Sheesh, time is just flying by.  I can’t believe it’s already February.  Lots of things happening and it’s all great…just stopping and smelling the roses

I also want to share a part of Chris McCormack’s blog (he’s a pro triathlete) in which he talks about his daughter growing up.  Similar theme of time just flying by without you noticing until you decide to consciously stop.  I look forward to being stumped by our lil baby in the future lol.

My daughter asked me yesterday, “Dad, did you go to school?”

My immediate answer was,

“Yes darling of course I went to school and I loved it. I studied hard , always did what the teacher told me to do and was friendly to everyone in the playground. If you study hard at school when you grow up you can be anything you want to be. You can be a doctor or a lawyer, a teacher, anything. You just need to work hard and listen to the teacher.”

I felt great with that response, looked at my daughter who took in everything I said, and thought to myself, great parenting Chris. Good job.

I was blown away with her response after I had hit her with that. Our conversation went like this.

Tahlia: “Were you not good at school then, dad?’

Me: “No I was very good at school darling. I studied very hard and got great grades.”

Tahlia: “Then why do you do triathlon for your job then? You don’t have to be smart to do that. You always tell me sport is for fun. You don’t have to be smart to have fun!. I love school dad and I am going to be a doctor when I grow up. A doctor or maybe a teacher”

I was completely lost for words. How do you answer that question. She is right, you don’t exactly have to be a rocket scientist to do our sport, and to be honest; sometimes I wonder if all of us have a brain at all to put ourselves through what we do. My 6-year-old daughter had me stumped and made me think. I told her that daddy did triathlon for a job because he was very good at it, but when it was all over I was going to go back and teach people about being healthy and how to look after themselves. I was going to show people how to get better and to get fit and look after their bodies and be healthy, just like a doctor does.  I thought she would like that.

Her answer back to me again made me realize that the little girl we used to drag around the world was finding her balance. She was starting to settle and grow up, and more importantly she was starting to problem solve, dream and think. Being settled at school had given her the balance and stability in her life to dream.

‘Dad your not a doctor. You have to learn everything at school to be a doctor.  Doctors are smart dad. I want to be a doctor.”

She had me, and I knew then and their I was fighting an unwinnable battle trying to justify my intelligence with a 6 year old. I also smiled to myself and was so happy that my daughter was finding her feet. After a life on the road, she was finally settling down. I felt good.