The best day of my life

Lately it seems my daughter has been using the phrase,
"this is the best day of my life!" A few weeks ago we spent a Saturday doing all kinds of imaginable fun. We spent time with friends, we played soccer, we had a picnic, played in the park, and ended it all by going for ice cream (frozen custard actually). I think it was as we were sitting there eating our frozen custard when she declared that this was the best day ever. I couldn't help but smile and a warm tingling sensation swept across my body. Score! I thought to myself. After all, that is the way we want it, right? A few of these days have happened and the savored mark of success has been declared, "Dad, this is the best day of my life!" I found myself smiling as I thought about this the other day. You know the feeling when you are reminded of something cute your child has done or said. That is one of the joys of parenthood. But as I sat there reminiscing, I caught myself thinking about the meaning of it all. Every day really cannot be the best ever. Eventually, the processes of life will get in the way. I mean, who really has the best day ever when they are cleaning their room or taking out the trash? I remember quite clearly a day when I was about four. I was at the babysitters and supposed to be taking a nap. The other boy there with me decided to instigate a game of tickling. He got up, tickled, then ran back and laid down. Then it was my turn. Well I was the one who got caught in mid-tickle and I am the one who got the spanking! Can you believe it? People used to spank children for misbehaving, whether it was at the sitter, at school, or at home. That memory has stuck with me all these years and was certainly NOT the best best day of my life! So while I recognize that every day is not going to be the best ever, I treasure the ones that are. And I am hopeful that these will be the ones she remembers years from now. Even if they are not, I know that these are the days that build that relationship between me and my daughter.