Cat’s in the Cradle?

Our son, almost nine, just told me, “Your Family is the best thing you have”.

He’s in Orlando and I’m in Lahti, Finland.

I awoke at 4AM, which is 9PM in Florida, my wife and son were watching “So You Think You Can Dance”.

Two amazing things happened at his summer camp, as the Disney World-YMCA facility celebrated their fifth anniversary with a big party:

  1. He danced with other children in front of all the Parents, Staff and Guests.
  2. Using a microphone, he read a poem to everyone. He also wrote it.

It was great to hear his excitement when I told him, “I’m amazed you did those two things in front of all those people”.

He said, “I’m amazed that you’re amazed”.

I could tell in his voice that he felt he had done something out of his comfort zone, and that he felt more confident for having done so.

What I didn’t tell him, was the fact that being here in Finland is making me feel that way too.

“And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me

And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin’ home son?
I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then son

You know we’ll have a good time then” — Harry Chapin

Carpe diem, jeff noel 🙂

By jeff noel

Retired Disney Institute Keynote Speaker and Prolific Blogger. Five daily, differently-themed personal blogs (about life's 5 big choices) on five interconnected sites.