Life Lesson: Daddy Daughter Day
Note: This post is a part of an article and series of blog posts about my ongoing divorce and custody battle for my daughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I learned my next life lesson from an unexpected source, a complete stranger.
I took Alexandria in search of a Gymboree with a play area that one of my friends had told me about. The only one I knew about was in the Arboretum area. So, after I got off work I gave Alexandria a bath and got her dressed up, then we headed out. We found the Gymboree there, however it was only a small one with clothes. So we walked around and saw an Amy's Ice Cream. I asked Alexandria if she wanted some, and her usual response to any "Do you want ..." question is yes.
While we were eating our ice cream (a small mexican vanilla) I was talking to my friend on the phone about some of the events of the past few days. A young lady whom Alexandria had been waving to and smiling at overheard part of the conversation and we started talking. She talked about how when she was only 2 her parents got divorced. She couldn't remember much, but she did remember that every weekend her dad had her they would see a movie together. Even now, that is "their thing". She suggested that we do something similar to help keep a strong bond, perhaps even a weekly ice cream trip. After that her friend showed up and they left. I have Alexandria late on Wednesdays so that would give us more time to do something... Maybe it will be just getting ice cream and watching the people go by.
Life Lesson Learned: Have a Daddy Daughter Day. Something unique that the two of you do together, just spending time and building memories. It can be as simple as watching a movie or having ice cream. Just do it consistently week after week (or every 2 weeks, or any set time) and make it a priority. Make that your time together, bonding, and show that your time together is important enough that only extreme emergencies should interfere with it.