Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Date night with my daughter

While growing up, I was a klutz who spent many nights in the emergency room. There was never a year that I didn't spend some time in the hospital.

There was a concussion after running into a pole while in a kindergarten, a broken rib suffered in a baseball game as a 12-year-old, a deep cut to my right knee from a bike spoke, and I almost cut a pinkie finger off while working as a slicer at an Italian restaurant as a teenager. Throw in four surgeries for various health issues, and it shouldn't surprise that many of the hospital staff knew me on a first name basis.

After each trip, my parents always had some gift waiting for me at home. It always made me feel loved when I walked into my room and found some present waiting for me on my bed.

On Thursday afternoon, I was able to do the same thing for one my own daughters. I received a call during my last class from her mother that Shelby split her chin open after falling on a toy box. I left work in a hurry and spent the afternoon with my six-year-old in a local urgent care.

The result was a night that neither of us will ever forget.

She received six stitches to close up a cut that the doctor said was one of the worst she had seen. My daughter was a trooper during the ordeal and I knew I had to come up with something to give her like my parents had for me after my hospital visits.

I had two tickets to a Los Angeles Lakers' game later that night and had troubles finding someone to go with me. While waiting to be seen, I had received a number of text messages from friends saying that for some reason or other they would not be able to join me to watch one of the best teams in the NBA.

Shelby kept telling me different friends I should try and invite to the game, but never came up with person I knew I should take.

"Hey, I know someone I can take to the game," I said.

"Who?"

"You!"

She smiled so big at my response that the doctor warned her about possibly reopening her cut. We both laughed at that and walked hand in hand out the door.

She talked endlessly during the two-hour drive and never stopped asking questions about what she was going to see. I have never seen her so excited, however, it would have been nice for a few quiet moments while trying to navigate through LA traffic.

As soon as we walked into Staples Center, she had to have a Lakers' t-shirt, a foam finger in the shape of the No. 1 sign, an ice cream cone, and a large bottle of water. She was quickly becoming an expensive date.

While waiting for the game to start, she asked me what I thought was an innocent question. It ended up being a dig at her old man.

"Dad, who do you think will win the game?"

"The Lakers are going to win for sure, baby."

"Well, that will be nice. Your basketball and football teams never win."

She is definitely my daughter.

Despite that comment, we had a great night and the Lakers did win. She stood up the entire game cheering and yelling "MVP" every time the Kobe Bryant got the ball.

As we walked out, she said thanks and that she had a great time. Shelby even said that she was glad that she got hurt and was able to spend the night all on her own with me.

I couldn't have agreed with her more.

16 comments:

Scary Mommy said...

Oh, so sweet! I hope my kids will occasionally choose us over friends-- that must have been the best feeling!

Another Suburban Mom said...

That is sweet. I am sure that your daughter will remember that night forever and it will become one of her most cherished memories.

They have some ointments out there that help minimize scarring and act as an antibiotic.

If you can't find them, once the initial healing is done and everything is closed, put a little vitamin E oil on her chin.

Unknown said...

That's so sweet. Hope she's feeling better soon! Though I think date night with her dad probably did the trick.

Not a soccer mom said...

Kids can be expensive, albeit grateful dates. What a great night...
should do it more often, not just when she is hurt

Ian Newbold said...

Seems like you had a great time, and I am also from team clutz. I have got injured in games, just waiting to come onto the field.

And, BTW, what will your daughter have to break to get a season ticket?

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

Totally sweet...there is nothing like a Dad who is involved with his kids...there is just something about it!

She will remember that forever!

katherine. said...

...and a lifelong Laker fan is born.

Mike said...

Oh what a nice story to hear.

Tuesday Taylor said...

Love this story. And love the Lakers.

TentCamper said...

Great post!! Love the lakers and ...even love date nights with the kids more. Hope she heals up ok. and as for you...you big clutz...pull it together will ya!!

dadshouse said...

Very touching story. I hardly ever get one-on-one time with my kids. I'm divorced, so when they're with me, they're both with me. But when I do get that one-on-one time, it's precious.

Your daughter will remember this Lakers game forever! And I'm guessing when she has kids, if they get hurt, she'll be giving them a super treat.

Barney said...

aaawww... a memory she will cherish for life...

Ronda's Rants said...

I love this post!! She will always remember this night and you have raised the bar for all men who come into her life!!!

Sandi said...

that sounds like a lot of fun. I love taking my girls out one at a time so they have that special time with me. My 7 year old is so far the accident prone one. She broke her arm jumping off her bed and falling onto a toy snorkel on the floor and flipped her head pouting one time so hard she didn't see the door behind her on which she promptly banged her head requiring staples in the top of her head. Ugh.

Anonymous said...

Excellent. She will never forget that ever.

You get the good dad cookie!

Susan said...

How sweet! HUGE memory for her I promise she will ALWAYS remmeber that. Funny how simple, little things make such huge impressions.

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