Dad life is pretty awesome, although I am one of those dads that do it differently and I've recently been called out for it too, but not in a bad way but more of a question on how I do it.
I never shy away from a request from my kids and little miss loves slides so while we were at the play centre I scaled the play equipment and had to get into all kinds of odd shapes to fit. Although most don't realise that play equipment is big enough for adults to fit, they need to be in the event of an emergency.
Someone needs to fit in there and access the person whose injured, although not the easiest accessible thing it's still accessible and oh so much fun!
I'm also quite the adventurous bloke that doesn't shy away from randomly approaching someone and starting a conversation and it never failed to take people back. The last thing you expect is that a random person starts talking to you about things, but I've never had an issue talking to people.
Although there is nothing strange with approaching the firebrigade there is usually always one that starts it. On the weekend lil miss spotted some fireies and wanted to check out their set up so I popped a u-turn and pulled up along side them.
Lil miss was gob smacked at the ability to just pull over and day hi but I did have to give her the talk about stranger danger and that she shouldn't do things like this on her own.
Have you ever seen a happier kid than a kid with a twirly potatoe thingy? I don't even know what they are called but they're great! Lil Bloke absolutely loved having one on his own even if he didn't even eat it all.
I think as parents it's our job to bring our kids a broad range of experiences and emotions. They're not always going to be good experiences and there are tough times but it's about being present with your kids at the time.
For me, I wanted to raise my kids differently to how I was raised and provide them with opportunities that I never had but also be there for them and with them.
Which brings me back to my first point where people call me out about my crazy and whacky parenting style of playing on the giant kids trampolines or scaling the kids playground with them and being the one thats always "It" and never being able to catch the kids.
I know deep down other parents want to do the same because they tell me but they think there are some unwritten rules that they can't or they have fear of what others might think. I've had those too "aren't you a bit old?" "Shouldn't you be watching your kids not playing with them". But I also live life a little differently.
When I am old and frail or lucky enough to be in a nursing home all those embarrassing moments of being a big kid won't matter. No one will remember but the people that it did matter to my kids, they will make great, fond childhood memories.
When we leave this earth no one will remember us, our time is here and now. There is no point wasting it worrying about what others will think about you.
Live your life and raise your kids your way! They'll love you more for it and no doubt, they too will one day crawl inside play equipment designed for kids and wonder how you managed to do it. But it will remind them of those times and they will share that memory with their kids.
Happy parenting!