Perspective
How I almost missed JOY.
5 is a significant number – we’re a family of 5 and our youngest just turned 5. I thought it fitting to focus this post on him. Our “Gus,” as we like to call him, is a smiley, rather animated little guy. He has big, green eyes (like his Dad) and always has something funny to say. He likes to make faces, run with the big dogs and be fast, wild and loud – it is, after all, the Kamin way.
For his birthday, we spent almost the entire day at the MOA (Mall of America). We don’t go there very often – too big, too expensive. But, this was different. Because it’s his birthday, he got a free unlimited ride wristband for Nickelodeon Universe (we had to sign up online, bring in the email with UPC to scan and his birth certificate. But, to save $30, it was worth it). We bought a package of points so our other two could ride some as well.
The whole fam (sans me) started with the log chute. I get out of going, because I hide behind the camera volunteer to take pictures. My hubs is the pro, but after working all day with a camera, it’s the LAST thing he wants to do. The log ride looks so fun and harmless, but Gus’ face said something different as the log came careening quite rapidly down the chute. But, even after he expressed his utter disgust with the ride, he decided later to go with his Dad & brother, while sis & I watched.
After that, we ran from ride to ride, Gus looking more excited at every turn. He then saw Diego’s Safari Ride, which for the record was much cuter as a Camp Snoopy bus. The ride goes up and around and down – like a small ferris wheel. It looks like a lame ride to me, but he wanted to ride and his brother and sister joined him. They are older, so I assumed it would also be below their thrill standards. It was not. They wanted to go again – immediately. I found myself trying to steer them toward something else. “Let’s walk around and see what other rides there are,” I’d say. After all, my two older kids had only a “limited amount of points” and “they might not want to use them all up on this little ride.” My hubs scolded me. “If this is what makes them happy, let them do it.”
So, they went – several times. Later, I took Gus to ride something while his siblings were on a larger swing ride with Dad. Guess where he wanted to go? Yep. And, he asked me to go along. I wasn’t too excited, but I reluctantly agreed. I don’t generally like rides, because of a weak stomach. We got in and put the safety bar over our laps. Surprisingly, it went faster than I had predicted and my tummy did do a little flip-flop on the first up-over motion. Then, I turned to watch his face and see his excitement. That’s all I needed. I’m sorry it took me so long to notice. I wasted most of the afternoon, thinking we should be somewhere else, doing something “cooler.” Why did I feel like we’d be ripped off if he used all his time on one or two rides? Why did I practically insist that we look around before settling on what to do? Why did I not take into account his 5-year old joy?
Sometimes, we forget to focus on our true joy and we get lost in all the bells and whistles of the world. We’re so busy trying to do it all that we can’t really enjoy a few important things – laughing, smiling, being happy. We think we’re entitled to do and see it all – the biggest, the fastest, the most thrilling, when sometimes it’s nice just to sit down and see the world from a different perspective . . . even if it’s on a Diego bus ride.
Happy Birthday, Gus – I love you.
