man_03 photos on Flickr

I realised I don't think I have put up any photos recently of the new'ish addition to our family. I'm a bad daddy. His sister is so charasmatic and such a show pony (and cute of course) so I've only posted photos of her lately. But Little Mr Bullfrog is really starting to develop his a personality. He is 9 months old now. He seems so happy with life and happy with whatever and whoever comes along. I once had that carefree attitude. I aspire to get that back but life has sucked much of that out of me over the years :(

I can't wait to see the man he grows in to. Whilst Bullfrog and his sister Bear do share some visual similarities, at comparable ages, they are chalk and cheese. He is very grunty and is either happy or sad with nothing really in between. Ellie was so incredibly switched on and emotive even at the same age. I know all parents are biased but our little girl strikes me as the most incredibly bright and articulate 2 year old I've ever met. I don't think Lachlan will be the same. But that is a good thing. He is going to be such a different character. It will be fantastic to see what he likes doing. Will he find words and take to them like Ellie? Will he find movement and run around like the madman that my mother describes me as being (aka hyperactive to the max, keep him away from the fruitloops)? Or will he be somewhere in between.

Its also going to be interesting to see how our bond develops over time. To say that our daughter is a daddys girl is a bit of an understatement. Its incredible and I know it is also a touch upsetting for mum who does most of the heavy lifting. I am tougher on Ellie, I get annoyed and angry with her more and I do less of the fun stuff day to day than my wife. And yet she yeah can't walk into the next room without asking Daddy to come with her. Is this hard wired behaviour? On that basis is Lachie likely to be a mummys boy? Who knows.

I'm looking forward to finding out. I'm looking forward to taking him to the park to play basketball / football / ballet or whatever path he chooses. I want him to follow is dreams in the way that I never did. I want him to have the confidence to tackle anything that his heart desires in the way that I now realise I didn't.

I have achieved a fair amount in my life. But I still always feel a bit like the kid who had 'shows great potential' written on his report card. I don't think I have ever really blamed my circumstances for any short comings I have as a person or for not achieving things in life that I now believe I could have. But I have been guilty at times of not chasing my dreams due to fear of failure. Its easy to say 'look I got an A and I didn't even try'. But inside you always know you wanted that A+ but where too afraid to fail so you didn't commit to it.

I guess with parenting, the imperative is there not to fail and it pushes you to try better and go for the A +. But then you have to balance that desire with the reality that you have created for yourself in your past life.

I have many successes in life but also a few failings that really hold me back. I hope that I can become a role model for my children and help them overcome some of the failings that I have shown. I don't expect them to be perfect. I want them to learn from my mistakes and give life everything they have.

At this stage, I am pretty confident they will do this. And hopefully make me rich as famous scientists / educators / journalists / sports people / artists / writers / prime ministers / engineers / lawyers / doctors...

Not really. I will be happy as long as they try and and as long as they listen and care.

Thanks for listening and caring!

Isn't he a handsome little chubby chunks?

2964-13904§ by Jean Van Der Kelen

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VVM 2964 - SRWT 5559 - MIVB 8454

Landen, Stationsplein - 16 maart 2008

SRWT 5559 ... Van Hool A500 MAN (04/1994)

VVM 2964 ..... Van Hool A500 MAN (03/1993)

MIVB 8454 .... Van Hool A500 MAN (05/1992)

Custom Draego-Man_03 by Matt K

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