Things you love to do or look forward to doing with your kids (1 Viewer)

[El Floppo]

At this point, with a 3yo son- my favorite moment is picking him up from school. We walk into their classroom- and I always see his face first, as he's expectantly scanning the other parents/care-givers who walk in in front of me... the second he sees me, he just explodes and come running/flying into my arms screaming and laughing "DADDY!!!!".

I tutor in my kids school, and I get done and am leaving when all the kids are getting their stuff on in the hall to go outside for recess. I pass by both of my boys classrooms on the way out. My younger son, a second grader, is a mama's boy and gives me a "hi" and will let me hug him. My older son, a third grader, is a daddy's boy and still gives me a huge smile and a "daddy!" and I get a big hug from him. I know there's a day coming when he'll be too cool for that, but I hope it doesn't come soon.As far as this thread, we are driving to Hilton Head (from the Twin Cities) for spring break next week. As crazy and stressful driving trips can be, I can't wait to be trapped inside the car with the whole family for two stratight days. It's going to be heaven.

Update: My older son is now getting to be to "cool" for this. When he sees me in the hall, he reactively gives me a big smile, but a second later tries to hide it. He'll give me a 4th graders version of a "man-hug" but not the full on two armed hug of days before. Every night when I tuck him in, he'll still give me a big two armed squeeze, and I know all is right.

I really look forward to meeting our daughter in July... and introducing her to her big brother.

Now it's her turn to meet me at the door when I get home from work, dropping everything she's doing before sprinting into my arms with the same "DADDY!". Her 6yo brother barely lifts his head from whatever he's doing now to say Hi.

I'm going to miss the "DADDY!", so I'm going to soak it all up while I can.

They and mom just left today for spring break down to VA and the inlaws for 5 days. l was looking fowrad to some rest, but I already miss them.

 

[Jayrod]

My son is 4 and loves basketball (wonder where he got that from? ). He isn't old enough to play in our local kids leagues yet, so this year I coached some older boys (4th & 5th grade) and he was my "assistant" coach. It was the time of his life so far. He would basically just play on the sidelines and dribble during practice and games, but I used him in drills on occassion. The team really took to him and the best player would play around with him after practice and games. We got the team picture the other day and my wife said he just stared at the picture for like 20 minutes talking about all of the players and their numbers. I cannot wait for next year when he can play on his own team.

Pretty cool to look back at this 3 years later. My son has now played on teams for 3 years and loves it. This year he really got a lot better and had a blast.

His first baseball practice is this Saturday....looking forward to it.

He also desperately wants to play football. We didn't let him play last year and he cried when we told him. He'll likely play this fall.

Kids a sports nut already just like his old man. :tear:

 

[Wrigley]

Dropping the twins off for school 2 days a week....I really get a kick out of how excited they are.

The scream the one year old makes when I walk in the door each night makes my day.

 

[BobbyLayne]

My 15 y.o. had spring break last week so I took a stay cation to bond with him.

We attended four plays: a serious drama off off Broadway, a large cast farce at LaGuardia h.s., a 4-person satire at a small theater company, the Broadway revival "Of Mice and Men". We had the greatest conversations after each one! We spent two days (5 hours total) doing volunteer work. We visited the 9/11 Memorial, walked the Brooklyn Bridge, and spent a lot of time...just...talking. It was pretty freaking awesome.

He's not a little boy anymore. I am really enjoying seeing the kind of man he is becoming. Adult conversations with him are a new thing, and I have to say I am impressed with his insightful perception. He's not as clueless as I thought/feared.

We have some adventures coming up (U.K. this year, hiking the Inca trail to Machu Picchu next summer). But investing the time - that's the part that matters more than where/what.

 

[bigbottom]

This is such a great thread. These moments are precious, and make life worth living.

 

[Clifford]

Camping in Big Sur this June if we can afford it.

 

[beavers]

Although I am enjoying the preschool years (my daughter will be 3.5 this summer), I must say that I am looking to the day for when her and I can go on a biking excursion together along the CA coast. Or, I would love to golf with her.

 

[Eephus]

My daughter is now 22 and a college senior. Fortunately, she's still not too cool to be seen in public with her old man. So when she does come home to visit, we make it a point to go see a movie and stop off for drinks on the way home to talk about the film and what's going on in her life. Sometimes, Mrs. Eephus tags along but usually it's just the two of us. I treasure this as much as I used to enjoy pushing her on the swings, in part because I realize how fleeting time is. College is a transitional time for every kid. She's lost touch with many of her HS friends and her college friends are all in different states. She's moving back to SF after graduation but she'll develop new friendships that will occupy her time. And I'll lose a drinking buddy.

My son is 18. He's much less talkative as young men are often apt to be. He tries really hard to be self-sufficient and generally succeeds. But it's still nice as a dad to have the occasional times where he asks for help and I catch a glimpse of the boy he used to be.

