Tag Archives: parents and kids

daddy punched me

June 19, 2015 By in herding (my own) cats Tags: , , , , , , Leave a comment

after starting his antibiotics, jack started feeling better pretty quickly…so, at one of the wyoming hotel stops jack wanted to ‘wrestle with daddy’…after about 15 minutes of rough-housing, pillow wars and laughs we stopped to take a break…i looked over at jack and he was grabbing ‘hold of his abdomen…

at that point he said (in a half-sad voice)…

mommy, daddy punched me.

🙂

[i had landed on him at one point, but hadn’t punched him…come on, you’re ridiculous?! one of the things we’re starting to see is “some exaggerating” and “storytelling”–it’s usually hilarious, except when they say things like this in public]

it happens (post script)…

January 6, 2015 By in herding (my own) cats, thank you notes Tags: , , , , , , , Leave a comment

potty training our twins has been like our experience (my wife’s) breastfeeding them…

it either happens or it doesn’t…

and of course, there are parents out there…you know the ones, the same one uppers who let us know just how elementary breastfeeding can be–well, they showed up again around this time…in this case, they made mention of how easy it was to potty train their kids…like it was a snap…like it was their own outstanding and hallowed abilities and skills as parents that made it possible…like God put ’em on earth just to show their kids how to ‘do their business’!

thankfully, i have a group of guys around me…who know better than that…men who have gone through their own trials and tribulations on this front (and life in general)…men who have been there for me in many ways, to strengthen and support me…and their wisdom and counsel has always been valuable for me as a father and as a man…

and they were there for me when i told them that my kids didn’t quite take to it…

we were at the speakeasy (lyn 65 in richfield) sippin’ on old fashioneds when i told them that…

the kids were showing “the signs”, they were showing interest in “going potty on the potty”…so, we spent the weekend with them–having them sit on the potty and try…and try and try and try…reading books on how to go potty…and rewarded them when they did it…it was going well and we were ‘looking good’ going into the week at daycare…and they did well the first day back at day care…then, the next couple days they didn’t–they had a lot of accidents…

it didn’t take…they weren’t ready…i guess…

so, we’ve got them back in diapers…

[in my mind, i was thinking…what went wrong, what should we have done?!]

together, a few of the men responded with the same mantra (one after the other)…steve, jason and ross…

the timing has to be right, you’ll know when… 

then, ross chimed in again…

they’ll let you know when it’s time…

each of these men are fathers, each of these men have three children apiece…

so, i took their words to heart…and told my wife, too…

so, we’re taking it slow and in stride…

until it happens. 

why?

December 15, 2014 By in herding (my own) cats Tags: , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

“why?” is one of those childhood sayings/questions that ranks right up there with “no” and “i don’t wanna”…and when your toddler starts wielding the word at every single, little, insignificant point throughout the day, you’ll do just what i did–beg for mercy…

just the other day, we (the family) were headed out the door to celebrate one of our cousin’s birthdays and this is what went down…

my wife: jack, put your coat on please. 

jack: why?

my wife: because we’re going to the car.

jack: why?

my wife: because we’re going to uncle bruce’s.

jack: why?

my wife: because it’s mary’s birthday.

jack: why?

my wife: because  21 years ago she was born.

jack: why?

my wife: because that’s what happened and we celebrate birthdays in our family.

jack: why?

my wife: ugh!

this went on for a little while longer until my wife put my son in a choke-hold and carried him to the car (just kiddin’)…but, we did think about it–and i get it, his brain is developing…he’s a little sponge–sucking up every little ounce of information he can…he’s also sucking the mother-lovin’ life out of us with these questions 🙂

the CIA should really look into hiring toddlers–to give suspected terrorists the ‘why treatment’…so, why are you in the u.s.?  because i’m a student; why are you a student? because i am training for a job?; why are you training for a job? because i want to make money and provide for my family?; why do you want to make money and provide for your family? so that they will have a comfortable life; why do you have all this money in your bank account if you’re a student and are training for a job to make money? forget it, i’m a terrorist! (case closed)…

and, no matter how tough you are…nobody can stand up to this treatment forever…everybody breaks, eventually…

think i’m exaggerating?! take a look at this classic clip from louis ck (this bit is on the profane side of life)…