Monday, May 31, 2010

Rodney Peete: Fatherhood : Men's Health

A story about fatherhood, and "calling the right play"


When Rodney Peete barked orders on the football field, others followed. But when his son was diagnosed with autism, it was his turn to listen
By: Rodney Peete, as told to Craig Bridger, Photographs by: Bernstein Associates/Getty Images

Rodney Peete: Fatherhood : Men's Health

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Manhood, sponsored by Nike

"It's this way Dad." my son pulls my arm through the maze of stores. Outlet shopping is an oasis of apparel stores and specialty shops offering deals and bargains. My son has only one destination above all others, The Nike Factory Store. We cross over from blazing heat to cold air as we enter the store. My son wells up in excitement while strolling through the racks of sport shirts and shorts. We make our way towards the back, where all the shoes are. He finds the kids section and scan the styles, I try to figure out what is more important, performance or color schemes. We are on the hunt for tennis and casuals. We tackle tennis first and pick out a few options. Kids size seven are hard to find in the right style and notice while trying on, even harder to fit. I look at my son and smirk a little, he has made the jump, the jump from kids shoes to mens shoes! I tell him to grab his sneakers and walk with me. We pass the aisles marked "Kids" and "Women" and plant ourselves in the "Mens" section. I look up and down the piles of boxes and pull out men's size seven and hand them to my son. We find a bench and pull the shiny white tennis shoes out of the box. I untie the lases, pull out the tissue paper sock and slip them on, perfect fit. My son's golden ticket, more colors, more styles, more options to choose from. In my eyes, he is my little boy, to Nike, is has become a man. I wonder if Nike will sponsor his Bar Mitzvah?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Book It

"I have nothing to read." my son says while standing in front of his bookcase. My wife and I want him to continue his book a month school assignment he had through the summer. I stand next to him, browsing his choices and agree with him. Most of the books are beneath  his grade level. I start pulling books off the shelf and stack them on the floor, the donation pile. I look at the pile and say "Get your shoes on, we are going to the book store." After a ten minute drive we arrive at Borders. We make out way over to the kids section and scan the racks. We immediately rule out half the section, baby and picture books. We rule out another quarter, young adult love and vampire themed literature. That leaves us one quarter of random selections. 
The Lightning Thief (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

There seems to be a tremendous amount of books geared for girl readers. My son does not like mystery stories, which rule out popular titles like The Hardy Boys. Take out 39 Steps, Narnia, and Harry Potter, and the pickings are slim, mostly sport books, biographies, and classics. 


My son first picks up The Lightning Thief, a popular book with his classmates. He became intrigued by the synopsis so that became book one. He likes action books so when he spotted Stormbreaker-Alex Rider Adventures, and that became book two.


Stormbreaker (Alex Rider Adventure)I wanted one of the books to be a classic. I looked around on the shelves, seeking the right combination of action, storytelling and pages. Then it caught my eye, a period piece for the ages. I show my son the cover and he agrees. The Adventures of Robin Hood becomes book three.


The Adventures of Robin Hood (Puffin Classics)We pay for the books and head home. My son shows my wife the selections, showers and gets into bed. A half hour after my son went to bed, I notice light peaking out from under his door. I slowly crack it open and see him, sprawled out on the bed, engaged in one of the books. He hears the door and looks back at me and holds up the book. "I am just starting chapter three!" I tell him that's great and close the door. I recall memories of my first time reading a great book, how exciting it is to live in the storytelling and care about the characters.


I think I will read each book when he is finished...

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Dual Feat

Tonight was filled with a series of chores, projects, and fitness. First my son worked on his school project with my wife, then dinner as a family. After cleanup my son and I hit the track for a mile or two. Showers done and some wind-down minutes before bed. Now I sit here on the couch flipping between two very enjoyable and very different programs.


Program One, Lakers vs Suns game four. Its a pivotal game, so a lot of determination and athleticism is being thrown down. Basketball showcases the rhythm of team play and the fluidity of pro athletes. Its sports drama at its best.


Program Two, Glee, the show about a very talented school glee club and the ups and downs of being different. A lot of courage and skill is being thrown down. Glee showcases the rhythm of the choreographed sets and the fluidity of the arrangements. Its show drama at its best. 


Both programs demonstrate the incredible drive and sacrifice it takes to reach the top. The performers are masters of their respective professions, not interchangeable, but equally special, and the envy of most.
And by most I mean me. 

