by Dad - April 24, 2018

In an unexpected turn of events, my adventurous 2-year-old daughter, Frances, decided to embark on a daring mission with the hose that she had been using to fill her wading pool on the back porch. Ignoring any notion of boundaries, she boldly carried the hose into the dining room, unaware of the havoc that was about to unfold. Time seemed to stretch in that moment, as the hose made its way into the room, and within what felt like a blink of an eye, the tranquility of the space was transformed into a watery chaos.

The hose, though only present for a brief moment, had ample time to unleash a deluge of water in the dining room. I stood there, stunned, as the realization hit me that all twenty of the freshly washed towels I had diligently laundered over the weekend were now rendered useless, soaked through by the unexpected indoor flooding. To compound matters, some blankets that were awaiting their turn in the laundry also became entangled in the cleanup efforts, further contributing to the growing pile of damp casualties.

Thankfully, my ever-resourceful wife, Mom, sprang into action with remarkable speed and intuition. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, she swiftly built a makeshift berm along the walls using the remaining dry towels. This impromptu barrier acted as a safeguard, preventing any potential damage to the vulnerable drywall. It was a testament to Mom’s quick thinking and ability to navigate through unexpected challenges, providing a glimmer of relief amidst the mayhem.

Realizing the magnitude of the cleanup task, Mom reached out to me at work, requesting assistance. At that time, our son Garett was a mere 2 months old, and our daughter Ruth, a lively 4-year-old, needed extra attention. Without hesitation, I explained the situation to my boss and colleagues, who responded with laughter, well-wishes, and understanding. They recognized the importance of family and sent me off with their blessings to lend a helping hand in restoring order to our waterlogged abode.

As I made my way back home, I couldn’t help but appreciate the support and understanding I received from both my family and my workplace. Parenthood has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way, and it is in those moments that we rely on the resilience of our loved ones and the empathy of those around us to navigate through the chaos and come out stronger on the other side.