This column started eight years ago for selfish reasons as a means to document the journey that is raising children.What I have found reading through the three binders of columns the other day is these ramblings are memorializing for eternity the little things that occur in our lives. That’s a special thing.My wife and I… Read more »

It’s always amazing to me what gifts are the kids’ favorites each year.It’s not always what we expect.Carson’s choice has to be the miniature battleship, which is in reality about three feet long, with 12 planes from the current military age as well as years gone by. He loves it so much that on Tuesday… Read more »

“Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.”That’s the name of the children’s book Pam brought home the other day after a shopping trip. I didn’t immediately recall what it was until I opened the book and began reading it.It was an illustrated version of the famous letter to the editor of New York’s Sun newspaper… Read more »

Sometimes a bad grade in school is a blessing.Without letting him know that’s what I was thinking, it’s how I approached a disappointing math test score this month for Beckett. It was the lowest score he’s ever gotten on a test and it was from pure carelessness and rushing through it. It was an opportunity… Read more »

I’m embarrassed to admit I have never read, “Charlotte’s Web.”But I have had the opportunity this school year to read it along with Beckett, who is in third grade. One of the messages throughout the book is that of true friendship and loyalty.We have talked to him about it several times and there were times… Read more »

The headline, “Boys Get Organized Later In Life,” caught my attention on a friend’s social media page.The article by psychologist and author Michael Thompson continued, “It will eventually happen. Boys don’t usually get organized in primary or secondary school, sometimes not even until college.”That message was reassuring to read. Although it was geared toward providing… Read more »

It was nearly 9 on a Friday night and we were driving 30 mph on a dark backroad in Pennsylvania.One of the many thoughts going through my head at that time was how my life has changed over the years. Another thought was why in the world GPS led us to this small Amish enclave… Read more »

I went to my first hoedown this week.The event was part of American Education Week for Carson at his school. There were two special events planned for his first grade class on Monday.First was a hoedown in the gym. For the last couple weeks, we have been asking Carson to show his moves and he… Read more »

I like to think it’s just a young boy thing, but it amazes me how absentminded our 8-year-old can be at times.He forgets everything that he views as inconsequential but can remember the minute mark of Ronaldo’s goal from a game three weeks ago. Clearly, what’s important to him doesn’t jive with his parents’ priorities.For… Read more »

When it comes to my kids, they don’t understand how lucky they are on Halloween.They live at the Halloween epicenter in this area in my opinion. Annually, we have more than 2,000 trick or treaters come to our stoop along Washington Street. It’s astonishing to me year after year.We always take the time to take… Read more »