 

[Bull Dozier]

My daughter is 16 and plays volleyball so she loves to work out. We go to the gym together a couple times a week and I really look forward to it. It's the one time where we actually talk to each other like real people and not dad-daugther. It's really fun.

My boys have now fully passed the age of the "DADDY!" excited yet/greeting. They are a little too young for this kind of exchange, but there are hints of it every now and then. It is almost as rewarding.

My boys are now 10 and 12. I've decided one of my favorite things to do with them is help coach their sports teams. The three of us all love sports, so it is certainly not one of those situations where I am forcing them in to something. However, my older one has recently been a little resistance to me helping coach his teams. It's a struggle for me. On the one hand, I want him to know that I listen to him and respect his wishes. On the other hand (the selfish one), I know there are only so many more years I have to do this with him. Once he gets to high school, there's no more chances for me.

My dad coached my baseball team from 7th to 11th grade. Near the end of the run, I really didn't enjoy it that much anymore. But, looking back now I only have fond memories, and in a strained relationship at times, it is one of the few reminders I have of him wanting to spend time with me specificially.

 

[Spin]

My son is 22 mos. He's still in the running stage when I get home from work, which is probably the highlight of my night.

Pretty much just repeating what others have said at this point. I love laying on the couch when he's tired and will lay on my chest. I could sit and watch him learn for hours. Trying to figure out what is going through his little mind as he plays with the legos trying to figure out how to build something.

He wakes me up every morning about 6 am by climbing up and sitting my on my chest and yells "HI" and when I slowly open my eyes, he'll get excited and smile real big when he realized I'm awake. Then it's "FEE FEE" Which is him trying to say TV, and I'll let him watch Sesame street while I make breakfast. I look forward to reading things to him, which is always "Elmo" which is what he calls Sesame Street. He knows every character by name, or close to it, and as we turn the page he gets so excited to shout out what character is on the next page.

He's also the politest kid ever, we've been working hard on his Please and Thank Yous, so the other night when the server brought our food, he looked her dead in the face and said "Thank You". Watching him learn and put "2 n 2" together is the best feeling in the world, no way I could have known what it would be like, but I know it's giving me chill bumps and proud smiles as I type this.

My wife takes him to my soccer games and he is actually getting pretty good at dribbling the ball on the sideline. We get to sign him up for Soccer next season and I look forward to coaching him.

 

[The Hank]

Great thread idea --

I have a 2.5 yr old and an 8 mo old boy, and I am so looking forward to the day where I can take them to a baseball (Pirates) game by myself and teach them about the game.

Looking forward to our first planned Disney trip (next October) with the boys, my wife and my parents -- my padre (as some of you know) is a Disney aficionado and we talk about this often.

I am also looking forward to playing golf with them, or even putt-putt and stuff like that! Also teaching them how to play baseball. I want to be their coach for baseball in some capacity, but would be more than willing to coach any team if needed. My dad was a great influence for me in my love for baseball and I want to carry that on to the next generation of little Hanks.

Best part of my day is when I come home and the boys are super excited to see me. The 2.5 yr old screams "HI DADDY" and gives me a hug, the 8 mo old doesnt talk, but his face lights up like a Christmas tree and starts making excited noises and bounces alot in his baby bouncer. Also when I put the boys down for bed time by reading them stories or feeding the baby is such an awesome feeling that I dont think I appreciated the first go round.

Being a dad is pretty awesome.

 

[GDogg]

 

[gianmarco]

As my son gets a little older (turning 10 in a few months), I've really started to enjoy watching him in his activities. His soccer games are finally somewhat enjoyable to watch and he just kicked ### in his local karate tournament this weekend.

Going back and reading through this thread occasionally is good stuff.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

My 10 y/o daughter plays her second year of basketball soon. This time, no boys! I'm very excited to see how she plays now that she won't have some out of control boy crash into her several times a game.

She's super tall and rangy, fast (like her daddy ) and a great defender.

 

[Zegras11]

39 days until my only daughter gets married. Looking forward to the big bash

Being the Minister of Fun when she has a kid in three months.

 

[bigbottom]

39 days until my only daughter gets married. Looking forward to the big bash

Being the Minister of Fun when she has a kid in three months.

Congrats!!!

 

[pats3in4]

Coaching their soccer teams. My girls are pretty bad at playing so there is no living vicariously through their achievements. It's just fun getting out there twice a week running with the girls, showing them how to play the game, watching them bond with their teammates, getting better as the season goes on. And the practices don't hold a candle to the games on Saturday: Setting lineups, playing a new opponent, parents rooting hard for their girls, watching the girls play hard.

My dad coached my youth teams. It wasn't until I was an adult that I fully appreciated the time he sacrificed to do that with me. I hope my girls view me in a similar way when they look back on their childhood. But if they don't, I'll always remember this activity fondly.

 

[Annyong]

my son was born this past OCT. i cant wait to go outside with him.

