There is nothing cool about being a dare devil, especially when it comes to your child. Time and time again, I have watched my son, Beckett, learn something new and then proceed to add dangerous twists and turns to the new skill that lead to bumps, scrapes, bruises and cuts. Swimming is probably the most… Read more »

Picking up my kids from school is a funny experience. One day this week I had the privilege of picking up both of them, and let’s just say their reactions give the self-confidence quite the boost. Based on their obvious excitement and eagerness to see me, it’s like they are being released from prison after… Read more »

A reader forwarded me an interesting quote last week about parenting. It was by American writer William Saroyan, who wrote, “While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.” That hit home for me and my wife as I presume it does for most parents.
While… Read more »

It never ceases to amaze me how being a parent is like taking a day-long ride on the wildest roller coaster imaginable, featuring dips, turns, drops and highs and lows. Over the course of the three-day Labor Day holiday weekend, we set out to give the kids a full blown summer weekend extravaganza before school… Read more »

There is no such thing as privacy anymore around my house. I accepted that reality way back when my boys started walking, but the reality of it continues to hit home on a daily basis. Nonetheless, there are times when I am surprised by the fact alone time at my house seems impossible to come…. Read more »

There are some conversations that just deserve to be bottled and read years later as a reminder of a distant snapshot in time. Since I would worry about placing that bottle in a safe place somewhere and never finding it again, the next best thing is preserving it in this weekly rambling. While in the… Read more »

What a difference a week makes. Two weeks ago, the ocean was perfect for little kids. The tide was low, leaving a large and shallow wading area, and the waves were small and weak but fun for our 5- and 3-year-old boys. Low-tide beach days are easy for parents, or at least for us, because… Read more »

A new bedtime record was set for Beckett and Carson last weekend. With friends visiting and lots of fun being had, we just let the kids stay up and play outside while the adults enjoyed a bonfire. The kids dug the bonfire, but once the Smores were consumed they were on to other things. Watching… Read more »

An optional clothing policy would be a huge hit around my house.If Beckett had his way, he would be “commando” at all times. He rarely likes to wear any clothes and questions if he can sleep in the nude why he can’t spend the day that way. For the record, he doesn’t go to bed… Read more »

I came across a three-page print out the other day titled, “Beckett’s Daily Routine.” This was from back in November of 2009 when Carson was born and we were going to be away in Pennsylvania for his adoption process for at least a week. It was left for the various family members and neighbors who… Read more »