Major League Baseball has a method for removing injured players from the roster in order to substitute healthy ones. It’s called the disabled list or the DL. Even the best of us can sprain an ankle, pull a muscle, or in my case tweak a knee. Thus, I had to scratch my name off the Dadnamics roster and place it on the DL. The MLB allows a 1-for-1 swap, but the Dadnamics League has better rules. I activated all four of my kids. The game was in their hands.
While I was laid-up on the couch with my ice pack, they said. “Dad, let’s do a Dadnamics video!”
“What did you have in mind?” I asked.
My oldest just smirked. “Just start recording…”
3 – 2 – 1 – Shoot!
“We’re live kids.” I did an intro like usual and then let the kids do their improvisational performance… or what I called the Improv.
It was a ton of fun as usual. All four of my kids performed whatever silliness they wanted and in the end, we all goofed off on the couch watching the recordings. Was it just another Dadnamics moment or is it possible that I’m overlooking and even taking things for granted? Allow me to explain.
The first two words, “ice pack”, reminded me that I am so fortunate. I can walk, run, throw, and do active things with my kids. All it took was a weekend on the couch to realize how fragile life is. If you’re out there and dealing with disabilities or disease and you can’t do those things with your kids, please accept my apology. I haven’t been doing enough examples to help YOU and YOUR kids. I will do better. I took for granted the simple act of walking and playing, but won’t do it again.
The last word is “Improv”. I did a quick check with my friend, Mr. Wiki, who told me that improv is a form of theater where most or all of what is performed is created at the moment it is performed. And I thought… That’s Dadnamics. I don’t script this stuff. I just do it. It’s an improv performance every time. Whether I errand to the post office or bank, I improv with my kids. Whether I clean up the kitchen or read at night, I improv with my kids. And whether I run around outside or sit on the couch, I improv with my kids. I took for granted that YOU may have fears. Improvising with your kids may scare YOU because there aren’t any instructions.
I believe lasting memories are forged through improv. Think about it Dads. What do you remember of your own father if you were blessed to have time with him as a boy? I remember going to the Philadelphia Art Museum (the one with the Rocky Balboa statue). He would take me there for fun. We’d climb rock walls on the side of the museum, run the “Rocky” steps, play around and act stupid. It was awesome and the funny part is this – we never actually went IN the museum! That was all improv and I remember it vividly 30 years later. I get it. This is why Dadnamics can be so difficult. You don’t know what to make up and you are fearful of looking foolish.
Here’s my response… Look foolish and do it anyway. What do you think your kids will remember in 30 years?
