Trace Adkins wrote a song once titled “Just Fishin..” The song details a man sitting on a riverbank with a little girl with a pink fishing pole, who keeps talking about ballet shoes and her kittens. In essence, the song is about a daddy and his young daughter (who is oblivious to “grown up” issues) spending time together making memories neither one will forget. While she thinks they are “just fishing,” as a parent it’s entirely more than that.
The song relays how “time is tickin’” in that the time spent with children goes by entirely too quickly. I one hundred percent believe this to be true. I was (am) that dad, with two small boys (15 and 13 now) that sat on that riverbank or in our boat casting lures repeatedly. A Zebco 33 with a bobber and a minnow is hard to beat, for the newbies out there. There is truth to the saying “it’s much more than casting a hook into the water.” My oldest can fish all day and not catch a thing and be perfectly content (after jumping into the water a few times) while my youngest, well, you’d better be catching fish or he’s going to be on his phone.
Regardless, I can promise you more life lessons have already been taught to both while either in a boat or in a deer stand. What better way to spend time with your kids than the great outdoors? Quiet, peaceful, uninterrupted (except hopefully by the screaming of a child who has hooked a fish) time that you can enjoy the company. It appears today kids are so consumed with social media, video games, Netflix and the like many parents miss out on these opportunities for quality time. Take your kids camping. If fishing/hunting is not your thing take a hiking trip to Roman Nose or the Gloss Mountains. Get outside and spend some quality time together just talking and enjoying the great outdoors Oklahoma has to offer.
