Adam Snyder

Tonight, I found my five-year-old son in my bed, under the covers, lying next to my wife in “daddy’s spot” (as he likes to call it). It’s not unusual to find him in this spot just before it’s time to put him to bed, but this time I noticed something about the expression on his face as I walked into the bedroom after letting the dog out. I could tell he was bothered by something and was feeling sad.

I asked him what was the matter and he replied with a whimper and a pouty lip, “I don’t like it when you’re upset with me.” His voice faded a bit as the words left his mouth. He was really upset.

“Why ever would you think that I’m upset with you, Cole?!” I asked him. “Because you said you were ‘disappointed’ when you saw that I broke Leonardo and Donatello’s weapons. I didn’t mean to, and Mommy said she can fix them with super glue.” His voice was a whimper at this point, and tears were gathering in his eyes.

The weapons he was taking about were 23-year-old toys from my childhood; Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to be more specific. I loved those things when I was a kid, and I really enjoy exercising my son’s imagination as he and I play with them together. They’re still fun, all these years later.

I’ve always picked on my mother for her pack rat tendencies, but after having a child of my own, I’m elated that these awesome plastic figurines are still around for my son to play with. I’m thankful that my mom kept those toys — and many, many others — around for my son to enjoy as much as I did.

As I held my son tightly on my lap, I tenderly explained to him, “Daddy loves you so much, and I am NOT disappointed in you! When I saw the broken, plastic weapons and said, ‘Well, that’s disappointing,’ I didn’t mean that I was disappointed in you. It simply meant that those Turtles wouldn’t be able to use those weapons any more. And that’s what I meant would be ‘disappointing’!”

“Okay,” he said contently as he took a noticeably deep breath.

I continued to hold him, rocking slightly back and forth, and giving him a kiss on the top of his curly-haired head.

“You’re my son, and I love you, Cole. There’s nothing that means more to me than you. Please don’t worry about those silly old toys.”