Take time to goof around with your loved ones

This past week a long-awaited gift arrived. My anticipation was high and as I opened the box. My excitement could barely be contained. Just like a child opening the door to a brightly lit candy store for the first time, I took on the role of child as my wife looked on with a bewildered look on her face. Undoubtedly, her mind was thinking about how it was time to ground me from Amazon, again, but she quietly looked on, shaking her head.

To help you understand, and to set the framework for understanding about this box, I’ll explain. Last year was the first year I decided that I would join in with the girls and take part in dressing up in a costume for Halloween. Choosing the best family costume, my wife grudgingly went along as we planned and prepped for the big festival where we would showcase our transformation. When it was all said and done, we had a lot of fun and I won the best costume trophy, which did nothing more than fueled my desire to make the outing an annual occurrence, to the rest of the family’s dismay.

Deciding upon this year’s costume choice was a no-brainer although the rest of the family refused to buy in. Luckily, we have plenty of time for me to convince them that father knows best. Learning that buying costumes brings fun with the girls to an entirely new level I have repeatedly been advised that buying the latest latex mask, outfit, and fabricated fur suite was simply a waste of hard-earned dollars. This box was nothing more than an extension of adventures, smiles, and fun its contents would surely provide. As I opened the box which contained the latest in my long line of fun seeking props the gears of my mind began turning about when the best time to implement it would be.

Over the past two years a joke has grown between Lilli, my ten-year-old and I. With the completion of every movie which contains a forest scene, drive down a road which is wooded, or generally any outdoor type outing, I repeatedly tell her she needs to be on the look out for Bigfoot.

Describing that Bigfoot is a quiet creature who doesn’t like to be seen, Lilli routinely counters my descriptions with a look of disgust, voicing her disbelief in the creature. Lilli’s skepticism is brought to the surface as she described that I know better and its hard to see a thing which doesn’t exist. Although convincing, good ol dad, in the traditional dad way, simply disregards her skepticism and carries on with the tradition of vigilance.

Smiling as I began unboxing my recent purchase, I was convinced that I would prove my ten-year-old wrong and have a little fun along the way. My wife, still shrugging her head in disbelief over the fact that this intelligent adult could find such joy over a silly, pointless purchase, smiled and I’m sure considered if it was time to put me out to pasture. As I removed the perfectly designed big foot costume my excitement grew. I explained, again how we would play the perfect practical joke on our child, which without a doubt would resonate throughout history as the best dad prank ever.

The day of the great reveal finally came and as our family settled down for a quiet evening at home, I found it impossible to wait any longer. As the thunder sounded outside the house, my wife explained it would be best for us to wait because it appeared the rain would start at any moment. Refusing to take no for an answer, I reiterated the game plan and retired to the basement to prepare. As I dawned the bulky, fur bearing suit, my youngest giggled at the lengths dad was taking to have some fun.

Like an angelic choir, I heard my cell phone ring, notifying me that the girls were in position. My co-conspirator wife, would take Riyann onto the back deck of the house where they would look at the sunset. As with any pre-teen, Lillie would be curious over what her mom and sister were doing and follow. As the trio, stood on the deck, talking about God’s great gift of nature, I would make my way up from the basement.

I will admit, I was a bit uneasy as I exited the house and began walking through the driveway to the side yard where I would make my grand entrance. Luckily for me, no trucks full of road hunters came by. As I made my way, quietly through the trees I could hear the girls talking about nature. Once positioned perfectly I began shaking tree branches then quickly walked into an open space between the tree line and house where the talk turned to silence and gasps. As planned, I briskly walked along the tree line, looking up towards the girls, grunting occasionally. The gasps and silence quickly turned to laughter as Lilli began talking about what she had just observed.

Although refusing to give in and admit that good old dad fooled her, Lilli, Riy and momma laughed and experienced a moment of fun at the hands of their dad who was nearing a heat stroke. I think about how taking the time to lose yourself in the fun, refusing to remain so stringent and proper while simply having fun playing together can many times mean everything in a family. With each passing day there seems to be unsurmountable stress and worry over our world and the safety of the family unit. Take the time to goof around a little bit with your loved ones my friends. For it is when we bring smiles to the ones we love that fighting through the process becomes bearable.

Richard J. Stephens lives in Carter County and is the father of three little ladies ranging in age from eight to 29.