Dad of the year?

When Kevin and I have our less fine parenting moments, we like to joke that we are looking forward to our nominations for parents/dad/mom of the year award.  Most of those moments are not actually poor parenting, but circumstances that may be perceived by others as poor parenting.  Like chasing a crying toddler down Ohio Street whom also happened to be naked.  The circumstances that led up to that particular instant weren't all that terrible (we had gone to the pool, parked a few blocks away in the shade and were changing her out of her swimsuit when she got upset and took off down the sidewalk), but regardless of how we got there, surely those passing by probably weren't admiring our parenting skills.  Which brings us to Kevin's dad of the year nomination on Saturday.  I had to go in on Saturday for a lab this weekend, so Kevin had Stephanie to himself all day.  He had planned a fun and active day for them, complete with a hike in the woods and a trip to the pool.  She was to be in the carrier for the duration of the hike, so Kevin didn't argue with her on her clothing choice- a [dirty] Jayhawks onesie- size 12 months- you can imagine the wedgie-tastic fit on that one. She also was not wearing shoes, as she was not walking, and when you carry her on your back, it is easier to not have to keep track of shoes.  Just that morning, she had scraped her hand on the sidewalk and, as a person upset at the sight of wounds, she wanted to cover it up.  It really wasn't in a band-aid-able spot, so she elected to wear a mitten on one hand, as to not have to see the offensive cut.  And off they went on their hike.  The day had gotten quite warm, and Kevin hiked around the woods with over 30 pounds on his back.  Sometime later, he emerges, drenched in sweat, and what luck! Stephanie spots the playground.  "I go on slide", she informs him.  He tried to dissuade her, but to no avail.  So, sweaty Kevin and partially dressed Stephanie in no shoes and one mitten joined a well dressed family at the slides.  I like to think that any family witnessing our parent of the year moments laugh as they remember their own, and even if they don't, it really doesn't matter, but I for one got a great laugh when I read the saga by email while I was stuck at work all day.