Monday, May 24, 2010

Field of Friendship

"Lets Go Mets!" "Lets Go Mets!"  My son and his friend practice their chants before the big baseball game.  Here we are, two kids and two dads dressed in Mets t-shirts and hats heading out to Queens for an evening game. The back seat is in a state of constant banter, while Dad 1 (me) and Dad 2 get acquainted. The kids see each other everyday in school but the dads are newer to the dynamic. We cover all the criteria of the getting-to-know-you conversation, involving sports, work, and kids as we enter the confusing parking maze and locate a strategic spot for easy exiting. We make our way toward the stadium.

Picking up the tickets and getting the routine pat-down at the entrance go on without a hitch and before we know it we are standing inside the stadium, glaring out at the glistening bright green field. All around, neon laser lights reach the sky from sponsorship signage of beer and snacks. Arriving early to the stadium resulted in a relaxing concession experience, and the kids to watch some fan fest activities. The Dads are engaged and having a few laughs living through their kid's electrified behavior and amazed young eyes. After posing for a few photos, we make our way to our seats.

The game is cooperating with the home crowd, taking an early lead. The kids cannot stop singing, laughing and hugging on every run scored and strike out in favor of their home town heroes. The dads are into the game also, recalling childhood memories and players long gone. As another home run flies out of the park, high fives are thrown all around the fans in our area. With a comfortable lead, and it being a school night, the Dads calculate when is the best time to make our exit. With the last out recorded in the bottom of the seventh, we extract our bleary eyed kids, trek up the steps to the concourse and out into the parking area.

We find the car easily, jump in and set the radio to hear the end of the game. After some heart stopping situations and a couple of runs to make it close, the Mets secure the win.

Parents always speak to their kids about making friends and cherishing experiences that last a lifetime, and likewise its never too late for parents to make new friends and gather new experiences. The kids had a fantastic time and will reminisce about it for days, weeks and hopefully for years. I think the dads will remember as well.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Teens and social media sites: Kids develop bonds and identities online, studies suggest - latimes.com

Interesting article in LA Times about social media and kids...


With his gaze fixed on a tiny screen, hearing plugged by earbuds and fingers flying, the average teenager may look like a disaster in the making: socially stunted, terminally distracted and looking for trouble. But look beyond the dizzying array of beeping, buzzing devices and the incessant multitasking, say psychologists, and today's digital kids may not be such a disaster after all.
 

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Running on Empty

Last night we ventured to the school athletic field to tackle some evening exercise. I finish cleaning up from dinner while my wife and son got a head start. After loading up the last dish in the dishwasher, I changed my clothes, grabbed my Ipod and hit the track. I have not been keeping to any sort of regular exercise schedule for the last couple of months and decided this week to really buckle down and "Just Do It". My son needs to get in some exercise also and I think we need to formulate a father-son program. Usually when my son and I hit the field, we play catch or I throw the lacrosse ball to him while he sort of runs around, not an efficient workout. Last night I just hit the track and started running. My son was walking around the track with my wife and he noticed me coming towards them, in a jog while listening to some tunes. I passes him, but instead of stopping, kept on running, not allowing myself to idle. As I rounded turn four and into my second lap, I looked back to see my son striding along in a light trot. I glance back in the middle of second lap and he is still running along in good form and determined to complete the lap before slowing down to a short walk. I pass him once again and give him a high five and he smiles. I go a little more down the track when I hear footsteps from behind. I turn my head slightly to peak back and see my son, running along, keeping a steady pace. 

By then end of our routine, my son ran, walked and ran some more to complete five laps! As happy as I was with my completion of nine laps, I was even more ecstatic with the influence it made on my son. If we can both keep this up we will be in great shape, not only for the summer, but for our health. 

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Kid-Friendly NYC from nycgo.com

This is a good article from nycgo.com covering some of the great attractions NYC has to offer.

There's no doubt that New York City is kid-friendly. After all, there are great parks, museums, restaurants and toy stores catering to youngsters' every whim and whimsy all over the five boroughs. In fact, the City is one giant playground for kids—and their parents are sure to have fun right along with them.
There's so much to see and do in the City that you'll have to make many trips to NYC to get it all in, but we'll get you started with a fun-filled three-day itinerary that's jam-packed with activities.
 

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

To Make a Long Story Short...

