Dray and I continue his bike riding lesson. He’s right on the cusp of riding independently, but he seems to lack the confidence to completely take his feet off the ground.
Kai: You’ve got this, Dray. Just pick up a little speed and start pedaling.
Drake: Like this?
Kai: Exactly like that – now, keep going.
Dub and Mase return, and I use their skills to encourage Dray.
Kai: Do you see how your brothers are doing it? Just put your feet on the pedals.
Drake: But I might fall!
I’m shocked at the fear I hear in Dray’s voice.
Kai: I’ve seen you hang upside down on the monkey bars and jump out of a swing at its highest. You’ve never been afraid of falling before. Why is this different?
The most frustrating part of being a parent is seeing how close one of your kids is to accomplishing a goal but being unable to convince them to stop holding back. I see that Dray is becoming frustrated, so it’s time to call it a day.
Kai: That’s it for now. Let’s get ready to eat.
Dray puts the bike away as I light up the nearby grill for some barbeque ribs.
Mase and Dub work on finishing up their homework while Dray and I dig into the perfectly grilled meat. I don’t grill often, but it’s always good when I do.
After dinner, Dray wants to learn how to fish to earn an outdoors badge for his scout uniform. I’ve never been a good fisherman, but we grab some poles and take them to the water to see if we can catch anything.
We both manage to catch a little something right before it begins to get dark. Dray is extra proud of his fish, but mostly because it means he’s on his way to earning his coveted badge.
It’s a little after dark when we finally return home.
Kai: *to Dray* So, was that enough for a new badge?
Drake: I’ll check now.
Dray hurries into the house and up the stairs to check his scout board. I spot Me-Me sitting on the couch, so I walk right over to her to hear about Lia and Stef’s new babies.
Melisa: Oh, Kaby! Those babies are the sweetest ever. I took a ton of pictures if you want to see them.
Kai: I’d bet your mom is overjoyed to have more grandchildren.
Melisa: She is! It’s so nice to see her smile again.
Me-Me pulls out her phone to look at pictures of the babies, then hits me with a completely unexpected question.
Melisa: Look, Kai! They are so cute, and they have that new baby smell. Do you think we’re too old for another baby?
I’m shocked because I always wanted four children, but Me-Me pumped the breaks on the possibility before Dray was born. Now, I’m looking forward to retirement. There’s no way I want to start again with another baby. Not at my age. I pull out my phone.
Kai: I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that while placing a grocery order.
Melisa: Yeah, you’re right. I can’t believe I said that. Maybe I’m just hungry.
Me-Me gets up to get some food while I phone in for a delivery.
After she’s eaten some of the ribs I cooked earlier, Dray bounds down the stairs and sits down next to me.
Drake: Bad news, dad – I don’t have enough for another badge yet. We need to go back out and catch more fish.
Kai: What? Right now?
Drake: Yes! I need this to happen so I can get another badge.
Kai: Your scout meeting isn’t until Saturday. You still have time to earn that badge.
Drake: Are you sure? Because it’ll be your fault if I don’t.
Kai: My fau – listen, I’ll help you earn the badge when you come home from school tomorrow. I promise.
Drake: I think I need that in writing.
Kai: You don’t need it in writing. There’s honor in a man’s word. We’ll fish tomorrow. You need to go to bed.
Dray reluctantly gets up and goes back upstairs. If that conversation doesn’t convince Me-Me that we don’t need another child, I don’t know what will.
The grocery delivery comes, but we don’t hear the knock, so he leaves them outside on the porch. I eventually collect it, then go to the side yard to gather the laundry from the clothesline. It’s been a long day, and I’m tired but not nearly as exhausted as I’m sure Lia and Stef are while trying to care for not one but three new babies. I know Me-Me was just thinking out loud, but that ship has sailed for me. Our boys are almost all grown up. The only new babies we need to be looking forward to are grandchildren.
(Generation 3 Chapter Summaries)
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