Aiden loves to play with his little friends, and as he gets older, it looks more like playing with rather than alongside his friends. He loves to talk about the people in his life – me, Ianiv, his grandmothers, his friends.
He knows the names of all of his closest friends, though he’s most hesitant with Elizabeth – sometimes he’ll say something that has 3 syllables, other times he makes a weird rowing-like sign that I’m assuming means Elizabeth in Aiden’s world. Zayden is also “Nee-na” right now, though it’s slowly morphing into a more accurate sound. Cole he can say perfectly.
Often when we’re in the car, Aiden asks about people, presumably to ask if we’re seeing them or just to know where they are. Anyway, that’s how our interactions go.
I think it’s wonderful for Aiden to have a set of close friends, even at this age. I can’t wait to see them all grow up together!
It’s been a pirate-themed week for Aiden. On Wednesday, Aiden helped Cole break in his new Little Tikes Anchors Away Water Table and they had a great time. It’s sure to be a source of fun for them this summer – the buttons are a little hard for toddler hands to press (to activate the waterfall or cannon gun), but I love the whimsy of it.
To continue the theme, Aiden steered at pirate ship today at Metrotown. I often put him in the riding toys even if we rarely pay for them. Just steering them is fun… for now!
I’ve also been sorely tempted a few times to buy the Little People Lil Pirate Ship that buddy Zayden has whenever I see it at Superstore!
Our friend Derek Miller passed away last night. There are no words to describe our sadness in his passing.
Despite all the tears that were shed today, and in the weeks leading up to this news, he continues to inspire. And always will. And I’m really trying to take that away from all of this.
I’ve tried again and again to write words of memorial for Derek. To say what it is that he’s meant to me. To share my sadness at not getting to know him as much as I would have liked. To offer words of consolation to his wonderful wife, children and those who shared his life. But words don’t come. I only hope we can offer the Miller family some measure of support in the weeks and months to come.
Derek wrote his own memorial post, which was published today by friends. I think it would have pleased him to know how widely it has been read – how his site is often down, how celebrities are commenting on his passing, and how his interviews are being replayed. His legacy is spreading its wings.
May we all live a life as honest and true. And may we all be as lucky to love and be loved as Derek was.
Aiden is afraid of dogs. Well, sort of. He likes dogs, in concept. He will enthusiastically “woof” at dogs in books and outside, and even from a ‘safe’ distance. However, when face to face with a dog of any size, Aiden cowers and cries. It’s a pity, as he is quite the animal lover!
As you can see, Aiden had no fear of the large goats. He was eager to go up to them, pet them and pretend to hug them. No fear there. His buddy Cole, however, was a little afraid of the goats… despite having a large and loving dog at home of roughly the same size!
So, where do these fears come from? Why do kids fear some things and not others?
Does Aiden fear dogs because they want to come up and say ‘hi’, instead of mostly standing around like the goats did? Or is there more to it? Would love your thoughts on the matter!
This week, we attended the living wake for a very good friend of ours Derek Miller, who sadly probably won’t be with us much longer. I don’t remember exactly how we met Derek and his beautiful wife Airdrie, I just know we’ve been friends for a long time and that you couldn’t ask for more wonderful and genuine people to count among your friends.
We’ve had the change to get to know Derek and Airdrie and their two beautiful daughters over the years. Their family continues to be an inspiration for my own, and not just for how they’ve faced, and continue to face, the battle with cancer that has taken place over the last 4 years. Derek and Airdrie have raised their daughters with love and compassion, with knowledge and no shortage of spunk. Both girls are on Twitter and are more than happy to converse and play with us ‘adult folk’ when we had a games night. I only hope we are half as successful with Aiden as they’ve been with their girls.
When Aiden was born, a visit to Derek & Airdrie was one of the first family outings we took. We’ve been a couple of times since. I don’t know if Derek will have a chance to see Aiden again. It’s all unknown from here on out. Derek has been blogging his experience with cancer and has been frank about how he approaches his own death. It’s a legacy I hope will always live on to inspire others, for truly his courage and honesty have inspired me.
So, how do you say goodbye to a friend? I don’t suppose you can. Perhaps it was fitting that we had to run out of the living wake with a quick hi, hug and goodbye. Perhaps that’s all we will get. It’s more than most have a chance for.
The future is uncertain, but what is certain is how one man can impact the lives of so many. How he can inspire us to take stock of our own lives and families. How, as parents, we can do our best to raise our children to be strong individuals. You will be missed, Derek. But you will live on in us all.
