruit snacks away from a nice man, no doubt using his charm and manners by saying in a squeaky voice, "pwease."
Grandma took Addison when she was hungry and I went with Mitch, watching as he ran around laughing and falling in the mud.
By this time I realized I hadn't really seen any softball or baseball, so Mitch and I went to the bleachers to watch some of the game.
He was more interested in high-fiving the front row, but I caught some action.
By the second inning it was after nine and time to go home. Strapped back in the stroller, the kids and I walked back home for bath time.
Mom (Jamie) came home to help for a minute, but it was back to our new house she went when baths were over, to finish painting some rooms.
Thirty minutes later Addison was asleep on my chest and Mitch on the couch.
I laughed when I thought about the fact I caught 10 minutes of action on the field despite being there for two hours.
The main action revolved around Mitch and Addie, and that's OK because it always will.
Of course I was still needing my SportsCenter fix, but it worked out because it's on pretty much 24/7.
When Jamie came back and the kids were asleep I asked which was harder, physical labor at the house, or taking two kids to the ball park.
She looked at me like, "They're both hard."
I guess that's what being a parent is about.
But it doesn't mean you can't still watch SportsCenter.
