PregnancyFamilyEducation Blogs
July 2008 Archive
July 31, 2008
It's not always about the lesson
As (almost) always, I picked up K-Man at school and headed off to a park (with a pole). It’s (always) always amazing that he can play at school all day and then want nothing more than to keep on playing when I pick him up. After nearly an hour of sliding down poles, driving the fire truck and playing in the sand, I was ready to go. K-Man? Not so much. [more]
July 30, 2008
K-Man and the Firefighters
I know that I write a lot about doing whatever I can to make sure that K-Man is in a position to go after his passions and dreams (and, more importantly, that he feels encouraged to do so). While I hesitate to call myself obsessed with this (for reasons that are far better discussed on a therapist’s couch), I am always keenly aware of what makes the kid get excited. Today, I flat out asked him. [more]
July 29, 2008
From generation to generation
As I sat in an airport restaurant, I watched the baseball game on the big plasma TV. People around me were cheering, hooting, hollering and doing all the things that hardcore fans do when their team is playing. Despite the fact that the team playing was my favorite when I was a kid, caring about sports in such a way has long since passed for me. So, I just watched. The announcers were discussing one of the players and mentioned that he’s just “being himself” and how refreshing it is – even if “being himself” means being petulant and a whiner. [more]
July 28, 2008
The writing on the wall
Another day. Another milestone. It’s too much of a cliché to dare say that the kid is growing up right before our eyes, but it seems as though every single day brings some kind of new discovery. Every single day brings another of those breakthroughs that make us, as parents, look at each other with that unspoken acknowledgement: “Things will never be the same.” [more]
July 25, 2008
Old man. New tricks.
With K-Man on lead guitar and vocals, we live in a pretty musical house. We almost always have the iPod going, and when it’s not, K-Man is usually serenading us (or the dog) with an original tune or two. During K-Man’s concerts, I will grab a pillow and back him up on drums. He seems to like this. And, since at one point in my life I was a decent musician (trumpet), I can (mostly) keep a beat. K-Man and I make quite a little band. (Drums and guitar – we’re like the White Stripes. Only K-Man would probably prefer we be called the Firefighters.) [more]
July 24, 2008
Birthday planning begins
K-Man’s third b’day is a little under two months away. This, of course, means that that we’re deep into the birthday R&D process. We know that K-Man’s party will have a firefighter, fire truck and firehouse theme. We know that there will be helmets and hoses and plenty of other goodies to go around. And yet, there’s still SO MUCH to figure out. [more]
July 23, 2008
How are you defined?
The first time I ever heard the answer was about six or seven years ago when, in answer to the question, “So, what are you doing?” one of my good friends replied, “I’m being a dad.” He wasn’t being a stay-at-home dad. He had just decided that being a dad was the most important thing in his life and, as a result, that’s how he was more or less defining himself. He wasn’t defined by his zillion-dollar-a-year money management gig. He was a dad. Even before I had kids, I always thought that answer was kind of cool. [more]
July 21, 2008
Death, taxes and a red pocket T
We all know the mantra that the only givens in life are death and taxes. But, K-Man has his own take on this cliché. In his world, the only true given is a red pocket T-shirt. It’s the shirt he wears every day. Every. Day. Not parts of the day. All day. Every day. (That is, until he puts on his firefighter pajamas.) Whatever you do, don’t try to get him into another shirt. [more]
July 17, 2008
At some point, life becomes their own
My business partner’s extended family is in the midst of a hurricane of crisis. It seems his 13-year-old niece (on his wife’s side) has “opted out” of her Bat Mitzvah. Just six weeks to the glorious (according to the family) event that marks her entry into womanhood (according to the traditions), she decided it wasn’t for her. Chaos has ensued. [more]
July 17, 2008
On a wing and a prayer
There’s no doubt that we are experiencing some trying economic times. Gas prices climb to astronomical numbers (the lowest I ever remember was $.59 – I guess I’m old), milk prices are rising and…well, what prices aren’t skyrocketing? It’s during these times that the pressure to provide also grows, and the work-life balancing act that parents must perform daily becomes more complicated and treacherous. [more]
