When my daughter was about two years old, we took her to see the movie Pocahontas. Yeah, I know, we probably shouldn’t have, but Braveheart was sold out, so the Disney movie was about all that was left. Now I’m not going to say I hated the movie, but I did construct a Pocahontas voodoo…
A Nail I Still Remember
Some memories stay with us forever. Some lessons are more powerful. Haunting even. Events that change us for the better. Or sometimes for the worse. I was six or seven. And like most summer days, I was playing outside. I lived in a neighborhood that had about 10 or 12 of us kids. And we…
I’ll Do Anything for my Kids, but Do I Have to do THIS?
I love my kids. And I’ll do almost anything for them. I dressed up as a clown for one of my daughter’s birthday parties. I’ve been to events, gone over spelling words, and even ridden rides at amusement parks. I’ve cleaned up puke and nursed them through all kinds of sicknesses and fake sicknesses. I’ve worked and…
My First Book Signing – the Chronicle of a Near Disaster
For those of you who know me, you that I tend to be (how can I put this nicely) laid back. So when I was scheduled to do my first book signing, I thought to myself I really need to make sure I do this write . . . errr, right. First, you have to…
Presenting . . . A Stupid Man Trick
One of the hardest things for me to learn as a single dad has been cooking. Now I’m not going to say I didn’t know my way around the kitchen before my wife passed away, but on one occasion she did draw me a map to the kitchen, with explicit directions on how to find…
A Sure Way to Get Your Kids to Talk to You
How do parents get their kids to talk? To open up and share their day, or feelings, or what’s on their mind? How do you get them to share something? Anything?! Sure, you can learn some tips from the angst shared on Dr. Phil. Or you might can even glean a morsel or two of…
An unexpected Father’s Day gift
It was 2005. And I was in a place I never thought I would be. I was lying in bed. And lying next to me was my one-year-old son. And he was totally and completely my responsibility. Because I was now a single parent. I never dreamed I would use the words “me” and “single”…
The family that kicks together, sticks togeth – ahhh, too cheesy
For me and my kids, it’s like waiting for Christmas. Well, it is for me anyway. It’s like waiting for the last day of school. Or for the braces to come off. Or to finally take that summer vacation. It’s the World Cup. And my kids and I have been waiting for it for four…
He Has Questions. I Lack Answers.
My son is known for asking questions. A LOT of questions. And I’m known for being short on answers. VERY short. So once again, here is a sampling of some of the questions my son has been asking lately. And either some of the answers I didn’t have or some of the answers I would…
From “Awwwwwww” to “AHHHHHHHHHH!!”
Don’t kids just do the cutest things? They’re so cuddly and lovable and they’re all the time doing things that we think are so wonderful. Except when they’re not. Except when they’re doing something that, let’s face it, is about to drive us completely batty and instead of giving them a hug, we’d really just…
Holding together the jello 