We eventually went outside. It went "okay"

 

[Reaper]

Last night I was lying in my bed watching the Sox game, bouncing a tennis ball off a nearby wall and catching it. Girls were downstairs watching one of those cake making shows and my 7 y/o son wandered in just as Jacoby was caught stealing second. He then started fooling around, pretending he was Elsbury, taking a lead off a pillow on the floor in the far corner of the room, then running and diving headfirst, sliding across the bedspread and into the pillow on my wife’s vacant side of the bed. Without discussion or laying out rules, our two activities melded naturally into a game where I would bounce the ball off the wall, and he would take off from first and have to dive safely into second before I caught the ball and tagged him. I could also fake the toss and peg him if he strayed off the base too early. We must have repeated it a hundred times, laughing hysterically the entire while, until my wife came up and told us we were making too much noise and to knock it off. The game ended with him saying, between hiccups he’d acquired from laughing so hard, “that’s the most fun I’ve ever had in your room Dad, let’s play tomorrow, but no pegging.”

I was having a similar good time the other night with my 2.5 yo, laughing, jumping, doing things mommy would never allow. She stops and says "Daddy pick me up" I pick her up she gives me the biggest hug and says "Daddy, I love you".. With a kiss and all.... You don't get that all the time. Didn't want to make a big deal about it cuz, it will probably make her never do it again but, DAMN, I wanted to stop time right there and then.

Awe... Nice story Guy.... My kid is 6.5 yo and now just kicks, pinches, gives noogies.. Whines and says' "What - Ever" all the time...

HEY WAIT!!!!!

Actually.... Looking forward to Taylor Swift this summer and music / concerts in general... No matter how Cheesy.

She is going to be blown away at a full scale "Concert / Show" like Swift puts on

- Haters gonna hate tho..... Meanwhile I'll probably cry she'll be so happy....lol So funny how ppl spend time hating such a thing not even targeted for them...

 

[ChiefD]

Spent the whole weekend in front of the fireplace playing Uno with the 3 kids. It was great. Had football on in the background, ate our lunch and dinners in front of the fire...good times.

My oldest is 9, and I can honestly say I've spent almost all of my free time away from work with my kids. I know it's not going to last forever, so my golf game can wait until they are out of the house.

 

[Brony]

my son was born this past OCT. i cant wait to go outside with him.

We eventually went outside. It went "okay"

looking forward to the next update in 2 years.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

My oldest daughter who's 10 asked me to pick her up last night. I said no. My back was hurting and I was just beat. Now I almost always pick her up but I remember at the time thinking "don't say no, pick her up you puts".

Thought about it several times since and I'm going to pick them up from school today and go to the park and pick them up and spin until they drop.

It will be several decades before I won't be able to pick up my daughters, but the time they won't want be picked up is soon.

Let my reminder be yours today. Snatch up your little ones and just play with them.

 

[The Commish]

My boy is just now at an age where he's getting interested in sports. I love taking him to his practices. Each day I pick him up from school and have him to myself until my wife gets home from work. We goof around, do homework, "work in the yard" etc. He also just started scouts, so we have several trips that we're planning. My daughter will be three in December so she's not at an age where she's really engaging with the world around her in the same way. Her running in the door to give me a hug everyday is pretty freakin' sweet

 

[jb1020]

Whats a good age to get the kids out tent camping? I got a 4 month old, which obviously is too young, but I can't wait to go out in the woods.

Whoa...just took my 4 YO camping. It was in the back yard...but it still counts. He lasted until 3am. Really damp weather turned pretty chilly.

 

[phatdawg]

This is one of my favorite threads in a long time ... and I don't even have kids yet. I'm looking forward to the day when I have the type of cool moments you have all posted. Here's to children and their great fathers.

So cool to revisit this thread after having children. I have a 3-year-old and an 8-month-old and I love so many things that I share with them. My son and I give each other "Monster Hugs" (a big old hug with a monster growl added for fun) each morning before I leave for work. Then, he goes to the window at the bottom of the stairs and waves to me as I pull out of the driveway and head down the street. When I pull into the garage in the evening, the door flies open and he screams "DADDY!" and then I get another Monster Hug.

I love reading to the kids at night. We almost always do family story time before bed. We also love camping, though we have only done so with the in-laws in their nice RV. We are going to do some tent camping next year. He is getting a bike for Christmas, so I can't wait to take him on rides. He loves playing lots of sports and so I play catch, basketball on his little kid hoop, etc.

I built my kids a swingset/playset that my son loves. We were outside swinging the other day and he stopped, looked at me, and sincerely said, "Daddy, thank you for building my swingset. I love you." Had to fight back tears when he said that.

One thing that is pretty cool is that I have starting running to get healthier and he has witnessed it. He now asks for a turn on the treadmill when I'm done running. He says, "Daddy, can I exercise." I set it on the lowest setting and he basically goes for a walk, but it puts a big smile on his face!