Blankie

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My friend, Amanda, sent this small “Blankie” as a gift for my child before he was born. That was approximately five years ago. As you can see, he’s used it quite a bit. I can’t think of a better way … Continue reading →

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If My Marriage Fails

The only threat to my marriage and family will be if I falter in my commitment to be the best father and husband that I possibly can. Marriages and families fall apart because of internal struggles, not because the couple down the street was granted the right to marry or adopt children.

Marriage equality is here to stay in the United States. If you’re not willing to accept that simple fact, then there’s a big world out there, and plenty of other cultures who will welcome you and your bigoted ways.

Losing My Illusion

I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately. The more I see, read, and hear, the more I become convinced that Democrats and Republicans want one thing: a corporate oligarchy. The terms “Republican” and “Democrat” are simply two labels that refer to the same group of people who use those labels and wedge issues to distract the electorate, so that they may act under the radar to push legislation that eats away at our constitutional rights. I spent many years believing that Democrats had the solutions to our problems, but that belief system is crumbling quickly in light of incidents such as those at Hillary Clinton’s State Department in recent months. Neither Republicans nor Democrats are interested in preserving our Republic, because a Republic is an impediment to a corporatist regime.

You may take this opportunity to prove me wrong.

Cooper vs. the Mad Scientist

Here’s Cooper at one of his two birthday parties today. There’s nothing like teaching kids that gratuitous violence yields tasty candy!

Reading is F-U-N!

Tonight, Cooper and I read a story and I asked him if he could find certain key words on each page using his rudimentary understanding of letters and sounds. He performed brilliantly, and it was a proud moment for me. For the two of us, it was a fun bonding exercise, and a game. I never was much of a reader growing up, and still tend to stick to non-fiction in the form of articles, journals (blogs), with the occasional full-length book for good measure. We’re really working to to encourage Cooper to become a reader. If he continues to have as much fun deciphering words as he did tonight, I think we’re on the right track.

Peer Pressure

I didn’t expect to be having the peer pressure talk with my son for at least a few more years. Some of you more experienced parents are already smiling and shaking your heads in a sympathetic (yet amused) kind of way. I know this because I’ve had the same reaction when reading the blogs of, and chatting with, fellow parents. Today, under pressure from a friend, Cooper bit another child on the wrist. No one was seriously injured, got rabies/cooties, or lost any limbs, but Cooper and I did have a chat.

The first thing I had to address with him was that no one “made” him do it, as he initially tried to explain to me. Once we cleared up that little misunderstanding, we discussed doing the right thing even in the face of pressure from others to do something we know to be wrong or hurtful. In four year-old terms, we say “I’m not going to do what you’re telling me to do, because it’s mean (wrong)!” I asked him what he would do again in that situation, and had to repeat the exercise a few times until I was satisfied that he understood our discussion. We both agreed that when we got home, he would write a note to the victim of his vampirism to say that he was sorry. Once we arrived at the house, we went to his desk where I helped him write the word “sorry” on a blank sheet of picture. He decided to add a picture of the two of them hugging, a nice touch which I hadn’t considered. I was moved.

There you have it — peer pressure! I’m actually glad it started early, because we’ll have numerous opportunities to discuss the issue and prepare him for that “serious stuff” that we older kids face.

The Yodeling Dad in Action

Just let me yodel, and all will be right with the world!