I recognize the fact that roller coasters are probably fun for most people, but they turn me into a frightened, whimpering child. For a guy who’s afraid of heights and gets car sick in the back seat of anything, roller coasters are really one of the scariest 'safe' things out there. Yes, I’ve ridden a few mild ones in my life, if only to convince myself I’m not a complete chicken, but when I go to a theme park it’s certainly not for the coasters. Last weekend we went to Dollywood, a wonderful … [Read more...]
The ‘man card’
Everybody knows about the ‘girl card,’ that ace in the hole the ladies play anytime there is a bug to smash, something nasty to take out, or a heavy object that needs lifting (Honey, can you use those big strong muscles to move this furniture around for me?), but did you know that men and kids have cards to play as well? ‘Man card,’ you ask? Isn’t that a relic of a bygone era? Men aren’t supposed to have any ‘cards’ these days, right?! No my friend, it is not, and yes, we most … [Read more...]
Stuff kids like (but parents hate)
Being the ‘hip’, ‘happening,’ ‘with-it,’ extremely cool parents we are, we enjoy life to the fullest and want to have fun. Indeed we purposefully seek out good times for us and for our children, although when this happens it’s usually our children who have the fun while we have… something else entirely. The fact of the matter is, kids and parents tend to have wildly differing opinions on just what ‘fun’ is, and it’s been this way at least since the 70’s when we were born. (Anthropologists … [Read more...]
How To Keep Your Princesses From Turning Into Divas!
In addition to our firstborn son, my wife and I have not one, not two, but three beautiful little princesses. Needless to say, we consider ourselves quite blessed. Sure, some might disagree with that assessment, depending on their view of society’s very outdated, arcane, medieval, SEXIST policy of parents of girls paying for weddings (yeah I know – CRAZY isn’t it??). Personally, I believe that is one area (maybe the only one) where society needs to step into the 21st century. But I … [Read more...]
A House FULL of Tattletales!
None of our kids would do well in prison. They would all be in protective custody for being SNITCHES! ‘Guard! Bubba stole my shank and he won't give it back! Guard! Guido put his finger in my gruel again!’ I mean, seriously, does it really matter that Hannah, buckled peacefully and harmlessly in her seat in our van, is breathing too hard for Abby’s sentimentalities? Does it matter that Nathaniel touches Hannah's nose at the breakfast table, even if he’s being annoying on purpose? Or that Grace, … [Read more...]