And I ate half of
them!
Last Sunday was Father’s
Day here in Australia. It is a day that does remind Kirby and I that we don’t
have our own children – there are no children (human at least) that give him a
card and a present and make breakfast in bed for him.
Before Hugo was born
Father’s Day was about us kids (Kirby, Zoe and me) celebrating our two Dads. We
were the children – the next generation. When Hugo came along Father’s Day
changed. We had a gorgeous little boy who celebrated his Papa (his Dad) and his
Pop (Kirby and Zoe’s Dad). Our little nephew is of the next generation – the generation
to which Kirby and my children would have belonged, and it became a little
difficult to face Father’s Day.
Three Father’s Days on
and it’s not nearly so emotionally difficult, and here’s why:
Father’s Day 2013
When I woke up after a
little bit of a sleep in, Kirby was relaxing in the lounge watching a car race
that he had taped the week before. He was the picture of relaxation in his
pyjamas with Felix, one of our cats, sitting on his lap. Felix barely opened
his eyes to look at me and in his state of bliss at being on Kirby’s lap I’m
not sure he even registered that I was standing there!
I went and made a
yummy breakfast of fruit muffins and coffee and brought it into the lounge.
Frankie and Minerva (our other cats) came in and tried to convince us that they
needed muffins for breakfast too! It didn’t happen…
After we had eaten I
went and got an envelope and gave it to Kirby. This is what was written in the card:
Dear Daddy,
We meant to go and get you a present, but Ari
and Odi chased the cats,
the cats
chased the fish, and the fish hid. So nobody went to the shops.
Okay – lame excuse, but we are animals! So go
and buy a move or some music.
Lots of love,
Minerva, Frankie, Felix, Ari, Odi, Ursula,
Dylan, Calypso, George, Sydney,
Harriet, Holly and the seven fish yet to be
named.
Yep – our fur and
scale kids had given a card to their Daddy. Although, because they are slackers
and wouldn’t go to the shop, I had to organise the card. Kirby was delighted
with his card and put it up on the wall unit.
The next few hours
were spent changing cat litter, doing dishes, vacuuming and mopping the floor and
setting the table for our guests. Kirby tried to use the card the kids gave him
to get out of house work, as it said he should relax and take it easy. Nice
try, but wasn’t going to happen!
My Mum and Dad arrived
first, bearing caramel slice and a potato bake. Then Kirby’s folks, Zoe and
Hugo turned up with sunshine salad (look up the recipe with jelly and pineapple
in it – yum!) and a cake. We sat around the table and grazed on the dips and
biscuits Zoe had brought. Hugo was
determined to play cars straight away, and feed the fish, but we told him we
would do so after lunch.
Then it was present
time. We gave my Dad his card and present first and then Kirby and Zoe’s Dad was
given his. Both Dads loved their presents and their cards. Hugo’s Papa is
currently overseas so Hugo didn’t get to give him his present on Sunday.
Next, Hugo brought
over a present for Kirby. A lovely carton of chocolates! The card that
accompanied it had a photo of Hugo with his toy elephant, tiger and zebra on
it. Inside the card read:
Uncle Kirby’s Day
Dear Uncle Kirby
Best wishes for Uncle Kirby day.
I love
you and your cars.
Hugo
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| Hugo's photo on Uncle Kirby's card |
After the present giving
we organised a BBQ lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of the day with our
families and with our darling nephew, Hugo.
You see – on the first
Father’s Day after Hugo was born, my mother-in-law organised a present from
Hugo to Kirby and named Father’s Day as Uncle Kirby’s Day as well. It was a
true gift from her. It makes Kirby feel special (and me on Mother’s Day, or
Aunty Kate’s Day, too!). We are celebrated by Hugo as very important and much
loved people in his life.
Father’s Day has
become easier with each passing year, but more importantly, it has become a day
for Kirby to be celebrated. His fur and scale kids celebrate him as their Daddy
and Hugo celebrates him as his Uncle Kirby.
How could you not
enjoy a day like that?
Especially given there were chocolates!
*
Our fur kids...the fish refused to be photographed...
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| Felix |
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| Minerva |
 |
| Frankie (Francesca) |
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| Ari |
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| Odi |
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