People don't set out to be hero's, it's just something that happens along the way.  But it's nice to be recognized as such, when you're clearly so deserving.

 

It started in the yard the other day, not trying to be a hero, but just trying to teach my daughter about gardening and being self reliant.  Taylor and I were picking strawberries, from the many strawberry vines we having growing around the yard.  Taylor would agree with me that there's not much better than fresh picked strawberries.  Well being the thoughtful and considerate husband that I am, of course I was also watching the other child while Stacie was inside napping.  I've found that if we're all quiet enough, the cleaning fairies will come.  Unfortunately the girls and I can't be quiet inside, so out we go leaving the house quiet.  Stacie who is good at being quiet stays inside and take a nap, and by the time we're done playing outside the cleaning fairies have magically cleaned the whole house.  It's amazing!  What's less amazing is my lazy wife, who after having this huge nap while I was out occupying the girls, is still exhausted when we come in, and wants a longer nap.  Some people.  But I digress.

 

I was talking about teaching my daughter self reliance, and harvesting the fruits of her labors.  Plus we had Jordan with us, and while Jordan wasn't picking strawberries herself, she wanted to have some too.  So we were sharing with her.  Well being the observant and intelligent child that she is (she is my child after all) she decided she could harvest things too.  Now pay attention because this is where the hero part comes in.  She harvested some mushrooms.  Of course when she tapped on my shoulder and tried to share the mushrooms I politely declined it, and wiped the excess mushrooms off of her face, and jammed my finger in her mouth and scooped out at least a baseball size wad of mushrooms. 

 

But was I recognized as a hero, for watching my daughters so my wife could have one of her many "naps"? No.  Was I recognized as a hero, for saving Jordan's life by removing all of the potentially poisonous mushrooms from Jordan's mouth? No.  I didn't ask for recognition.   But it would be nice, not to have the story portrayed as my letting my daughters run willy nilly unsupervised around the yard, and allowing them to eat poisonous plants while my lovely wife is inside cleaning up the huge mess we (read me) made.  And of course my lovely wife pointed all of this out, to the lady she spoke with on the other end of the poison control hotline.  Can you believe she would try taking credit for cleaning the house, when we all know the cleaning fairies did it.  After all we always come in and catch her napping.

 

Then the other day, it happened again.  No I didn't allow my daughter to eat mushrooms again.  But again I was a bona fide hero, and was portrayed to be the bumbling negligent father in the whole deal.  You see Jordan had developed a rash (no it wasn't from eating mushrooms).  Stacie wanted to take her to the doctor, so I came home early to watch Taylor, to make it easier on my wife to go to the doctor.  Being the thoughtful guy that I am, I wanted Taylor to have a special day so she wouldn't be overly concerned about her sister going to see the doctor.  So I set up Taylor's swimming pool in the backyard.  We had a wonderful time.

 

Later when Jordan returned home from the doctor, perfectly alright.  I decided that I should teach her about things that are okay to pick and eat.  So I took her out to the pea patch.  We were having a wonderful time.  Jordan being the neat freak that she is (I think she might grow up to be a cleaning fairy).  Took one of her pea pods over to the pool to "wash it off."  Of course being the responsible parent I am, I kept a close eye on her.  And I'm sure that I would have soon discovered that she had tipped her self and fallen into the pool, even without the loud splash that it made.  Of course being an Eagle scout, and having earned my lifesaving merit badge, all my old training quickly came back to me, and I sccoped her up out of the pool.  Saving her life again.

 

Of course other people might try to portray it as myself ignoring my daughter while foundering myself in the pea patch, and allowing Jordan to get water down her ears (she has tubes in, and is supposed to wear ear plugs when swimming or bathing).  I did save her life after all, you think we could overlook the fact that we need to put antibiotic ear drops in her ears for a few days.  Well now you know the truth, I'm a genuine hero, despite what you might hear.