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
Tag: Defiance
The Art of Leaving Your Kid in the Car to Make Drop-Off Smoother
Your son or daughter probably never resists going to school or daycare, but if they do, this could help. At least, I found something that worked for me in this particular situation. Cease the fighting. My initial reaction can be to say something to the effect of, "You better get your butt out of the … Continue reading The Art of Leaving Your Kid in the Car to Make Drop-Off Smoother
Incentives, Threats and Bribes for Doing Things My Way
"I'll give you a snack if you get in the car." "Come to the dinner table or there won't be a bed time snack." "Stop whining or you can get your pajamas on and get ready for bed." Anyone with little kids will tell you the power of bribes and threats. After all, there are … Continue reading Incentives, Threats and Bribes for Doing Things My Way
It’s In His Blood and There is Nothing We Can Do
The scene was one of laughter and joy, reading the Berenstain Bears Go To School book. Sister goes to get on the bus, and my son imagines himself being in her place. "What if I just stood there and didn't get on the bus?" he asked. "The bus driver would say, 'come on,'" I said, waving my … Continue reading It’s In His Blood and There is Nothing We Can Do
Which is more Fatherly? Parenting So They Like You or Giving Them What They Need
I've written before that I've always been a little more of a pushover than someone who stands up for what they believe. At least this has been true up until my mid-thirties. I've recently heard hindsight as described as 10K rather than 20/20 vision, and I am feeling like that is true. I can now … Continue reading Which is more Fatherly? Parenting So They Like You or Giving Them What They Need
Spilled Milk and Bike Accidents
Things can be going along exactly to my plan, and then boom. A fresh cool glass of milk is spilled at the table. The kind of spill that reaches the center leaf and drips through the cracks of the wood. Boom. And we were just sitting down to the just plated dinner. The spill isn't my fault. … Continue reading Spilled Milk and Bike Accidents
You Don’t Have to Eat
Transitions can be difficult for anyone, but they can be catastrophic to the world of my pre-school aged son. He will be four May 1, and my wife and I can never anticipate how dinner will go. There is no signal to help us anticipate. My wife and I have instilled the dinner ritual at … Continue reading You Don’t Have to Eat
Bedtime Book Stew
I'm proud of my four-year-old son's library. He has about 200 books on his shelf plus a rotating allotment of 15-30 library books at a time. These range from board to picture books. So I was livid when every volume was piled into a stew of toys and art supplies. The topping was his full-sized … Continue reading Bedtime Book Stew
Father Through Me 