We The Norths by Nick North

At 20, A could have easily gone out and got her first tattoo a hundred different ways that didn’t include me at all. That would have been totally cool. That’s the joy of being young and free.

One of the coolest things about parenting adult kids though are the moments they choose to include you in their lives, even when they don’t have to.

Sure I miss her being little from time to time, but I’m loving the relationship we’re getting to build as two adults, just as much, if not more than I did back then.

In my opinion this parenting gig just keeps getting better!

Thank you for choosing to include me Adventure!

And thanks for the rad tattoos and being such a delight to spend time with Anh Le // Tattooer, Owner at private studio

Now off to move this newly tattooed kid of mine into her first place with friends. Because the first never stop and I’m trying to be part of as many of them as is appropriate 🤣🤣🤣

Doing new things is terrifying. But it turns out it’s worth it to do terrifying things!

Growing up in girl mode, playing softball created some of the best memories of my childhood.

Even though I hadn’t played since I was about 15 (and never as a dude), I sheepishly showed up at a ball diamond three seasons ago.

A friend invited me. He said it was a super casual, chill league — he’d been invited by a friend, but couldn’t make it that night.

(🚨: it is neither super casual nor chill.)

As I walked up to the dusty field, glove in hand, stomach in knots, the group of strangers all looked at me with confusion written across their faces.

“I’m a friend of Pete’s,” I explained. Hoping the confusion would clear.

“Uhh. Who’s Pete?” asked the team captain/coach/manager.

I died.

She was kind enough to see my near death experience & smiled bright at me, and sent me out into the field to s**g some balls.

I was not as good as I remembered my teenage self being. I almost didn’t come back. Without that smile, that kindness, that “you’re welcome here” from JJ KITCHEN I probably wouldn’t have.

Being not great at something I care about, on a team, where my performance affects more than just me — that’s cruel and unusual punishment for my Capricorn self.

Turns out playing co-ed ball triggers every “I’m not good enough to play with the boys” thought floating around in my head. It’s the subject of a lot of my therapy.

It’s also given me more joy, friendship, and community than almost anything else in my life in recent years.

This weekend I wrapped up another season at the Roddy Wilson Memorial Slo-Pitch Tournament on Galiano.

What a legacy. Such an honour to be included. Such a joy to spend it with some of my favourite people — my teammates, my community, my baby Danger playing along side me, and some rad strangers.

Did I catch every ball? Nope.
Did I have feelings about that? Absolutely.
Did I have fun anyway? Heck Yes!

3 cheers for JJ’s and her Jays.

2 for my super swell teammates & pals across the field from me!

1 for me for showing up even when it’s scary and easier not to!

Turns out the scariest things always seem to give us the most back!

Every year 4/5 of our kids head to Ontario with their other Dad to see their grandparents and cousins.

What a little gift of time for us.

Except instead of soaking this time up, we typically spend it missing them, and panicking because we aren’t spending our time wisely enough.

We are sure we aren’t resting enough, or laughing enough, or getting enough done.

Turns out left on our own we’re not great at relaxing. In our defense going from the insanity of 5 kids full-time down to just 1 (who’s now 20) is a bit of a shock to the system.

Over the years we’ve gotten better and better.

This year I think we’re kinda crushing it! It only took us 10 years to figure it out 🤣🤷🏻‍♂️

The difference? We made a plan! (You should know my rebel spirit typically avoid plans)

Yep, we made a list of things we wanted to do (Thanks for all your great ideas!), and then put them on the calendar.

We scheduled the relaxing, the laughing and the getting things done.

We had days where we caught up on work, had days when we played hooky and went to the beach, we booked lunch dates, dinner dates and time with friends!

And we did it all on purpose!

It sounds a lil dorky, but (for us) it turns out a good life happens when you plan for it and then leave a little space for it to surprise and delight you (with Pie) in between all those plans.

We’ve got one week left, and a plan to enjoy it!

4/5 of our kids are leaving on a jet plane to go visit family in Ontario! I’m accepting suggestions for how Katherine North ✨ 🏳️‍🌈 and I should spend the next two weeks kid free!

So far my best ideas are cleaning the crawl space and taking a nap!

I think we can do better right? Help!

( Adventure doesn’t count as a kid anymore ‘cause she’s 20 and requires no supervision 🤣)

10 years ago, this sweet, tender, brave little girl (and her mom) got on a plane headed to a new country to blend with a new family, just two days before her 10th birthday.

She said goodbye to everything she knew in Portland, and to a life that she loved as an only child with a solo mom, and said hello to a new parent, 4 new siblings, and a thousand new ways of being, all in a new country.

We all did our best. But I’d be lying if I said there weren’t things I wish I’d done differently, or frankly, just better. I was far from perfect. Pretty flawed, actually.

And yet, ten years in, I look at this 20 year old gem of a human who I genuinely adore and I’m overwhelmed that she chooses to call me Dad.

She’ll never fully know how thrilled I am to be the one she turns to for advice or reassurance.

Or how grateful I am to have held her hand through so many of life’s moments.

Simple ones, like helping her bake her own birthday cake — her favorite tradition since we blended families, for the record she can absolutely out-bake me these days.

(Swipe through for many more photos of Adventure made cakes)

And bigger ones, like showing up at every performance, teaching her to drive, celebrating her graduation, moving her into her dorm, even helping her sign her first lease.

It’s not hard to believe that the almost ten year old in this first picture grew into this brilliant, brave, fascinating woman. It’s only hard to believe it happened this fast.

I’m so proud of you, sweet Adventure. I’m pumped that I’ve gotten to love you for over half your life now.

I can’t wait to know and love who you continue to become, and to taste all the birthday cakes along the way.

Happy 20 years of living my sweet girl!