living
AND ANOTHER THING …
“ MOM AND DAD ? When can we go back to the Super-Duper Splash Park ?”
My wife and I have been asked that question exactly 3,489 times since the last time we went to the Super-Duper Splash Park late last summer , on closing weekend .
We ’ ve heard that question more than we ’ ve heard “ Do we have to go to bed ?” or “ Do we have to eat this ?” or “ Can we watch your grown-up show ?”
The Super-Duper Splash Park , if you haven ’ t guessed , is the Henderson Pool . I ’ ve heard “ Super-Duper Splash Park ” so often now I had to Google what the actual name is . In my kids ’ defence – that place is pretty super-duper . The following is a list of things I also frequently forget have different names : Super-Duper Fun Park ( aka Calaway Park outside Calgary ). Super-Duper Play Place ( aka Wear ‘ M ’ Out here in Lethbridge ). The Not-Boring Grocery Store where they keep the lobsters ( aka Real Canadian Superstore ). They love the lobsters and get grossed out by the oysters . I really wish they called it the Super-Duper Lobster Place .
And then there ’ s me , Jay – something else that I frequently forget has a different name .
My kids are in both daycare and preschool . At daycare , their caretakers are referred to as “ Teacher .” At preschool , their teachers are referred to as “ Miss .” Because , you know , school , right ?
So , what am I ? Sometimes it ’ s “ Dad .” Sometimes it ’ s “ Daddy ” ( when they REALLY want something ). Most of the time now , though , I get “ Hey , Miss Daddy , when can we go to the Super-Duper Splash Park ?” Miss . Daddy . I remember calling Mrs . Miller ( my Grade 2 teacher ) “ Mom ” from time to time , so I get that particular and occasional slip of the tongue . But , seriously ? Miss Daddy ?
And my kids are smart . I only had to raise an eyebrow to “ Miss Daddy ” once before they realized they ’ d said something funny – and now ? Well , let ’ s just say I have to check my driver ’ s licence from time to time to make sure I am who I think I am .
It ’ s probably my own fault . They are A LOT like me . ( I ’ ve had them refer to my brother as “ Auntie Rob ” since they ’ ve been able to speak .)
Thankfully though , they are even more like their mother , who they do not refer to as Mr . Mommy – Michael Keaton has dibs on that , regardless of whether or not they know who he is .
So when in fact will we be going to the Super-Duper Splash Park ? Generally speaking , telling them “ Before Halloween ” usually gets them off my case . But that gets them thinking about candy , and then Miss Daddy is off to the Super-Duper Bulk Barn .
JAY HERRINGTON PHOTOGRAPHY : JEN ALSTON , MPA ;
IMAJEN PHOTOGRAPHY @ jayherrington75
Jay Herrington can be heard weekday mornings from 5:30 – 10 a . m . on Lethbridge ’ s Home for Modern Hit Music , 98.1 The Bridge .
42 LETHBRIDGELIVING . COM MAY-JUN 2017