Last summer Emma went to camp for the first time. She surprised us all by loving the outdoor activities like archery and canoeing. She came home and would not stop about either.
We ended up getting her a bow and arrow but she still kept on about the canoe.
Scott was excited as he’s gone to nearby Catawba River a few times with friends and even camped overnight. But really, I think we both thought the camp excitement might wear off and she’d change her mind.
I liked the idea though, because it was the perfect Daddy-daughter bonding experience. With two girls, there’s not a whole lot that Scott and the girls can do that’s purely their thing but this would be perfect.
Last fall we went a few times to the sports store and would look at canoes. I looked them up a few different times on Craigslist but generally, they weren’t going for a whole lot less than just getting them new in a store.
We still held off since we knew school and winter was coming and we had some unexpected bills come up.
But then, this past Sunday they went on sale and Scott was at the store in the blink of an eye with Emma.
Lexi, of course, was not into it because that’s just what Lexi does. New = bad.
I started thinking of Scott and Emma on the river though and before long in my head they were lost miles down the river with search crews scouring the banks for them. I have no idea where Lexi gets her anxiety from. *ahem*
Yeah, so when Scott came home with the canoe suggesting we try it in the pool first I was like yes! The pool! Walls are good! Who cares about the river?!
So, in true redneck fashion, the canoe went in the pool.
The first order of business was taking care of Lexi’s two fears: sharks and tipping over. Clearly, sharks were easy to clear up but the second was tipping over. I needed convinced too.
So, Scott purposely tried to tip the canoe over. It wouldn’t tip and it didn’t take long for both girls (and me) to be totally comfortable.
In fact, I insisted we name it and the girls came up with The Mermaid.
It was a hit.
So, Monday after dinner, Scott surprised the girls by saying we’d take it out to the river just to paddle around a bit and get used to it.
Both girls were ecstatic and Lexi only put up a little fight about wearing an ugly orange vest.
So this is the point where I started repeating emergency procedures in my head and reminding myself how much I trust my husband. And convincing myself there really are no sharks around.
The really funny part was though, was that as worried as I might have been at times how they might be swept off into nowhere, Scott was basically doing all the paddling and since the plan was to go upstream and then float back down, he was moving at an absolute snail’s pace.
I was literally laughing out loud to myself watching them go so slowly.
He got it though and after just a little circle and they headed back for Lexi to get out.
Scott and Emma went back out and went a little further.
While they were gone, a young couple came with just a double-seated pool float and a bag of take out, got in the float and took off down the river sipping on smoothies. Another double-dating set of high school kids showed up with no apparent goal in mind, presumably wasting time and finding a reason to not be home.
I couldn’t help but think of my girls and how we’re just a few years away from them doing just that, especially Emma.
I looked at Scott and Emma and wondered if maybe this is just practice for Emma and how she’ll remember her Daddy taking her out on a canoe on the river.
If she can find a guy that will work this hard to get out on a river just to make her happy, I think we’ll be on the right path.
I’m praying for that kind of guy because one day she just might have two girls of her own and need a strong, trustworthy husband to take her two little girls out on the river.
Great story! Mom
Thanks 🙂