We're Having So Much Fun

The first time we watched George C. Scott’s version of A Christmas Carol, Tiny Tim’s faint high-pitched voice proclaimed, “We’re having so much fun, Fawtha.”

That scene was in Husband’s mind a few nights later when his dad phoned. Husband answered with a high-pitched voice, “Oh, Fawtha, we’re having ever so much fun.”

 “What is going on?” father-in-law stammered and coughed.

Actually Husband was going through a time when he really didn’t like talking to his dad. His comedy afforded the right amount of cover up as he avoided being too newsy with his dad.

Just a couple of years before he refused to talk with his dad at all, which meant I served as the go-between Husband and Father-in-law. In those days before caller ID, Husband fequ ently just hung up when his dad called.

I even now blush thinking about it.

However, on the night he mimicked Tiny Tim he was having ever so much fun. He was excited to talk about it.

Husband said, “Atha bought me a pair of roller skates for Christmas. No, I haven’t been to the skating rink. I’ve been skating along our sidewalk with the kids.”

It was the beginning of the fad for in-line skates. Husband, who roller skated much as a child, wanted a pair of skates. I bought them at the roller skating rink, so they were bona fide bright blue adult skates with yellow accessory stripes.

When Husband opened the box, he immediately tied them on and wobbled out to the sidewalk. The kids followed close behind.

Three kids ages 12 through 5 chased behind one dad nearly 40 years old.

Let the neighbors laugh, I always say, and a couple of them actually did come outside to watch and snicker. It was cool to watch Husband regain his skate legs and balance, and he didn’t fall at all. A couple of times it was close, though.

That’s what makes it fun to have a dad with ADHD. He is not too inhibited to play.

The first time I saw him play with our kids without inhibition was when Oldest Daughter was less about 19 months old.

I brought home a child-size kiddie pool and dressed her in a new little swim suit. The pool was not totally tiny giving her plenty of play room.

Husband filled the pool with water, and I put her in it to splash.

He disappeared into the house and returned shortly dressed in his own swim suit. He even brought toys.

He got into the water with her, which only happened because we were younger and much slimmer in those days. He sat with his backside in the pool and his legs over the sides, and he placed her in the space between his knees

They splashed water everywhere: on each other, on me, and on the grass.  I can’t remember who laughed more; I think it may have been Husband, but the baby was super delighted to have daddy “go swimming” with her.

Of course, he and the kids enjoyed dozens of other times swimming in a regular size pool. The tiny Crown Prince and little Baby Sis each enjoyed their moments hanging tightly on his back as he swam through the pool at the YMCA, giggling together as the babies learned not to be afraid of the water.

However neat that was, those moments do not compare to the first time he went swimming with Oldest Daughter.