Annie has been spending an awful lot of time in the kitchen lately making jam for her budding business. My primary job is to keep the girls out of the kitchen. I’ve been in the living room with them, playing the part of a hockey goalie; blocking the kitchen entry way, bouncing them back into the living room, doing my best to keep the girls from being underfoot as Annie walks around with racks of boiling hot jars. Earlier this…
“Knee High by the Fourth of July” is an old saying regarding the status of corn during the growing season. The Fourth of July feels like it was ages ago and I’m not entirely sure I could reach up to touch the top of the corn stalks right now. The rainy season of June and July has wrapped. The glorious green of south central Wisconsin is beginning to fade and yellow under the relentless sun of August. Soon we will…
“Never say Goodbye Brooks. Goodbye is permanent. Say ‘bye’ or say ‘so long’. Saying goodbye means you will never see that person again. You’ll be seeing me again. Won’t you?” “Yes Grandpa. I won’t say goodbye anymore.” I was six years old when my Grandpa taught me that lesson. It’s one of those lessons that never stopped following me. It stuck with me and never let go. It’s one of those lessons that helped shape me into what I am…
I write an awful lot about parenting and part of this gig involves following a few parenting forums. One of these forums is Dads-Only. It’s huge – as in tens of thousands of members. I find this group fascinating. Without really meaning to it gives me a pretty raw and organic view of how fellow males think and what matters to them. This group offers a great cross-section of male society in a global way. If Moms were allowed to…
I have some wonderful news! I’ll be getting my basement back! And you my friend, will be getting a lot of sh…shtuff. You can do whatever you want with it all. If nothing else, the strollers will give you an opportunity to test out a few models for free. Free is good. Strollers are pricey, and frustrating if it turns out to be one you don’t like. Strollers are a big deal. This will determine the baby’s comfort and (arguably…
“Move over, make some room for me!” “Sure thing!” I shifted over on the couch, Annie curled up next to me and snuggled her head into my chest. I reached over and picked up the baby monitor, we stared at the screen. Both girls were finally asleep. Lyd was sprawled out, one leg sticking out from under the sheets, the book next to her looked like it was trying to imitate her. Reggie looked like a passed out drunk. “Little…
“You don’t need drugs when you have a kid. You’re awake, you’re paranoid, you smell bad, it’s the same thing!” -Robin Williams, Live at the Met I recently received the wonderful news that a couple friends of ours will be having their first baby. I laughed a bit to myself as I thought about all the new and…interesting things they will be experiencing. I began thinking about all the things I wish I was told back when Lydia was born….
When I’m reading a good book, I tend to become increasingly despondent. Even more so as I approach the end of the book. I’ve been transported to a world, and I know that I will not be ready to leave that world. Since becoming a Dad, my life has become (at least to me) a pretty good book, and I’m fast approaching the end of a chapter. Lydia, my “Bug” will be a third grader. Instead of walking Home with…
I recently read an article stating that Moms work the equivalent of 98 hours a week. Here’s a link to the article: http://www.valleynewslive.com/content/news/Overtime-Parenting-and-Burn-Out-477468943.html I have so many questions. First, this isn’t a question as much as a statement, the article is written poorly. Back to questions. Why is this only citing Moms? Where are the Dads? There are enough Stay-At-Home Dads and Single Dads out there that they can no longer be discounted statistically. At the end of the article,…
“Okay! I have my tools packed, my laptop, coffee, water. I have my reading glasses, wristwatch and favorite pen. I’m ready to go to work. Something’s missing…food. I’ll be a raging monster if I don’t eat something at work.” The word they use these days is for what would happen to me if I don’t eat would be “hangry”. I think it’s a delightful word, sums things up perfectly…but I’m not yet ready to use it in written form. It’s…