Breaking Point

Last weekend was fun filled and ended with a big trip to the Zoo. Little did we know that getting to the Zoo would be a Zoo. With all of the flooding in Chicago, the heaviest concentration was right at the Brookfield location. 2.5 hours or so to drive to the zoo and find parking (the bulk spent on finding parking) due to road closings and parking lot closings.

Well, we got there and found great parking, for free, near the Zoo. Several hours spent inside and walking aorund, etc. On the way home Alissa and I were exhausted. Jack on the other hand was catching a second wind and going 100 miles an hour with questions and talking. After 12 solid hours away from home Al and I were quickly becoming grumpy parents. Asking jack to "PLEASE be quiet!" and other requests that were met with "NO! I won't be quiet!"

We were at our breaking point and close to losing it to be quite honest. Well we decide to give Jack his toy we bought at the Zoo whcih was a Giraffe head attached to a long stick with a handle that would make the Giraffe's mouth move and talk. He saw me using this toy throughout the day talking to people and animals and having fun with the toy (For teaching purposes only...really). So the moment before Alissa and I start yelling and becoming demanding parents Jack takes the Giraffe head (attached to an 18 inch stick) and plops it to the right of Alissa's face while she is trying to relax in the car.

She looks to her right, sees a Girrafe head and Jack pulls the trigger moving the mouth and says loudly, "Heh-Wo" (hello). Instead of losing it in anger we laughed so hard we cried until we got home. Jack, seeing that this pleased the crowd, maintained form and let the Giraffe eat Alissa's hair, mouth catchy phrases and put on an act for the tired crew up front.

I guess our breaking point was near the funny end and not the angry end. Jack - You are a funny kid. Thanks for the great weekend and very talented entertainment!

ROI

Another weekend gone by and my co-workers give me a hard time because I look exhausted on Monday's with puffy eyes. It is true. The weekends are non-stop fun for Alissa and I with the boys. We don't watch the kids, we invest in their lives. We are constantly at their level, i.e., on the floor, on the knees, in the swing set, on the baseball field, etc. You see, watching is something you do while doing something else. On the weekends its all about Jack and Cole. Gardening, Tractor..ing, Mowing, Playing, Fort..ing (building forts), Eating, Reading and any other "ing" you can think of.

There is a lot of excitement and energy in young kids. Everything is new to them. The tractor ride to come is more exciting than the previous one. Listening to the John Deere song never gets old, it gets better. It is in the times where I am busy doing something else, pulling weeds or whatever, and Jack says; "Good job Daddy" or "Good eye Daddy" do I realize that all of the time spent with him and investing in him and building him up is paying off.

Some investors like to play conservative and invest a little here and a little there in hopes of modest returns over a long period of time. When it comes to my kids I like to take a high risk mentality; Invest everything I have in them now with no reserves. I'll get to see the payoff now...and later.