My daughter Lucy is five. Getting her to go to bed has been a struggle since the Johnson administration. Andrew Johnson. I know that seems impossible, but when you calculate it in sleep deprived years, it adds up. We’ve made progress on all fronts over the years, but there’s always...something. The latest challenge is training her that when she has to go potty in the middle of the night, she doesn’t have to wake me up to ask me a series of unimportant questions like “How long is it 'till morning?” and concluding with the ever-present, “Is that all the questions?” She has traces of …
Parenthood
A Nine-Year-Old Declares the One Good Thing About Being an Adult
[This is a guest post by Champion of Childhood award winner Matt Haas (and his daughter Amelia.)] I just finished reading the latest installment of the Escape Adulthood newsletter and it reminded me of a conversation I had recently with my nine-year-old daughter, Amelia. We were driving home from school and she was lamenting that she “never wanted to grow up.” As a newly appointed Champion of Childhood, it was my duty to take a deeper dive on that comment and try and find a possible antidote to this dreaded disease. What did she know that we didn’t, and could it shine some light on this …
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The Kid Who Really Wanted Glasses He Didn’t Need (and the Mom Who Let Him Get Them)
People with Adultitis are often embarrassed by people without it. It makes them uncomfortable. They worry about what the behavior of the "Adultitis-free" people will say about them. Of course, there is one demographic of people that typically suffers from very little Adultitis. We call them children. If we let them, kids can help us treat the Adultitis within us. But if we're not careful, we can also inflict our Adultitis upon them. It's easy for parents (and teachers) to use their authority to shut down the behavior our children engage in; behavior that is completely innocent, …
Dad Starts Dance Party at Pharmacy
I have never been a pharmacist. I don't even play one on TV. But I can't imagine a pharmacy inherently being a work environment filled with laughs and good times. But that doesn't mean it couldn't use it. Here is an email we got from Dan Drella, who initiated a small rebellion with his kids. "I was in Walgreens with sons Brody (6) and Xavier (7). We were walking from photo to the back of the store. Xavier said, "What are we doing now?" My answer was, "Dance party!" Boom, right there in the aisle. All three of us dancing. Brody was all over it. Xavier said, "No, really, what are we …
Pardon the Mess
I'll admit it: I prefer a tidy house. I feel good when the dishes are done and the counter is cleared. I'm easily disturbed when piles stay piles for too long. I like the structure of a good plan. Is it an Adultitis-fueled trait? Perhaps. But I do find that I am more present, relaxed and creative when clutter and chaos is minimized. In general, I don't think it's a terrible trait to have. And I don't believe that an Adultitis-free life is one that disregards any sense of order. However. I do find it helpful to regularly remind myself of some simple truths: …
Your Next Big Thing
As of this writing, Kim is pregnant with our third child. The news came as a bit of a surprise. Not a shock, mind you, as we are well aware of how babies are made. (Pretty sure, at least.) The fact is that although we were open to another child, we weren't exactly planning on it. We had been getting used to the story of our family having just two kids. When Kim first told me the news, I may or may not have cursed. Not in an angry way, but more in a "you've got to be kidding me" way. …
Living Life as an Adventure
What is the role of a parent? Obviously, keeping them alive is a big one. I've learned that feeding them semi-regularly and redirecting them away from hot stoves and wild animals helps with that. Teaching them morals, and how to be a positive contribution to society are important next-level responsibilities. But what about being brave? Isn't it important to teach them how to chase a dream and how to take risks and strive to reach their potential? …
The Title of Dad
When Kim was pregnant with our first, I had a speaking engagement in Green Bay. After my talk was over, a guy came up to me and said, “Of all the titles I’ve ever had, ‘Dad’ is my all-time favorite. I think it will be the same for you, too.” He shared that he had two kids, 22 and 19. He said he started missing his younger son the day the boy left for college. I’ve had a lot of jobs over the years. Baseball scorekeeper. Concession stand owner. Car washer. Newspaper ad designer. Most of us go through our careers with business cards that grow ever more impressive. What makes them more …
Career Is Never As Important As Family
Basketball Hall-of-Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar recently wrote an article for Esquire magazine entitled, 20 Things I Wish I’d Known When I Was 30. This one is my favorite: 9. Career is never as important as family. The better you are at your job, the more you’re rewarded, financially and spiritually, by doing it. You know how to solve problems for which you receive praise and money. Home life is more chaotic. Solving problems is less prescriptive and no one’s applauding or throwing money if you do it right. That’s why so many young professionals spend more time at work with the excuse, “I’m …
Help Wanted: Family CEO
Help Wanted: Family CEO Applicant is responsible for the management and safety of her subordinates at all times. She will be responsible for the overall health and development of those under her supervision, including, but not limited to, ensuring proper regular hygiene, ethics instruction, and recreational activities. She will foster appropriate communication and team building skills within her unit, which shall require expertise status in the areas of conflict resolution and communications. Being particularly fluent in primitive languages is a plus. …