MY DAUGHTER HAS THE FLU AND I AM SO PROUD...

By Steve Kuhn

Seriously, my single proudest accomplishment with my two daughters is the fact that they are usually not whiny. They run. They fall down on the driveway. You know that loud slapping sound of a wet towel hitting the pavement? "WAPP!" I yawn and look at something else. Still laying there, my children make a decision, "should I cry? I'm not sure, I'll check with Dad." They look up. Although I appear to not be looking my attention could not be more focused. Inside I am cringing and praying that they have all of their teeth. If they decide on their own that they really need medical attention then OK, we'll go get it. I try never to panic and go "OH MY GOD! ARE YOU OK?" So, they look at me and I look at something else and they answer their own question. "No, it's not that important." So, they walk it off.

Then I faint.

When I wake up, I do a cheer. Sometimes I have to go into Doctor Dad mode but so far no surgeries (knock on wood).

So, my girls are tough, everything is taken in stride.

So...yesterday was Mackenzie's 5th Birthday and she has the flu. My wife Lori has had some sort of really nasty flu for the last two weeks that has been making the rounds in my neighborhood for about a month. Then Mackenzie came down with it a few days ago. I am sure that she feels pretty awful but she handles it like a champ. She plays...she rests a little...she plays...she calmly pukes in the trash for us...and then she goes to get her coloring books..."Daddy, I'm making you a picture."

My point is: I'm pretty proud of what my wife and I have accomplished with our daughters. They seem to be free of obvious defects like a third arm or whatever so I don't sweat the few times I smoked pot in college any more. They love to laugh and play and be kids. They're not mean or petty and they love the world and learning new things. I think we've done pretty well.

So far.

My mom used to say that the family that plays together stays together. I think that's true. My mom and dad owned a small ski boat when I was a kid and we spent a lot of time out on the water. I'm pretty sure it was no accident that I was trapped on that boat during my formative years when I could have been getting into trouble. Instead, I was learning how to water-ski and tube and exploring portions of the Missouri River. I thank my parents for that. Good times that made me who I am. I want to give the same thing to my daughters.

Here's the thing though. I don't have a boat. I don't see one floating into my future either. We don't live near a large body of water and gas in my world is really expensive.

So, what can I do that will bring my daughters and I together?

Have you got it yet? Don't shout it out…Cooking! That's right. I mean, we have to cook anyway. Who can afford to go out all the time? So, let's do it together. Let's make some memories.

We started out slow, my daughters and I. Oatmeal. Toast. Boiling water. Then scrambled eggs. We progressed from there and now we're making Paella and Chicken Pot Pies and Hot Wings and Cheeseburgers. It used to be I was the Sunday Morning Cook. But now, the girls are making breakfast before I get up. I am really proud and so are they. When they have made something that everyone else is enjoying it puts a smile on their faces a mile wide. Lately we have been into desserts. Mmm hmm. We found some great cheesecake recipes at:

www.Best-Cheesecake-Recipes-Ever.com.

They have a really great selection. We started off with a no bake cheesecake to ease into things and WOW, was it good. I could have eaten the whole thing myself. It had cherries on top and was really, really light and sweet. About a week later, we made one with OREO's and chocolate chips. That's been the girls favorite so far. (I'm thinking about combining OREOs and cherries and going straight to Heaven!)

Anyway, we have a great time, stirring and arguing over who gets to turn the mixer on and dancing to music the whole time. Great stuff. I hope my daughters never forget it because I know I never will. Next up is a Pumpkin Cheesecake. I can't wait - for the cheesecake and more quality time with my daughters.

Meanwhile, I'm sure that I will be getting this flu. In fact I have penciled it in for next week and I am sure that I won't be coloring any pictures. Unlike my daughter I will be blubbering into my pillow.

My daughter has the flu and I am so proud...