The Terrible Threes
I’ve been warned that it would be different. Not necessarily worse, just different. As my son turns three years old the rebellious moments are probably less frequent, but more intense. The tantrums that used to be scattered throughout the day in small burst are now concentrated once or twice during the day, but seem to [...]
Kids say the darnedest things.
This is not the first or last time that I will breach this topic because it fascinates me. Kids really do say the darnedest things and it is not what they say so much as the expressions that gain popularity with each generation. The expressions seem to come from various sources, but all of them [...]
When kids fly… (Part I of Series)
I just got back from a whirlwind trip to visit my sister and my newest niece in Vienna, Austria and then a few days in Rome, Italy to say hello to the folks and the in-laws. Surviving a long flight is always a challenge and despite stocking up on crayons, cars, books, videos, lots of [...]
Just let me lie here for a while…
As Spring continues to stumble out of the blocks, I fell victim to the tail-end of Winter as I got sick like I have rarely been. My son brought home one of the many bugs crawling around daycare any given day and luckily it was on a Friday night that he started sliming over. We [...]
A Spotless Mind
On the elevator with me are a mother (M) and son (S) on their way to school. The door slides open a few floors down and a father (F) and daughter (D) step on with an elderly lady (EL) who is unrelated. This is what I overhear: EL to D: Are you off to preschool? [...]
Authority is overrated…
In a world of rules and regulations, it is often refreshing to see rebels standing up for change and demanding that the ordinary should become extraordinary. Now that I am a parent I can boil this once noble sentiment down to one word: anarchy. My son, for example, is an anarchist. Authority is his nemesis and [...]
Pampered Divas and Pro Wrestling
The morning routine has gotten progressively worse at our house in the last few months. I’ll shamefully admit that we have resorted to bribes something that was categorically off-the-table this summer. We had adopted the strictest of policies: “We do not negotiate with terrorists.” Well you try to dress my son and tell me if [...]
Dads are a different yet equal part of the parenting equation
I am guest posting over at Mom-entum today for Holly Pavlika. Here is an excerpt: I live in New York. I am the father of a beautiful, charming, witty and sharp two and a half year old boy (I’m not just saying that!), the husband of a beautiful, charming, sometimes nagging (she denies it…), sophisticated [...]
And this is the thanks I get…
Lately my son’s leadership pendulum has swung over towards despotic. He makes my 7th Grade chalk throwing History teacher look like Gandhi. “This way!” is his newest overused battle cry. The command is imparted to his troops and underlings (that would be me and my wife, in case you hadn’t already guessed) repeatedly over the [...]
Who needs mommy?! I can handle my son on my own…
I recently wrote a sort of poem to single parents over at Dad Revolution (with typos and no rhyme or meter). I do not want to renege on that declaration of love and as far as I am concerned my opinion stands despite what I am about to write. I have a hypothesis and a [...]
My More Dashing Side
English