The Exhausted Dad: An 8-year-old, his mother and the sea

I think I might start a family business: Ocean fishing.

On second thought, I don’t like handling fish. Maybe just “ocean boating.” We’ll take tourists out on the ocean and drive around looking for whales. My kids watch “Wild Kratts” so it’ll be an educational tour.

Almost every summer, my wife and I take our four kids to the Oregon Coast for vacation. In our opinion, it’s the absolute perfect destination for those who refuse to spend more than eight hours trapped in a car with their children.

I love all things ocean-related, so I’m often eager to go whale watching or to do anything that gives me an excuse to leave shore. Our kids, however, seemed somewhat reluctant to go on a boat in the ocean. Thoughts of ice-cold water, sharks and potential seasickness kept them from choosing whale watching over going to the Newport Aquarium.

No, we can’t afford to do both. At least not now that any vacation with this family requires much more space (and money) than renting a standard hotel room.

This year, on a particularly beautiful day on the coast, my three oldest kids wanted to choose whale watching. We had seen some whale spouts from the shore and wanted a chance to see them up close.

Our youngest, age 8, also wanted to try it, but his stomach kept telling him no.

Because he occasionally feels nauseated after riding in the car for long stretches, he believed any boat ride would result in guaranteed seasickness.

I took a science-based approach in trying to convince him. I told him that people rarely feel seasick on short boat rides near the shore. I told him that neither of his parents have ever gotten seasick. Seasickness is genetic! Probably!

I bought him a ticket for the boat. He really wanted to go. Still, as our departure time neared, his stomach suddenly hurt more and more.

“I want to go, but I don’t think my stomach will allow it!” he told me with tears in his eyes.

I tried more probably-science. Calm, sunny day + virtually no wind = quiet seas.

We had about 15 minutes before boarding the boat, and his stomach hurt more than ever. At this point, I assumed he wouldn’t step foot on the dock.

Then he went for a short walk with his mom. I don’t know what they talked about, but I assume it didn’t include any “probably science.”

He came back with a smile on his face, ready to go. His stomach felt a little better, he said.

“I’m still nervous, but I really, really, really want to go.”

He went with the rest of his siblings. Quiet seas. Nobody got seasick. All four kids wanted to ride in the front of the boat as the captain sped through the waves in search of some resident Depoe Bay gray whales.

We saw at least three whales up close, and one even gave us a rare, friendly wave of its tail. Nobody wanted the tour to end, and I’m pretty convinced all four kids would work at least part time at my new “ocean boating” business.

I think my 8-year-old son had the most fun though. He was nervous, but he followed through on something he really wanted to try. A year ago, I couldn’t get this kid to eat anything but chicken nuggets. Now I’m convinced he’ll be my first mate in the new family business.

He probably never would have gotten on the boat without the calming, nurturing conversation he had with his mom in the minutes before boarding the boat. Sometimes the best medication for an upset stomach is a loving mom.

She also told me that he let out several loud farts during their short walk. Science says a little gas release makes everything better.

•••

Tyler Wilson is a freelance writer and parent to four kids, ages 8-14. He is tired. He can be reached at [email protected].

    The Exhausted Dad