To-Do List #31: Check! Take Child on a Date

Ikaika and I went on a date last night.  We dressed up nice (enough) and left little brother with a babysitter (aka Dad).  I love the outfit he picked out - green plaid button up and blue mesh basketball shorts, topped off with a sweater vest and a too small rasta beanie.  I'm going to go ahead and plan on helping him dress for dates in high school.

First, we caught a play at HPA.  They were doing a performance of The Sound of Music, which I would consider "kid-friendly" because of the heavy emphasis on song and dance.  I was nervous that this might be too much for my 4 year old to handle.  I talked it up and explained exactly what a play is and how we should behave in a theater.  I told him the rules about talking quietly but let him know that if he wanted to take a break we could go walk around in the lobby and try again.  I was fully prepared to not stay for the entire show.

He did great during Act One.  During each round of applause he would clap his hands wildly and look at me with a huge grin on his face.  Clearly, he was enjoying himself.  

We took a bathroom break during Sixteen Going on Seventeen and he told me that when he asked himself if he could do something like that (act in a school play) the voice in his head said "Yes, Ikaika.  You can do that." 

During intermission he ran around outside and got all the crazies out by rolling down the hills.  Sorry the video is sideways, I keep forgetting that the camera on my phone is oriented the other way.  He told me later that he really wanted to shoot webs (like spiderman) inside the theater, but its against the rules.

Two songs into Act Two, he leans over and tells me "mommy, I want to go now." so we left right after Maria and Captain VonTrapp get married.  For a 4 year old, its the perfect ending!  Then we went to Starbucks (his choice, not mine) and got a bite to eat.  

I truly enjoyed just sitting with him and talking about whatever he wanted to talk about.  He is so sweet, funny, loving, thoughtful, and joyful.  Bursting with a real intense exuberance for life.  Our date was so much fun.  I can't wait for Kekoa to be a little older and do the same thing with him.  This is definitely something I want to continue to do with both of them in the future.