Where does Adultitis come from? As a very contagious disease, it's an important question. Many times, it's passed down from generation to generation. This cycle needs to stop. But how? The best way is to model what an Adultitis-free life looks like. Like this Dad: Our kids listen to what we DO, not what we SAY. With respect to Adultitis, the prognosis for these girls' futures looks very positive. …
Parenthood
Dad Breaks Rule on First Day of Spring
The first day of spring is Wednesday. How are you planning to celebrating it? Wait...you weren't? A woman at a recent speaking gig shared with me a neat family tradition that I had to pass along. She grew up in Connecticut, and every year, on the first day of spring, her father would "kidnap" his kids and play hooky. They'd all load into the car as usual, but he'd eventually take a "wrong turn," and they'd never quite make it to school. One time, he took them sledding to take advantage of a new blanket of snow on the ground. Another time they ended up at the Statue of Liberty. Since it …
Easy Bake Ovens (for Boys)
When I was a wee lad, I asked for a kitchen set for Christmas. My Mom denied my request, informing me that kitchen sets were for girls. My disappointment gave way to hope the following year, however. While engaging in my favorite late fall pastime -- reading the Sears Christmas catalog that arrived by mail -- I was overjoyed to see that within the very pages of that fine, authoritative publication was the kitchen set of my dreams…and it was shown being played with by a girl AND a boy. I rushed to show my mom the the incontrovertible evidence. …
Making Memories Stick: One Sentence Daily Journal
My memory stinks. And I'm not even forty. Perhaps that is why I am so interested in simple ways to record the cool stuff that happens in my life. Then when I'm old I can actually have some idea of what I spent my life doing. …
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Messages in a Bottle: Make Your Own Memory Jar
At the end of every year, Kim and I sit down and review the year that was. We talk about what went well, what didn't go well, and reminisce about the adventures we had and the things we accomplished. The hardest part is remembering it all! We review our calendar and archived to-do lists, and even though I'm amazed at how much you can accomplish in a year, I always feel like we're missing stuff. Which is what makes this idea pure genius. Find a neat jar and put it in your kitchen with a pen and a stack of tiny paper nearby. Throughout the year, write down any cool adventures, funny …
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The Seasons of Life and a Stress-Reducing Secret
I became a father a little over four years ago. Before that, my wife and I had been married for eight years and worked together on our small business. We were used to working long days, coming and going as we pleased, and eating out at nice, quiet restaurants. We used to have a Cheerio-free backseat in our car. But now we have two kids, which practically makes me an expert at parenting. An expert at knowing how little I actually know about it, that is. …
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Hey Parents: What Super Power Would You Most Want to Have?
Our family dressed up like The Avengers this Halloween. It all started a few months ago when Lucy insisted that she wanted to be Captain America. (She has a thing for his shield.) Our son Ben is quite the grunter, so he seemed like a good choice as Hulk, and things snowballed from there. After the dust settled, Kim and I got into a discussion of what super power we'd most want to have in our role as parents. Since I have had many moments holding a sleeping kid with the remote control or my phone just out of reach, I would LOVE to possess the "Force-like" ability to levitate objects and …
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Show ‘Em How It’s Done
One thing my Dad likes doing with his grandkids is eating Hershey’s chocolate syrup with a spoon, straight from the bottle. It was a big day in our household when Kim taught Lucy how to dunk cookies in milk. And then there's the story a childcare professional I met in Houston shared with me. …
Parenthood is Definitely Not Like Politics
So we have officially started home schooling. I imagine we’ll share all the reasons for this at some point, but I’m pretty sure the main reason is because...we’re crazy. One thing I’ve noticed so far about parenthood is that the things our kids most readily pick up from us has nothing to do with the carefully crafted “lessons” we try to put forth. It’s definitely not like a political campaign, where you create an image with stories and photo-ops in order to present a pre-defined message to voters. No, kids aren’t fooled by spin. They see all sides of you, and the lessons they learn from the …
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You Can’t Have it All. So Choose What You Want Wisely.
Does the more time you spend with your family lessen the impact you can have through your career? Since becoming a father, that is a question I have struggled mightily with. …
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