Big Boy David Fetterman II (formerly Baby Fetterman): September 2014

L'Shana Tovah - A Good New Year

In the Jewish tradition this is time to look mark and commemorate a new year. Often you hear "have a happy new year", but the translation is really a "good" new year. It is a subtle, but important distinction. The focus on happiness is often associated with a more selfish and materialistic vantage point. A good new year focuses on what we can do to make the world (and ourselves) better - what we might give instead of receive, what matters more, like love, friendship, and health.

Nick playing with the dogs after Rosh Hashanah Dinner

In any case, it has been a while since I have had time to sit and reflect on our life or in this case this little man's life. He made me think about things this morning.

Morning Rush

I was in a rush like usual to get him up early for skating (5:45-6:00 am). I have to make sure he is up, dressed, hair and teeth brushed - the works. I have to make sure the dogs are taken out and fed. Then I have to make breakfast and pack his lunch. I clean up the kitchen mess while cooking (which means moving double time) so I don't have to deal with it later.

Oh yes - have to make sure we have the school work in his backpack. Then it is off to the skating ring and then school drop off. It is a bit much in the morning - a full time job before the work day even begins - but this is a familiar woe you hear from most parents as they get their kids ready for school. But the biggest struggle has been waking him up and just getting him dressed (and of course the endless reminder to "eat, eat, eat" his breakfast).

It is Tuesday and I was up for the routine challenge of the morning. I walked into his dark room. I decided not to wake him with the light because it was early and I wanted to wake him gently. But what happened. He whipped off the blanket, jumped out of bed, and scared me with a awful scream.

He got me good. He was just waiting for me - what a prankster.

Then he said "Dad watch me get dressed." I am thinking to myself: "are you kidding." I have this litany of tasks to do before we could even get out the door and you want me to watch you get dressed and you are almost 8 years old.

However, a split second after he asked me to watch him I realized he was right. I said "sure little man. You are right." I told him "there was a time only a few years ago when putting on your pants and shirt were not possible or an extraordinarily time consuming task. Yes - I should watch you". I was actually appreciating the personal, almost mundane, transformation. In my rush to complete my tasks, my daily routine, I almost missed the moment (and his delight in having me just share it with him). We are all in such a hurry that these are the moments we don't even notice anymore.

The rest of the morning was fun. We went down stairs joked about the morning, ate our breakfast, made it to ice skating in time - took some pictures and made it to school. We talked about all sorts of things - some personal, some gaming of course, and just whatever. We enjoyed each other's company. That is what a good year is about. In this case we were also happy.

A Few Moments

Since the day got me to thinking about how I should take a moment in spite of all the deadlines, the conferences coming up, the new book, and the (hopefully) never ending projects. I have added a few moments in this little man's life that I have been meaning to record but with one excuse or another about how busy we are, just didn't get to - but today as part of our Rosh Hashanah reminder to live a good life, I am taking a moment to share something special - the everyday life of a little, almost 8 year old, man.

Skating