Kids Kick the Cool Out of You

Before we had Ellie, a New Yorker we met skiing told many hilarious stories about how his kids slowly dismantled his previously "cool" life.  And at the end of ever story, he'd say "kids kick the cool out of you".  And although he seemed to genuinely miss his previous life (fancy cars, nice furniture, big vacations, etc), he'd always say just how much he loved his children and the life he was currently living.

I had an epiphany moment the other day as Ellie and I were tromping around at a local park.  Children are the great equalizers of life.  Children have no idea what status their parents hold in the world (at least for now), nor do they care.  They are driven to grow and learn and grow and learn.

Ellie could care less about all the "cool" things I have achieved.  She just wants me to be her playmate and tromp around in the park.  I finally understood what that New Yorker meant.  The "cool has been kicked out of me".

I've realized just how humbled Ellie has made me.  I really don't seek nice, expensive things anymore because there's a high probability that they will be slimmed up with sticky hands or punctured or accidentally broken. 

That staying patient and calm with a 2 year old is one of the most difficult skills I've ever acquired.  Getting upset only makes things worse and gets neither of us anywhere.

That time goes way too fast and we don't "see" it in our regular adult lives.  But with kids, we get to watch time pass as the inches accumulate, the words collect and they become people.

And that I'm caring less and less about status in the world.  When I meet other parents, no matter who they are and what they do, they have the exact same struggles with their children that I do with Ellie.  The great equalizer in life.