My twelfth random act of kindness was for Keaton (nephew) with side benefit to Keaton's mom (Amy, my sister). This was the last weekend of lacrosse season. As Amy's husband Matthew is a lacrosse coach, Amy is a part-time single parent during the season. To give Amy an option for things to do this weekend, I invited Amy and Keaton to join me for two nights at Great Wolf Lodge.
I didn't set out on this adventure thinking it would count as an act of kindness - it's time with family and that's a gift to me. After about 36 hours at GWL, though, I decided it counts. Kids outnumber adults by something like 12 to 1. Kids, in large part, lose their minds when they see water slides. It is something hard wired in their little brains. All sense of safety, rules, etc is lost once they get a whiff of that 85 degree chlorinated air.
After a kid puked in the little kid play pool area we went to the wave pool. This adventure was all worth it when I witnessed the utter delight on Keaton's face as he felt the rise and fall of the waves and giggled as we chased each other around the water. He had the same excitement at the "big" slide. I'll deal with the screaming and chlorine and crowds and jerk parents and overpriced mediocre pizza if it means seeing Keaton smile like that. I sure love that kid, and he makes being kind easy.
Follow me through my 40th year... the year of risk, $14600, and random acts of kindness!