This week is the last week of all after school classes and championship weekend for the sports. School is heading into the home stretch, and those camp form checks should be signed and mailed.  As for my son, he has been wearing shorts since March. My son enjoys wearing shorts. He has cargo shorts, khaki shorts, and plaid shorts. His favorite, without a doubt, are sport shorts. He loves shorts, will live in warm climate when older, and if he can get his way, will wear shorts to his wedding. We have this deal that if the temperature is above 55 degrees when he is getting dressed, he can wear shorts. My rationale with this deal meant if it's a warm sunny day, he is allowed to break out  the shorts. My son's rationale is quite different. He will push his reasoning hard to get the OK from my wife or myself. Excuses range from "I have gym today" to "I don't want to get my pants dirty during recess". He is that kind of person who is hardly ever cold. When he was a toddler he disliked coats. There were times in the middle of winter where we would get dirty looks from parents because while all the kids are in puffer coast, mittens and big wool hats, our son would be running around in a sweatshirt and sneakers, and no gloves or hat. We must have look like terrible parents! His cheeks and hands would be red and cold but he did not mind, he does not like to be bundled up. 


The warm weather has finally arrived, after a long winter, and my son has been ready for weeks. He is sleeping now, on top of the covers with the air conditioner set to high, and of course in shorts.

Bad Parent of the Week

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Networking

Kids talking on the phone is always a funny thing. They forget to say their name, talk into the receiver and usually just end the call without saying goodbye. My son called a friend to ask him if he wanted to go to a baseball game with him. When he was finished I asked him to hang up the phone. He looked at me funny and said "Hang it up where?" I realized he had no idea what I meant. To "hang up" the phone nowadays is just pressing the "off" button. 

I started thinking about other phrases I say that really have no meaning now:

Old: Taping a TV show
New: Recording a show

Old: Look it up
New: Google it

Old: Hang up the phone
New: Turn it off

Old: mix tape
New: Playlist

Old: Buying a record
New: Download songs

Old: Developing film
New: Uploading to Flickr

I am old enough to remember the scratchy albums, computer punch cards, fighting over the TV tuner knob, chalk in school, and half hour news programs. 

I wonder what silly phrases my son will say to make his kids give him freakish looks.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Clean up

For the past ten years my son has taken a shower, and every night he asks the same question, "Why do I need to take a shower?



What is it about boys and being clean. Every night is a battle to get my son to take a shower and brush his teeth. Is it because its usually the last thing before he has to got to bed? Is it because he is tired already and does not want it to wake him up? Is it because he thinks he is clean already? I do not know his motivations to why he opposes it, but I do know one thing, he is sweaty, dirty and a little stinky.

Time to Soap Up!

Sunday, May 16, 2010

I need those TPS Reports!

It's 8am Sunday morning, and my son has transformed himself into Wayne Rooney and scores an impossible goal in FIFA 2010 on the Wii. I hang up the phone and let out a sigh. After spending late Saturday evening at work, my son senses what is coming next. I tell him that I need to go into the office this morning to complete some reports needed for a meeting. Neither him nor I are happy about it.

As a working Dad, the quality minutes I get during the week with my family are very few. My weekends are filled from dawn to dusk with house duties, errands, and of course kid activities and coaching responsibilities. So when your boss calls for some weekend work, I am definitely conflicted.

Of course my job pays for our home, food and those toys my son is always hinting about, but how much is too much? What's the point of working long hours to get ahead when you are missing out on all of the fruits of your labor? The compromise I have done in the past is go into the office at off hours to get these projects done. It's difficult to say no and it's tough to disappoint your family. Family is the most important thing in my life, and my job is necessary for my family's life. 

As I get dressed to go, my wife and I adjust our plans for the day, shifting everything to the afternoon. I need to give up my time until noon, a compromised split of the day. My son walks in the bedroom to give me a hug, he is sad I am going, but looks forward to a mother-son morning, and the train ride to my office for my pickup. Then the family will be ready for a great Sunday afternoon.

Friday, May 14, 2010

The Music They Played

Last evening was the fourth grade concert, in which my son is part of the band and chorus. Seeing all of the kids clean and dressed in shirts, ties and dresses was a joy for the parents. My son has been in the school since the second grade and seeing how the kids have grown in the past three years is a remarkable sight. The school goes through grade twelve so watching the whole fourth grade class stand together during chorus felt like peeking into the future and imagining this class of 2018 standing together during graduation. It's enough to make your heart skip a beat.

