Dear Mom a daughter is more fun than a puppy

Dear Mom a daughter is more fun than a puppy

There are many things I say to Claire every day. Most of them I say to her multiple times a day. “I love you.” “You are so smart.” “You are a very big girl.” “You are more fun than a puppy.” (“You know what?” “What?” “I love you.”) There are many more. Each of them has a place and time that seems to fit the moment. Surprisingly after years of this, she still does not see it coming. Like when I say “You know what?” You would think after years of me saying the same thing, she would automatically say, “You love me?” But evidently enough other people say “You know what” often enough she is programmed to just reply, “What?”

“I love you.” I say. The same way every time. I wonder how long it will take before she knows what I am going to say? How long will it take before when other people say “You know what?” she will instead think, “My Daddy always says, I love you.”

This afternoon as she sat in my chair with me and watched me working on a project, she was throwing in her two cents to help out.

“You should use more pictures Daddy.” She pointed to the screen at a page that was devoid of pictures other than the header on the page, which was a logo of sorts. I guess to the untrained eye it appears a picture starts every page.

“Really? You think I need more pictures?” She pointed to a spot in the middle of the page where a paragraph ended and I had left a few blank lines to add something later. “Right there.” She indicated. “And use a different picture. You have the same one on every page. That is kind of boring Daddy.”

“You know, I think you are right. I do need some pictures. You are so smart.” I wrapped my left arm around her and reached the keyboard.

“I like helping you Daddy.” She leaned forward just a bit to facilitate my typing without too much interference. I kind of understood her sitting in my lap while I played some computer game. It was action. It was fun. She sometimes requests to watch me play the fight game. A game of a different name that she affectionately calls the fight game. I have far more fun playing with her. Her on one computer me on another, rampaging through the digital countryside saving the world from a fate worse than death. But she gets bored after a time, and becomes content to watch me slay the monsters from the comfort and safety of her Daddy’s lap.

But, being entertained by watching me write seems a little weird. Is it just the comfort and closeness that is the thing? Is she imagining typing like me someday? Sometimes she needs help watching me type and goes and gets Alice the camel. Then the three of us crowd into the office chair and I type away.

If she does not wiggle too much her presence really does not affect my productivity. Though I have more than once had to shoo her away because it became impossible for her to sit still for even a few seconds. “You are more fun that a puppy.” I tell her.
“A puppy like Carnahan?” she asks.
“Yes, like Carnahan.” I respond.
“Well, we won’t tell him, it might hurt his feelings.”
“You are right that would not be polite.” I am thrilled at her recognition of the polite thing to do.
“We’ll just keep that between you and me.” She props Alice the camel up on her lap so she is no longer between us. “You know what Daddy?”
“What?” I respond.
She snuggles a little closer “I love you.”

Love Mike