My daughter Chloe is almost thirteen, and my wife tells me the day is fast coming when I will be regarded as some alien being who doesn’t have a clue. Must be a woman thing.
So, while I have the chance, I look for all the teachable moments I can find with my (not so) little girl.
If a boy really cares about her, he won’t ask certain things. If her friends are really friends, they won’t push her to drink and smoke pot. Don’t get me started about body piercings.
We were in the car the other day and I was driving her to one of the thousand things she does each day. We were on a stretch of Main Street heading out towards Springboro Junior High School, where she attends. For a split second, Chloe didn’t have a text message to either read or send, and looked up in my direction.
“Dad,” she said, “where are we going?”
I took this as the most insightful comment she has ever made. Obviously, she was reflecting on life’s complexities and wondering how they fit into the true meaning of the universe. This was my moment.
I paused to make sure I gave this my best answer, one she would remember for all time.
“Chloe,” I said, “we are in search of all that is beautiful in the world around us. There is nothing as wonderful as to hear children laughing, to see people singing and to watch puppies playing in the snow. Sometimes we think miracles have to be some kind of magic show, when the reality is there are miracles happening all around us all the time.
“We just have to be on the lookout for them.
“We are resolved to support the town we live in, by eating ice cream at the ‘K,’ shopping at the stores in the middle of town, buying groceries at the IGA and buying our stuff at the Springboro Hardware. As our town gets bigger, the independent stores find it tougher to stay in business, and it’s those independent businesses that make our town unique.
“We have to support them.
“We are on a mission to spread love and understanding in a world that seems to have lost its way. Probably like never before, our world is selfish and misguided, which creates all the crime and hatred we see every day. Read the papers, watch the news. Every day we see another murder, another kidnapping, something where someone goes crazy and destroys what innocence that might be left. Major changes are necessary. Millions of people out there aren’t feeling the love.
“We just have to be ready to show it to those who need it.
“And we’re on a journey to explore every adventure we can. There’s another Indiana Jones movie coming out and we’re going to see it. This weekend we’re going camping with Brooke and Jordan and we’re going to experience nature. We need to enjoy sunsets, ride bikes through the neighborhood, climb mountains in the Rockies and go whitewater rafting. Life offers so many things to do.
“We just have to be willing to experience them.
Chloe looked as if she was ready to chime in, but I was on a roll.
“Does that answer your question?” I said, proudly.
“Um. Not really.”
“But I thought you wanted to know where we are going.”
“Yeah, I wanted to know where are we going right now. You’re taking me to Lauren’s house when you’re supposed to be taking me to Haleigh’s house.”
Oh.
I turned the car around in total silence while Chloe went back to text messaging. “My dad’s some alien being who doesn’t have a clue,” it probably said.
And to think I used to be so with it.