As much as the parents were basking in pride, the kids were outright ecstatic. This is their first year learning instruments and have been practicing for this day since September. Their hard work did not go unnoticed as the orchestra, band, and the chorus seemed to be pitch perfect. Kudos to all the teachers and instructors for taking one hundred and thirty novice individuals and constructing a cohesive unit.

After the concert, there was a short reception, mounds of brownies, cookies and punch. The kids, nerves hyped from performing swarmed over the desserts like locust. Flashes flickered all around as parents gathered kids together quickly like paparazzi working the red carpet. Soon the children hit the front lawn for games of tag and other celebrations. Parents stood around gabbing about the concert and watched the kids proceed to dirty up their wears. 
A very memorable evening....

Thursday, May 13, 2010

How to Videotape Your Kid's Sporting Event (the NFL Films Way)

Esquire (24 issues)How to Videotape Your Kid's Sporting Event (the NFL Films Way)
By Peter Schrager
Esquire Magazine

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Steve Sabol, president of NFL Films, has five tips that will transform your endless afternoons of wobbly zooming into mini-movies with gravitas. Deep voice not included.

Bad Parent of the Week

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Displacement

My son had a bad afternoon. This is my understanding of the events as they happen...

It was 12:15pm this afternoon. Lunch was winding down but the kids did not notice. They were in the middle of a game, a baseball game. This game does not require a glove, a bat, or even a ball. It requires quick thinking and a healthy supply of high numbered cards. Its a game played Mano e Mano, it's Topps Attax.

Topps Attax is baseball cards with a twist. Each card has three sets of numbers printed on them signifying a ranking. You play pitcher against batter, if the pitcher wins, it's an out and if the batter wins, it's a home run. It takes time to collect an all-star caliber team, and my son had a quality team. He brought his best to school today to battle a friend. After the kids ate, they gathered around to show off their goods, make some strategic trades and play a few innings.

The game was going along pretty even, neither side gaining much advantage when the announcement was given to start cleaning up. The two boys stretched out the game as long as possible, concluded and quickly gathered their garbage and proceeded to the nearest garbage can. My son stood over the pail, held his arms straight out and unclenched his fists. In his mind he named the items as they fell into the can, one ball of aluminum foil, an empty water bottle, a popcorn bag, and a stack of baseball cards.

He froze, his eyes blinked for a second, and he looked at his hands, they were empty. He looked in the can and a gasp of air left his throat. Scattered in the pail, on top of apple cores and half eaten sandwiches were his cards. He frantically started reaching in, grabbing the cards one by one. It was like a game of survival, if he touched one card, it would effect the balance of another one, causing the card to plummet down into the abyss. He needed to swiftly coordinate his reach-in, as kids were throwing their lunch waste on top, deeper losing sight of the cards. The rescue mission turned into a salvage mission as the saved ones, already mucky, needed to be assessed for its value. A mini triage unit was set up, his friends helping out as much as they could before the lunch squad informed them that they needed to get back to their classroom. Just then the custodian, not knowing the urgency of the situation collected the can and wheeled in into the back room.

Of the thirty or so cards that went in the slop, five were saved.

The rest of the day seemed to go half-massed, quiet and uneasy. In the grand scheme of life, this is a speck on the back of a flea, but for a ten year old, this is a downer.

My wife, feeling his pain, took him over to the store to get him a couple of packs, twelve new cards to build up his team again. By the time I got home from work his mood improved and showed me his new cards. By the time bed time rolled around he felt a lot better. He would be over it soon, probably get a big laugh about it in a few days. It's funny how we hold on to our small possessions like its part of who we are, then they can disappear in an instant, realizing they were not really as important as we thought.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Gratitude

A post by one of my favorite Dads SethD ...

When I think of my boys, I feel the most urgent emotional rush.  

Love beyond description.  More pride than any man can earn, hope that can heal the whole world’s worries.  

And sadness.  I’m desperately sad that they will have to find out how fucked up the world can be. Sad that they will find out that I’m not the coolest person alive. Disappointed that I did not have 20 more years with them so we could have done more growing up together.
 
Gratitude.
We have adopted the daily ritual of taking turns stating "our gratitude"
at one or more meals per day. Sometimes it’s deep. Sometimes it’s only
half heard. Sometimes it’s naughty but funny as hell, like when my six year
old professes his gratitude for his penis, “So I can eliminate the pee pee
my body doesn’t need.” and his armpits, "So that I have something to
connect my arms to my body.", etc.  How can we tell him to behave with
insight like this?

