The saying goes “you cannot change all the people around you, but you can change the people you choose to be around.”
Whatever lens you may be viewing the world today, who you surround yourself with has become ever so important. There’s no doubt in my mind that you have given this tremendous thought, considering the current state of the nation.
Since all of us have pretty much been hunkered down for almost four months now, we’ve likely kept our physical contacts with the outside to a minimum and contact with our immediate family at an all-time high! HOPEFULLY!
That can get challenging after a while. So, today is as good as any other day to take a walk with your daughter. Heck, it’s National Father Daughter Take A Walk Day. Could you think of a better walking partner?
For the Mason Pride, right around 10 a.m. every single day, my daughter slowly starts to transform into this uncontainable ball of energy. No amount of book reading, puzzle playing or sing along shows can contain her. She needs to get out!
It’s like clockwork. Don’t try to prolong her time dwelling inside, it will just blow up in your face. Literally! She has spontaneous outbursts toward the T.V. She starts to take risks, like jump from one couch to the other and throwing objects. The floor become HOT LAVA. She starts to slap her lil’ brother up. It’s a hot mess!
Perfect Time For A Father Daughter Walk
Does your daughter do this? Is there a noticeable time that you can pinpoint each day, that if you don’t get out of the house by that time, it’s gonna get ugly? (Share with a comment below!) I’m getting anxiety just thinking about it.
Walks with just me and my daughter are some of the most wonderful, whimsical, enchanted times. There’s no such thing as a quick or short walk. Soooo many questions, soo much imagination. This is the closest I will ever get to knowing what’s going on in her mind.
You want to test your daughter’s memory, this is the perfect time. WE have all heard that kids are like sponges, but it seriously blows my mind how much input she retains. The names of neighbors, their kids and their pets. Even what they have said or wore the last time they met.
Health Starts At Home
Equally so, this is a perfect time for you to have a conversation with your daughter about what’s going on in the world. As I mentioned before, my daughter, Elliora, is naturally inquisitive at three years old. She caught on quickly when people started wearing facemasks. She pointed and asked, “why is she wearing that mask?”.
She has no filter—which I encourage to a point—and she has been known to point out obese individuals and make a comment addressing such. One of our neighbor’s smoke cigarettes, she’s sure to point that out as well. Neither of which are in a demeaning way or meant in ridicule, just very direct like you would expect from a curious child.
Of course, I want my child to know healthy versus unhealthy, good versus bad behaviors are, but her approach could use some work. So, we use these opportunities to have a conversation about how we value our health.
What’s In It For You?
Well, everything! For one, you get to take a walk with your daughter! You can try to make it a “quiet” walk, but that’ll last about 30 seconds, tops! But here’s your chance to leave the house and get some fresh air, Prioritize Physical Activity and have some one-on-one time with your daughter… the ACTIVE-DAD Trifecta!
My Reward: Whenever I leave the house, my daughter asks me where my facemask is. I have my own personal little annoying, but cute, reminder. She’s even educating strangers about the “virus” now.
Make the about walk whatever you and your daughter want it to be. Better yet, make it about nothing other than walking, and see where it takes you. Regardless, you won’t regret you had.
These bonding moments have no comparison. Much like everything else in the life of a dad, it’s about more than you now. But it starts with you!
All dads should be ACTIVE-DADs!