Read books and blogs. Talk with other parents. Go to birthing classes, even parenting classes, before your baby comes. All a good idea, but nothing will truly prepare you for parenthood than actually becoming a parent. The weight of responsibility. The financial costs. The energy they have. The stubbornness they deliver. The temper-tantrums. All will … Continue reading Who’s the Teacher and Who’s the Student Here?
Tag: teaching
What!? No Movies for the Road-Trip?
Twenty driving hours in the car, countless pit stops and thousands of crumbs and spills. And probably less than three of these hours included a device. Summer road trip season is an exciting time with lots of planning, packing, prepping and packing some more, especially when it involves a potty-training toddler and a very busy … Continue reading What!? No Movies for the Road-Trip?
Who Decides What’s Scary and What’s Not?
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?
Angry Dad, You’re Feeling Inadequate Again
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
Showing Your Kids How to Deal with Poop
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
Playing with Rocks and Perspective
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
Good Morning Wherever You Are
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
Easter Monday Full of Hope
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
Climbing Toward Contentment
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
Catching & Spreading Emotion
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
Father Through Me 