The other night my 4 year old  and I stated a few gifts for which we are grateful. He's so cute.  I asked Harper if he wanted to do his and he said not tonight. I said o.k. Then I thought about it and offered that gratitude is an important part of having a healthy mind and that sharing it is a generous act, and asked if he’d like to do just one. He cocked his head, looked toward the ceiling in thought and said “I’m grateful that my spirit chose you and mom to be my parents.” I remembered how around 3 years ago I’d explained that some people think that people’s spirits choose their parents. Never mentioned it again. What an awesome responsibility…to teach someone how the world works. How they work.  How easy it is to screw up.  How wonderful to see the glorious fruits of doing it right, if only once in a while.
Love beyond description.

SethD

Monday, May 10, 2010

Relativity, in theory

Sitting at a traffic light with my son, I look at him, staring out the window while singing to the tune on the radio. I smile and daydream.

He turns his head fast, catching me staring and announces "What?"

I answer: "I cannot believe you are almost done with the fourth grade already, it was just a short time ago it was your first day."

Son: "Actually it was a long time ago."

Dad:" But it seemed to go really fast"

Son: "Not to me"

How can time seem so slow to a child and so fast as an adult? I think kids live in a now state and adults live in the past state. Its hard for a child to measure time, to a child everything is Now, which explains why the statement, "We will be there in two hours." is quickly followed by "Are we there yet?"

Adults, on the other hand, have lost the ability to live in the now, and mostly long for the Past, which explains why we say stupid things like "When I was a child, we did not have video games, we played with each other."

Sometimes the two time paths intersect, cross and reverse the child's Now and the adult's Then, which explains the statement, "Go to bed- Now!" and the always immediate rebuttal, "In a minute!"

Council of Dads

The Council of Dads: My Daughters, My Illness, and the Men Who Could Be MeHeard about a great book today called The Council of Dads. There was an interview with the author, Bruce Feilor on NPR, and even though it is a tough subject, it could be very helpful for dads going through similar circumstances. The transcript of the interview can be found on npr.org.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Day of the Mom

Today, May 9 is Mother's Day, time for the children to acknowledge the love for their moms and how much Moms do for them. The kids spend a week making gifts and writing out cards. Sounds of giggles early, waiting for the wake up. Families gather for brunch, lunch or dinner. Flowers are dressed and standing at attention. Last is the Dads, on the clock trying hard to make things go smoothly. 

The Dad Trade takes the day off to recognize All Moms everywhere. Enjoy your day, extend it a little into Monday if you wish. You deserve it. 

The Dad Trade will be back at work tomorrow, getting prepared for another special day, June 20, Father's Day.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Defending the Flag

Hike! The quarterback accepts the ball and drops back. The receivers scatter into their routes and the defense proceeds to lock down their territory. The lone pass rusher puts pressure on the quarterback as he makes a bee line toward him. Just as the passer feels the pressure, he cocks back his arm and slingshots the ball forward. The ball is like a bullet, piercing the air as it is rushing to the target. Just as the ball crosses the goal line and the receiver readies his body to welcome the ball and the touchdown, the middle defender leaps between the ball and the receiver and intercepts the ball. The defender brings the ball close to his body, and his legs start to kick into gear and launches forward like a locomotive. The shocked offense is frozen in time as possession changes, then accelerates into action. The ball carrier is now rumbling in the direction of his goal line as the pack closes in fast. The sun is baking the field and the overtime period has taken its toll on all the players. The runner is overheating and his feet hit the ground like they are seeping into wet sand. The pack is on top of him and a hand stretches out and takes hold of the flag. The clasp slowly unhinges and the flag unwraps from the runners waist, hits the air like a parachute and lands peacefully on the floor. The sound of the whistle snaps all eyes off the resting flag and look up. Game over. The defender picks up his flag and walks to his teammates in a huddle. Little victories save big wars. "Good Game" is uttered by both teams during the hand shake parade. No losers today but no winners either. A tie is recorded on each team's record. Three weeks from now we play each other again. There will be no tie next time.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Geek Dad

Geek Dad: Awesomely Geeky Projects and Activities for Dads and Kids to ShareI saw this article today in the NY Times and thought it is a great source of ideas to have in the home. Never know when a good project is needed to keep the kids engaged.

