A co-worker disclosed to me some stresses from his personal life. His daughter who is approaching the age of two has to have surgery on her kidney to improve function. Her second surgery since birth. Not sure of the stats, but you could probably catch a daily news story about the Make-A-Wish Foundation and their … Continue reading Playing with Rocks and Perspective
The "IKEA effect" is a term used by Harvard researchers in a working paper to describe the idea that when someone builds something themselves they often overvalue whatever that may be. If you've ever bought something from the Swedish furniture maker, you know there is always some assembly required. Forget the fact that their instructions … Continue reading Applying IKEA Techniques to Empower Your Kids and Maybe Even Make them Happier
You remember the firm voice. And if you're a dad, you've used it. Please write me if you've never used it to tell me exactly how that is working for you and how you manage to do it. There are the moments when a firm voice is absolutely necessary. Say, a toddler reaching up toward … Continue reading Firm Voices, Epidemics and Perceptions
Another sick day at home with the boy yesterday. He was getting better but still too sick to attend kindergarten. So yesterday was declared a binge-watch-four-movies day. For him. I worked from home. What sticks out the most for me is his comment about his classmates. Twice, he asked me if I knew what his … Continue reading Good Morning Wherever You Are
My life is busy. Two kids under the age of six. My wife and I both work full time. Swimming lessons, homework and running the day to day of a busy house doesn't leave much time for sitting around. I like it. I'm not much for sitting around. But sometimes, as they say, the universe … Continue reading Be Where Your Butt is Sick Day
Happy Easter. Or I should say, I hope you had a happy Easter. Happy Easter Monday! Easter Monday is a holiday in some countries. Australia considers both Good Friday and Easter Monday a holiday, closing most tourist attractions and public areas. South Africa has renamed Easter Monday as Family Day, giving most workers the day … Continue reading Easter Monday Full of Hope
It's my first time having a child receive an official spring break. No school for an entire week. But this isn't going to be the year of sitting on white sandy beaches as a family. This is the year of the staycation activities. So day one involved a father and son day of indoor rock … Continue reading Climbing Toward Contentment
Just celebrated my baby girl's second birthday. Two years ago my wife and I welcomed her into this world, and we were nestled in the hospital room with a sleeping, eating, pooping and peeing bundle, who barely made a peep. Now we are full blown negotiating what and when to do things. My how things … Continue reading Two Going on Twelve
Whether you realize it or not, your mind is an open book. Maybe not all the time but a study published in Psychological Science in 2014 shows how the thoughts or moods can be transmitted through the mother and infant relationship. Simulate to watching a movie and getting anxious at the same suspenseful scene as the others … Continue reading Catching & Spreading Emotion
The resistance is upon us. I’m not talking about politics or civil rights. I’m talking about the toddler “no” stage. Everything is no. Time to go. No. Let’s get your pajamas on. No. Are you all done with your food. No. (Even after the ASL signal for all done/no more was thrown.) Would you like … Continue reading No. No. No.
