A Parental Post

This will have nothing at all to do with technology, games, or anything else I usually post about. This is about being "Dad." One of my friends from work hosted his son's birthday party at a place called Wiggleworks tonight. He reserved the party area, but the play area was still open to the public, so I don't know exactly which kids were part of the party, or which were there to play. But holy moly, did I realize how lucky Lis and I are. I've never been more proud of my kid than tonight. From the time we arrived until the time we left, you'd have thought that Lucas was the Patron Saint of Saintliness. He took turns with the other kids, he played on his own in the areas Lis and I couldn't go, he helped other kids take their turns, he didn't yell or scream when another kid took his balloon or ball. When it was time for cake, he stopped playing and came with us to the kids table, sat quietly and ate his snack while everyone else was running around, throwing chairs(!!), screaming, and stealing his food. No shit, not once but twice another kid came up to him, took a grape off his plate, and scurried off with it. I asked both of the kids if they wanted grapes as they were walking away, and they looked at me... and just paused. I'm no child psychologist, but their reaction told me MY reaction was not what the expected. They waited for another second for me to react, or grab them, or yell, or something, but finally they just shook their heads "no" and walked away. Both kids, same reaction. Interesting. Lucas, however, was unphased. He noticed, absolutely, and watched the kids as they walked away with his snack, but he had more, and Daddy was talking to the other kid, so he was cool. He drank from his juice box like a BOSS, no squeezing or spilling (and he hasn't had one in MONTHS), and when it came time to eat his cake, he used a fork, ate in pieces, and stopped before he gorged himself. Except for the birthday boy, who was also a well-behaved BOSS, Lucas was well beyond his years. Oh, Lucas isn't 2-years-old yet. I'm super duper proud.