Make Time for Play

What the “Daddy Trips” teach me about life, love and living like a kid again.

“When he worked, he really worked. But when he played, he really, really played.” -Dr. Seuss

I don’t enjoy convertibles in August. Especially not in the southern Florida heat.

I don’t typically eat at the Olive Garden. In particular, two nights in a row.

It’s not the norm on a business trip for me to stay up late eating popcorn in bed while watching the Disney Channel.

And I don’t often play mini golf, float on lazy rivers or go down a large waterslide repeatedly… all before a speaking event.

But for a couple days each year, that’s exactly how my days are packed.

You see, each summer, I give my four kids -Jack, Patrick, Henry and Grace- the opportunity to pick a work trip they want to join their dad for. They look through my schedule. They pick the location, anywhere in the country. And other than the time I’m speaking, they determine what we do when we get there. My job is simple: say “yes” to whatever ideas they come up with while we are together.

They affectionately call it “The Daddy Trip.”  And while the kids may think of these trips as a few silly days packed with ice cream runs, lazy rivers, and questionable food choices, these trips are actually about something much bigger.

They’re opportunities for me to spend incredibly special-and rare- one-on-one time with them. To get to know them even better as individuals.

Beyond that, these trips are also a reminder to me of the importance of really, really playing. As adults, we spend so much time trying to manage, plan and control, that we often forget how good it feels to just be– fully present, completely immersed and unapologetically joyful. These trips are my reminder to lean into that spirit more often, not just for the sake of my kids, but for me, too.

Because the truth is, eventually they’ll outgrow these Daddy trips. Other priorities will pull their attention and the convertible rides, ice cream sundaes and endless trips down the waterslide won’t have the same appeal.

Those days are numbered, and I know that. And that’s why each summer, I make time to play hard. To soak it all in. To say yes to whatever they throw my way.

To make sure that when they look back, they remember a dad who not only knew how to work hard and knew how to lead well, but just as importantly, a dad who knew how to go down the waterslide just one more time before dinner.

Today is your day.  Live Inspired.