Swings and roundabouts as a dad
IT’S funny how becoming a dad can change a man.
Yes, there’s the obvious stuff.
No sleep. Always cranky.
No sleep.
No sleep.
No sle-- Wait, did I tell you about the lack of sleep yet?
But I jest.
My daughter is fast approaching the age of two (which, if I’m honest, seems more of an achievement for my wife and I than it does for her).
As she grows and learns to absorb the vast and amazing world around her, so, too, is her old man.
Among the new skills and knowledge I have picked up as a dad, one in particular that stands out is my new-found radar for finding the best playgrounds.
I have taken to this area with an unnecessary level of enthusiasm — all because I want to find the best and most fun playground for my daughter.
(And so she can tire herself out as much as possible, and maybe sleep better in the night. But she doesn’t need to know that.) What I’ve found is the Geelong region is home to some pretty awesome playgrounds.
The other night we joined dozens at Eastern Beach in a race against the sunset, taking to the slides, the swings and the seesaw.
And all metres from the picturesque Corio Bay and Eastern Beach promenade.
Last week it was Barwon Heads. At other times it’s been Point Lonsdale and Torquay.
But perhaps my favourite playground in Geelong is at Barwon Valley Park in Belmont.
I doubt I’m alone, as the crowds here can get quite large, especially on a Sunday morning.
And this is where another new dad instinct kicks in: making sure your kid can have a go on everything she wants to.
This can be quite a challenge when there are so many kids running around, including most who are older and bigger than my child.
Right now, my daughter’s favourite thing to do on the playground — by far — is go on the swing.
But swings are a highly sought-after piece of equipment in the world of playgrounds.
So when one opens up, Dad Mode kicks in.
If you’ve ever seen a chubby bloke racing to a swing with his daughter under his arms, it was probably me, and I am sincerely sorry.