Promises

I had been promising Dax that we could go feed the ducks since he was doing so well on the potty. It has been since early spring since we had visited our favorite little pond, and let’s face it, it has been way too hot to even try. So, seeing as we’re in mid-September, I felt like a trip to the park wasn’t an unreasonable request. Dax and I both were ready for some fresh air and different scenery after a week in the bathroom…I mean house. He’s doing great, so it’s been well worth it being home bound for five days, but we definitely needed to get out.

We grabbed the bread and a blanket and headed out yesterday afternoon. Dax was thrilled. Whenever we are going somewhere exciting, he sings a little chant that goes, “We’re going to the (fill in the blank) woooo!” Sometimes I have to initiate this little chant to generate some excitement. For example, “We’re going to get our hair cut, wooo!” just to see if I can trick him into thinking we are doing something extra special. But on this day, he sang that chant proud, all by himself, all the way to the park.

We arrived at the park and no one was around. I was a little nervous because I couldn’t see any ducks right away. Immediately I start to wonder, maybe ducks aren’t even in “season”? Maybe they have flown south for the summer? Do ducks migrate? Maybe it’s still too hot for them to be in Sun Valley? I don’t know these things! I start to panic. I have this thing about promises. I know most parents are this way, but I am really really adamant on telling Dax the truth. No white lies. I don’t try to trick him or tell him something false just to get him to do something I want. If I say we’re going to do something, we usually do it. If I say I am going to buy him something or give him something, I do. True, these promises are pretty few and far between, but if I make it, I keep it. I have seen kids disappointed or let down and I vowed never to be that parent that would say one thing and not ever follow through. So, when I couldn’t see any ducks, I just wanted to cry. It looked like I wasn't going to be able to keep my promise, and that just doesn't sit well.

We get out of the car and walk towards the grass area and lo and behold, under a park bench was a beautiful white goose happily resting. I point her out to Dax and he grabs a hot dog bun (bread? hot dog bun? same thing, right?) and takes off towards her. I’m thinking this little goose is going to be in heaven to have all of our bread all to herself. It was going to be picturesque watching him feed this little feathered friend. She was stark white, the water was crystal blue, Dax was looking as handsome as could be (like always to me), and we had the pond all to ourselves.

It didn't happen that way at all.

My wonderful vision is interrupted when Mother Goose decides to take off in the other direction. Dax patiently goes after her, trying to tell her to come back and eat the bread. Next thing you know she disappears behind some bushes (see first photo). He runs over to me and asks where she went. I tell her I am not sure and start panicking again because our little adventure is not turning out right at all. He says, “I think she went to change hims clothes”. Hmmm. Maybe, that’s a good guess. But really, I am just feeling horrible that the one little goose that is around runs off and won’t come back.

Dax doesn’t seem to be bothered. He is happy just to be “free”. He runs up and down the water shore, climbs trees, plays peek a boo with Wyatt and chases the birds. I’m feeling a little let down that my big promise to feed ducks was a total bust. Dax informs me he has to go potty (this is going to take some getting used to) and as we walk to the bathroom, we are pleasantly surprised to see on the other side of the building about two dozen ducks that are more than happy to see us.

Let’s just say, these ducks were fed with pure love. And thankfully, promises were kept.