Shopping & Manhood

I know times will change. When shopping means Jace potentially getting lost as he runs ahead without a care in the world. When an outing means he will embarrass me by testing my public parenting chops by being disobedient or even disrespectful. I know it might even return to tedium. But, for right now at least, I really enjoy shopping with my wife and son. The benefits are endless:

1. You no longer need a cart. The stroller doubles as a cart, with convenient storage pockets beneath, and on top of, my son.
2. The items for purchase double as toys for the young child. Perfect for those pinches when toys are not available. Note: when child is not old enough to have mastered the enjoyment of throwing items, this works.
3. Not only do mommy and daddy get their chores done, but they get to watch their child's gears of learning turn in the process.
4. Great photo opportunities present themselves.
5. Daddies get credit for family time while still getting stuff done.
6. When child is older and can breathe through their mouths as well, parents get to enjoy the "cover him with items and see how long it takes for him to get out" game. Note: child crying or starting to cry but then stopping abruptly should not be laughed at while ignoring the child. By all means, check on the baby while you laugh.

Men, it's time to stand up and enjoy your times with your family. When you have the opportunity to invest in the life of your child(ren), take it. You can choose to turn tedium into treasures, and kindle love when lacking fresh ideas. And chances are even your failures won't be as big a blip on their radar screens as you think they'll be. Put forth the effort and the message will get through. We men don't like to fail - it's true - so men need to leave abandonment, disconnection, unfaithfulness, and selfishness to the movies.

When you were a boy, the only one you had to worry about was yourself. You became a guy when puberty hit, and your responsibilities varied. Becoming a man comes with considerable choice and effort attached. If you haven't already, it's time to graduate. Don't just claim manhood. Prove it.