2.4 Miles

Posted on Tue 10/28/08 in Fatherhood

Seriously — some of the most fun I have is when I’m playing with my kids. I really and truly just ran over two miles with my two-year-old. No, I wasn’t carrying him. Shortly after dinner, he asked to use the computer. Approved. He logged on to his Windows XP account loaded his new favorite application: Rhapsody — a subscription-based online music jukebox which allows you to listen to pretty much everything. I’ve made Ethan a playlist of kids songs and such, but he has fallen deeply in love my punk rock playlist.

So, as I was saying — Beth and I watch Ethan begin to run out of the kitchen, dodge the corner of the dining room table, dart through the living room, zip through the foyer and breakfast nook area, and re-enter the kitchen yelping or calling to his sister. McKenzie is cracking up and yelling back to him. After about 10-15 laps, we begin to wonder just how far he will go? There is certainly no way we would dare stop this. The windows are open and it is the perfect temperature outside, and we can hear kids and families that are playing soccer at the park across the street.

The logical thing to do? Join in. I start running with Ethan, mimicking his calls and gestures. He finds this thoroughly amusing. We both laugh and crack up. I learn the pattern. When each song ends, Ethan returns to the computer to find his next favorite, identifying them by the album cover image displayed as he shuffles through the play list. To my delight, he selects NOFX, Bad Religion, and Rancid over and over again — these are the same bands you’ll find on my MP3 player’s regular rotation.

Ethan calls for us to regroup by the front door. We wait for the beat to pickup… and then we’re off running again.