The Ramblings Of A Father Just Making It Up As I Go Along
I am a #TalkEarly ambassador for Responsibility.org. I have received compensation for my work, but all opinions are my own
As parents, we one of our favorite go-to lines about our kids is – they never listen. We say it because it’s totally true.
If I had a nickle for every time I asked my 7yo, “Hey, did you hear what I just said?” I’d at least be able to buy a megaphone so he would really hear me.
Read more
“Champions are willing to do anything necessary to be a champion. You’re a champion; do what it’s going to take to make you better.”
I’ve been called a lot of things in my life…I mean, A LOT…but I can’t recall a time I’ve ever been called a champion. Ok, maybe once or twice, but it was definitely laced in heavy sarcasm. You know, like when you screw up and some jerk calls out in a mocking tone, “Way to go champ,” followed by snickers and laughter. But that changed this week.
If you’ve been following me on Instagram or Facebook lately(and if not, fix that now!), you’ve probably seen I’m going through a bit of a rough patch again. Then again; when aren’t I going through a rough patch?
Read more
Hello again,
We’ve become quite the pair over the years; you and I. It almost feels like I’ve spent more time with you than anyone else in my life. I’ve visited you again and again. Even when I didn’t want to, I did it; kicking and screaming a lot of that time.
I have to be honest – I don’t like you. No…that’s probably a bit too harsh, but I’m sure that’s the vibe I give off. I feel, saying I don’t enjoy our visits, is probably more appropriate. Because why should I?
Read more
I can remember as kid, going to the store, was the highlight of the week – especially if it was a trip to a store like Target, or any other number of big box stores.
Oh, and don’t even get me started if it turned out to be a trip to the mall…I could barely contain myself. Why, you might be wondering; why would any kid ENJOY shopping…TOYS, duh!
And I wanted them all!
Read more
Looking after your family in the present day is one thing, but ensuring their future wellbeing is something else entirely. Obviously, you can’t predict or guarantee anything about the future, but you can give yourself safety nets to ensure that you and your loved ones are prepared for all possible eventualities. Still, where on earth do you get started? Well, in this article, we’re going to look at some smart ways to look after your family both in the present and the future with regards to finances and health.
As any parent can tell you – walking into your child’s bedroom, is usually the last thing you ever want to do. To venture into your child’s room, is to put your own life at risk. Think of it like walking into Chernobyl, without a hazmat suit. In fact, if you have kids, you should own a hazmat suit…and boots, with extra padding; one never knows where the next minefield of arch-destroying legos will pop up.
To put it simply – kids are disgusting. And forget about them EVER cleaning up, or ever throwing away a toy; no matter how broken and never-played-with it may be. It’s just not a thing in there world. Parents, since the beginning of time, have been resigned to wait, until their spawn leave the home. Then…take a blowtorch and a bag of lye to their children’s former dwelling. That is, until recently.
Read more
As a parent, you will become a living example of the saying wearing too many hats. Parents have a range of different roles; chauffeur, cook, prison warden, doctor, and none of them are every appreciated by your children.
Yes, I said doctor, and not nurse, because let’s be real, nurses do all the real work. Where my nurses at?!? HOLLA…(wink wink)…fist pound.
Sometimes, it’s hard to know which role to focus on at which time; especially when thy’re less defined than the service-oriented ones above.
Some elements of parenting will come naturally to some, and others will take much more work. I mean, not everyone can be perfect at everything like me. Maybe you’re the fun parent, or the creative one. or you’re the handy kind of parent that can teach your kid a skill.
Read more
Watching your children grow, and discover their passions, is easily one of the greatest feelings a parent can experience; especially when it’s in something competitive, like sports. It’s almost electric when you hear your child express joy over their new passion. You can feel the energy and excitement it gives them; the flames of passion have been ignited, and the fire is just waiting to be stoked. And as a parent, you want that feeling for your children, and hope it never ends.
But some times, we parents want it a little too much for our children, and risk ruining that experience for our children. How? Well, let me ask you this…how many times have you been to a kids sporting event, and have seen that parent? You know who I’m talking about; the parent that is, usually, decked out from head to toe in team apparel; maybe even with their kid’s name on their back. They’re usually posted up as close to the sideline, dugout, team box, or home plate, as they can be. It’s kind of hard to miss them; mainly because they’re usually screaming the coach, the umpire, their kid or the other team’s kids at any given moment…and it typically lasts the entire length of the event.
That parent!
Read more
As much as we parents – yes even us sarcastic/jaded ones, love to talk about being in the moment, and not worrying about the missteps of our past, or what obstacles the future might bring; I think we need to worry about our past, and future, just a little. Why; you may be wondering. Well, I’ll answer that question, with question of my own…
How protected is your family?
No, I’m not talking physically, or about guns in the home, or anything like that. What I am talking about, is financially based. What steps have you taken, to make sure your family/loved ones are taken care of in case you pass away? Have you been saving properly, or are you more like me, where you didn’t pull your head out of your rear end until your mid 30s, in order to get your act together?
Read more
If you’re a parent – and you probably are if you’re reading this, then you’ve become well-acquainted with clutter. And depending the amount of monsters…er, kids, you having living in your home, the stress from clutter can feel like a mild annoyance, to the lost chapters of Dante’s Inferno, where you’re sentenced to an eternity of never-ending, soul-sucking labor; cleaning up after all of Hades children, and you’re forced to walk barefoot over legos and listen to Caillou on a loop.
Something like that…
Organizing is all the rage right now, due to a sweet woman named Marie Kondo, and her show on Netflix, Tiding Up. In the show, Marie simply asks you to ask yourself, Does this bring me joy? And if the answer is not an instant YES, you throw it away. I have to be honest, I haven’t been able to fully commit to this process; mainly because throwing your children out is generally frowned upon here in America, so….
Calm down! I’m only kidding…you can totally throw them away.
Read more