Here is the NY Times Review:

Thursday, May 6, 2010

A Moral Victory

"I win again!" My son points and laughs. I know he won, that's how I planned it.

I am forty-five and he is ten, with that age difference I should beat him every time, but 80% of the time I let him win. It does not mean as much to me to lose, as much as it means to him to win. One side of the discussion will be that I give him a false sense of triumph and not preparing him for the real world. I say he is ten and will have plenty of wins and losses in his lifetime, and right now a 80% winning percentage works for me.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Pride, in the name of

My son has an anxious smile on his face. He is waiting for a name to be called to the podium to accept a prestigious honor. He holds his breath as each name is called, waiting for the one he knows. When he hears the name his eyes open wide, his face turns a little red, a sense of pride washes over him as he watches his mother accept her entry into the Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society.  

Proud moments are usually reserved for parents of their children. Tonight I saw a reversal of fortune. My son was truly proud of his mother and he deserved to be. He witnessed first hand the reward of hard work and commitment. Hopefully this night will remain in his consciousnesses and meld into his work ethic. If a picture is worth a thousand words, witnessing real achievement can sprout long lasting motivation.

After the ceremony, my son turns to his mother "What kind of grades do you need to get that honor?" "All A's" his mother says. "Maybe I can do that too..." my son responds. His mother tussles his hair and replies "You can." 

Motivation set to on...


Tuesday, May 4, 2010

i got a boy by Seth Davis

Check it out...


Monday, May 3, 2010

Havng the talk

I watch my son play in his room and try to figure how to start.. It's never easy to have the conversation with a boy. You want him to understand the full picture, about not to hurt anyone or himself. After all he is older now, and in today's world better to hear it from me than have his friends laugh at him. Questions like, how do they do it, or does it hurt, are bound to come up. We will talk about the pressure involved and the commitment it takes to be good. He will ask about the bickering, and I will say it's just role playing. He will ask about the signature moves and I will talk about how two people can make it look effortless. The moans, the screams and the yelling will all make sense after the conversation. I will have no answers for the midgets, the face painting or how the referees miss all the calls. He has reached the age where he needs to know, just like I had to take down Elmo and the Tooth Fairy long ago.

I am now ready, I just have to say it. "Son, wrestling is not real."

Top 10 Helpful Hints for Geeky Dads-To-Be

Top 10 Helpful Hints for Geeky Dads-To-Be

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Sunday, May 2, 2010

Project A Grade

The bit of glue is placed on the Tic-Tacs representing the magic stones. My son places the last stone on the edge of the popsicle stick rope bridge just as it reaches the cardboard mountainside. He smiles, knowing that the diorama depicting his lasted book report is finished, four days ahead of schedule. I smile back, thinking to myself, this is my best work yet. 

Yes, I admit, I help my son with his school projects. I help him conceptualize the idea he wants to present to class. In other words, I guide him through the planning process until he comes up with an idea I think is optimal. He still has to read the book, formulate his ideas about the book, write the summary section and present it in front of the class. All I do is manage the project, cut out a few things and hold down items to be taped or glued. I say no when things go off track and yes when it's on the right path, like a good project manager should. Helping with homework is every patent's duty to their kids.

This month's book project is complete and my son should be proud of his work. For next month's assignment my son picked a biography on John F. Kennedy, I wonder if I can learn how to sculpt in thirty days...

Wake up call

My son is not a sleeper. In my experience I breakdown babies and kids in two categories, good eaters and good sleepers. Good sleepers are kids who go to bed at their designated bed time and soundly sleep until morning, but when it comes to eating they are very finicky. My son falls into the other category, he has always been a sound eater, his problem is sleeping. As a baby he never napped and to this day does not require a lot of sleep. The worst part is no matter what time he goes to bed, he is up around the same time each morning, approximately 6:30am. 

All this basically means one thing, if he gets up early, I am up early. It would be a real treat to sleep in once in a while. This morning I woke to the familiar sounds of my son in his wake-up routine It was 6:00am. I got up, staggered into his room to say good morning. Then I did something I have not done for 10 years. I went back to bed and fell back to sleep! I woke up at 8:30am, the bright sun shining through the window and sounds of people out in the street. I rise up from the bed and walk into the living room. I see my son standing in front of the TV, waving the Wii remote like an symphony conductor and my wife reading and sipping her tea. This is going to be a good Sunday.

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