The Thing I Don't Know

I had, what is basically a child-free weekend. My wife took the kids to her father's on Friday night and left me to my own devices until late Saturday evening. That means I got to do something I, haven't done in like three-and-half years -- sleep late. I stayed in bed until 9:15 a.m. That is at least an hour-and-a-quarter longer than any morning of the last 1,277ish mornings.

What did I do with my time? I did what every married American male between 35 and 50-years old, with kids would do...

I spent most of the day at Lowes and Home Depot. The time not spent at a home-improvement center was spent home improving, i.e. converting the basement to a playroom for my kids. Now, you may say that this is a wonderfully selfless act, a father working to make the lives of his kids better. But.. that is not entirely true. The real reason, for working to make the playroom a reality is, I want the vast array of various sundry toys banished from my TV room. So... what may seem altruistic is truly self-serving.

However, the time away from the kids did make me realize two things. 1.) I would be much more productive member of society without kids. 2.) I missed them desperately. Every trip to Lowes had me missing Tiernan, my usual wingman at Lowes. He likes to go and ride in the Jimmie Johnson #48 Lowes Car Shopping Cart. And every time I'd see another Dad with his little NASCAR driver I'd miss my little buddy.

Which is not to say that the weekend wasn't productive. I was able to run a new electrical circuit and install new lighting in the basement. (Without electrocuting myself, for which I give myself a pat on the back.) I was also able to repair and reinforce the wall leading down the steps in preparation for the new handrail. All while avoiding the emergency room.

The rest of the family returned Saturday night and spent most of the day at the Club leaving me, yet again, with another opportunity to send myself to the emergency room. But, good triumphed over evil again and through the grace of God I remained free of major injury.

Upon returning, from the Club, I was informed that Tiernan has reached another milestone in his cognitive awareness of himself and the world around him. The story, which was relayed to me by DirectorMom, (that is what I am going to call my wife from now on, since her recent appointment to director position at work), goes that Tiernan was playing ping pong with one of the female lifeguards for a while at the club and, after the lifeguard left, the boy somehow broke or messed up the net of the ping pong table. DirectorMom noticed this and tried, unsuccessfully, to fix it. She told Tiernan that they would have to report the problem to the club staff in the office.

Now the story goes, that the boy became very upset at this, but allowed the incident to be reported, on the condition that DirectorMom not tell Dad, Aunt Eileen, or his lifeguard friend about this incident. Neither, I or DirectorMom understand why it is so important that this incident be kept a secret, but the important thing is, Tiernan is now keeping secrets. Up until now, the concept of keeping a secret has been foreign to him. Or, if he has understood the concept, it was only in reference to gifts and keeping a surprise a secret. Not, as in this case, keeping a secret to conceal something he had done to avoid shame or punishment. That shows a higher understanding of the concept. And this is news.

I am not saying that keeping secrets is inherently bad. Everybody has secrets. This just marks another milestone in Tiernan's development as a person. He has secret, or so he thinks.

And so, this ping pong incident is the thing I don't know -- as far as Tiernan knows.