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Hey Dad,

Well, global warming has finally checked its progress here in northern Indiana, and we have some honest to goodness sledding snow. Actually, one of the great things about working out of your home is that when you get a good snow—you can drop everything and go sledding.

Of course, the bad part of working at home is that when you get a good snow, your kids WANT you to drop everything and go sledding.

"You promised when it snowed you'd take us sledding."

"Hey, Dad, aren't you glad it's snowing so we can go sledding?"

"Dad, all the sleds are in the van."

I knew hiding was no good. They'd track me down and remind me of my promise to go—so off we went.

Now I must add that before we left, my wife warned the kids to be extra careful and not to break any bones—you know how wives can be.

A couple hours later, we were having Sam's (11) nose x-rayed at the hospital.

Let the record show—it wasn't my fault. In fact, we were having a great time. We had the hill all to ourselves; the snow was packed down and fast. The wind was bitterly cold, and the kids' cheeks were cherry red—just the way I like it.

Any misgiving about having to give up half my day to go sledding had vanished, and I was basking in the glory of fatherhood as I watched my kids race down and trudge up the hill, calling out to each other and me in pure sledding delight.

That's when it happened. My sons Ben and Abe zipped down the hill right toward Sam. In a pendulum like motion, Sam's legs were cut right out from under him, and his face was driven into the permafrost.

"Auggggggg!" he screamed as blood gushed from his mouth and nose.

What a day!

You know the kids will never forget the time Dad took them sledding and Sam broke his nose. That's the way it is with memories—some of the worst memories make the best memories. I would have missed them all if I had insisted that I was too busy to go sledding—and so will you if you insist you're too busy for whatever they're asking you to do with them.

So, go make some memories—but be careful out there.

You 'da Dad,

© 2007 Todd Wilson. Used by permission.

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