My oldest, C, is about to turn 13. He has a long way to go before he is a man, but the process has begun.

I coach swimming, and last Thursday I went to the pool to help some of the kids from the Special Olympics. My two oldest boys asked if they could help, and of course I said yes. C was working with a little boy that was about 8. And honestly, he surprised me. C was patient and kind to this young boy. He held him in the water so he could float on his back. In the hour he worked with him, he never once expressed frustration or irritation. He laughed with this little boy and swam along next to him.

When the hour was up, this little boy ran up to his parents and said how cool my son was. What an awesome new friend he had. While C was waiting for me he swam some extra laps, and this little boy watched him and clapped with delight. It was so enlightening for me to see my son through someone else’s eyes.

A week later thinking about this brings tears to my eyes. While sitting here waiting for the new addition to our family to be born (YES you read right!) I am realizing that maybe, I am doing an ok job with the ones that are here. And in the end, isn’t that all we can ask?