Father finds parenting utopia and terrapin

No cynicism. For real. Fatherhood bliss. This is it.

Lauca’s father has wanted to take her exploring creeks ever since he first knew he was going to become a father. This is his moment, this is what fatherhood looked like to him when he was inspiring himself for the life he was about to enter. During those long colicky baby nights, those equally long days of her wanting to be carried everywhere, and those many moments of cold rejection when she refused any part of him, his moment must have appeared utterly impracticable. He has loved exploring creeks and hiking since he was very young. Such is his enthusiasm it even rubbed off on me, for a time. Now, Lauca, three and a half, swimming goggles on and nothing else is finally ready to share that moment with him.

So here he is, on a beautiful day with his daughter, and joined in this experience by one of his brothers and a nephew. It must have been quite magical for you, I inquired, having that moment and sharing it with your brother as a father as well? He hadn’t thought about it, he said. Oh, too sentimental for an Australian man.

Whatever. I told him I was pleased to see unused university environmental science studies finally being utilised by him.