Taking Time Away

A couple of weeks ago my little one came bounding into my room, hands stuck in a Seahawks hat, asking, “Can you help me fit my bun into this?” I laughed, since I was just pulling my own hair into a bun through the back of my own baseball cap. That evening we were all excited, since we were taking our two girls to their very first baseball game. Never mind that it was only AAA, and that the partly cloudy sky turned to a heavy drizzle during the sixth inning. We had the best time as we took it all in through the eyes of a five- and seven-year-old: the giant field; the stadium filled with more people than they had ever seen in one place; the vast array of delicious snacks to choose from (we settled on the classics- hot dogs and cotton candy); and, of course, the game itself, set free from our TV screen and alive in front of them. They learned about strikes and runs, danced the Macarena, and sang “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” It was an evening they will remember forever, and we will, too. The best part was when we were all huddled together, girls snuggled up on our laps under fleece blankets when the rain really began to come down. No one was ready to leave, and we witnessed the tie game turn into a dramatic win in the ninth inning, leaving us with the ecstatic feeling of victory as we made our way back to the car, the big one skipping along with her hand tucked in mine and the little one high up on Daddy’s strong shoulders. What kind of memories do you have as a family? What sweet, funny, or touching moments are tucked away in your mind, ready to be pulled out when you need to be reminded what a wonderful life you are blessed to live? What plans do you have to create those kinds of memories? Taking time away as a family and as a couple is crucial to forming that family identity and close bond that you will all need to be resilient in the difficult times.