Keeping Promises

Yesterday I promised Michael I'd take him swimming today (Monday) after work.

Today was one of those really rough days at work. We had production issues on a high availability application, where there are people working 24 hours / day using the application.

Application goes down ... people cannot work ... application must be fixed immediately. I got everything fixed and left work around 7 PM, got home around 7:30 PM.

I really wasn't in the mood to go swimming, plus the pool closes at dusk, but I did promise Michael. In the back of my head, I will admit that I considered that ...

1. He's a baby so he really wouldn't know / remember I promised to take him swimming
2. I had an exhausting day, surely he'd understand

However, I didn't want to start breaking promises to him already. This was one of those "Cat's in the Cradle" moments, where I had my obligations at work to fulfill, but I was still going to balance it with getting home as soon as I could to take Michael swimming.

So I wolfed down dinner and rushed the whole family to the pool. Zach, the person working at the pool, said that they were going to close up in 15 minutes, but I said "good enough" and took Michael for a swim.

I felt good about keeping my promise to my son. It was a brief swim, but it was the best I could do. I hope he enjoyed it, and someday has memories of Dad rushing home to take him for an evening swim.