To my six-year-old son and my two-year-old daughter, Thanks for spending Father's Day with me. Okay, so you didn't really have a choice. And at this age, you still want to, but in the spirit of Dad's Day I thought I'd write you a quick letter with some dad tips to look back on. All … Continue reading A Post-Father’s Day Letter to My Kids: Your My Hope for the Future
My son's school has a uniform. The last week of school and he wanted to wear gym shoes instead of the more formal black standards. My first reaction was no, it's not a gym day. Can't. Then I recall how I always reacted to no or can't. Yup, I was one of those don't tell … Continue reading Substituting a Why or a What or a How: Paths to a Two-Way Relationship
For those of us in the grown up role, fathering and mothering young children, the mundane and necessary can be something to fear or even procrastinate. Shopping for groceries for example, is often scheduled sans kids. Dinner prep can be a time to fear. Laundry is a never ending chore. Never mind basic cleaning to … Continue reading Involving Your Kids in the Mundane and Necessary
My perfection often leads to procrastination or frustration, depending on whether or not I take action. After at least five months of having the box in my basement, I decided to take action and install my son's ceiling fan. My six-year old son moved upstairs when he was four, at the arrival of his little … Continue reading Just Do Your Best and a Bunch of Hot Air
According to the New York Times article, the U.S. Fertility rate has fallen to a record low for a second straight year. Populations ebb and flow, but it is important to keep humanity around. This thought makes me think of one of the Bible verses read during my wedding ceremony from Genesis 1:28: "Be fruitful and … Continue reading Thanks for Raising Our Future
Trees have leaves again, new growth is happening in the forest and the fiddle-ferns are sprouting. Joking with my wife about Mother's Day being "her day" to do whatever she wants, she wanted to get outside and enjoy a perfect spring day in Minnesota. We ventured out of town, brought a picnic lunch and even … Continue reading Mother’s Day is Over, Can You Go Back to Making the Kids’ Breakfast?
People are fearful. Our antiquated lizard brain has helped keep us alive through fear for thousands of years. Here are some of the most common phobias: Social phobias or self-consciousness in social situations. Agoraphobia: fear of open spaces. Acrophobia: fear of heights. Pteromerhanophobia: fear of flying. Claustrophobia: fear of enclosed spaces. Entomophobia: fear of insects. … Continue reading Who Decides What’s Scary and What’s Not?
Wrong side of the bed. Late. A solid work schedule with over-committed appointments. A solitary banana for breakfast. Mix in a six and two year old trying to have a leisurely breakfast and you've got irritability. Time to get out the door kids! One thing to remember--and I write this for myself most of all--is … Continue reading Angry Dad, You’re Feeling Inadequate Again
My two-year old daughter demanded to wear underwear. She's exactly 25 months old. Not old enough for me and my wife to be ready, but WebMD says that it can happen anywhere between 18 months and three years, depending on when the child is ready. You can control your kids. And if you remember back … Continue reading No Diaper. You Got This.
We all know the famous bumper sticker. There's a reason why "sh%* happens" can be found anywhere classic bumper stickers are sold. We all have our stuff to deal with. And the other day, I had to deal with some. Literally. From our next-door neighbor's dog. The kind that's been marinating under the snow all … Continue reading Showing Your Kids How to Deal with Poop
