"Murphy was an optimist!"
Of Being Dad December 2, 2010 8:20 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, Of Being DadNo one said it would be easy. Being a father is a fantastic thing. One of my best friends once told me, "you’re not a real man until you have children" and I, childless at the time, thought he was being a little to narrow in his definition. I get what he was saying now. I could write a dissertation off his simple statement. However, for the moment, suffice it to say that children grow you as a person. Unfortunately, it seems this growth takes about 20 years which is probably part of why grandparents are so much better with children than parents; aside from the fact that "the kids go home."
Sometimes, your word choices don’t match your actions. You feel stupid as you lose your temper with a child and shout, "quit being so angry!" or something akin to that. But it happens. And you paint yourself into a corner. You start down a path and almost as the words roll off your tongue your argument with/discipline of the child becomes about "how do I back out of this?!" Words can be like knives. Word choices can inflict as much pain and damage as physical abuse. As parents, it is important that we truly think before we speak or act. And perhaps, before giving that child a timeout, we should give ourselves one first. This morning, overtired and with a head cold but without an excuse, I should have given myself a timeout and didn’t.
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From the mouths of babes October 7, 2010 8:02 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesEvan, 5 years old: "Amy! You know that girl on the bus who sits by herself and never talks and stares at me? She…talked…to…me! She really did. She talked to me. Me!"
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Weekend Project – Day 18 October 4, 2010 8:06 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Birthday, Daily Life, Evan, Family, Holiday, Noah, Of Being DadThe corner trim work has begun!
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From the mouths of babes September 9, 2010 7:40 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babes, Of Being DadEvan: If I waste the batteries, daddy can fix it.
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From the mouths of babes September 6, 2010 2:15 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesEvan, 5 years old: "A rainbow is my favorite color."
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They grow up so quickly August 31, 2010 8:30 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, Of Being DadMy youngest has been to kindergarten 2 days this year. They were short days with only the teacher and 2 other students to acclimate Evan to the environment and the routine. On those days, I drove him to school and Cathy picked him up.
Today, Evan went to school full time. He is very excited and insisted on riding the bus with his sister. He was first in line and I missed the picture because I was introducing Evan to the bus driver. Amy, 8 years old, is proud to be taking care of him, holding her head high as she shows him the ropes. This is her realm and she will be his guide. His same aged friend also rode the bus so I know I’m not alone in putting my baby in a big orange box and entrusting his safety to someone I don’t know. We do have a great bus driver! I’m excited for Evan. It’s cool to see him growing up. I just wish it happened a little slower.
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From the mouths of babes July 11, 2010 6:02 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babes, Noah, Of Being DadMe: "Have you ever read a newspaper?"
Noah, enters high school in a few weeks: "No."
Me, rejoicing that my saw actually does cut the angels I need.
Evan, 5 years old: "Did you know you’re talking to yourself?"
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Captain’s Log June 1, 2010 8:35 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, Of Being Dadadd a comment
From the mouths of babes May 6, 2010 7:47 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesMom: "What are those bumps on your face?"
Evan, almost 5: "Chicken pox."
Me: "What are chicken pox?"
Evan: "That’s when you bump into something and get bumps all over you."
Me: "How did you learn about chicken pox?"
Evan: "I went to another world."
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From the mouths of babes May 1, 2010 8:32 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesEvan, almost 5: "MMMmmm. Dad what’s this?"
Dad: "Old coffee grounds for the compost pile."
Evan: "I like old. Wait. No, I don’t like old because old people don’t let me do whatever I want."
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From the mouths of babes April 30, 2010 8:59 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesMe: "This machine measures my blood pressure. See that blue line in my arm. That’s the blood in my arm."
Evan, nearly 5 years old: "Blood? Blood is bad for you! Blood will make you die. I’ve seen it on Noah’s game."
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From the mouths of babes March 22, 2010 6:02 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babes, Of Being DadAmy, seven years old: "Thanks for dinner Daddy. Without you, we’d starve to death!"
Me: "Well, you’re welcome."
Evan, four years old: "You can say, ‘my pleasure.’"
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Of Being Dad – Smack Talk January 31, 2010 5:59 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, Noah, Of Being DadThere’s something wonderfully amusing in listening to the four year old talk smack with the thirteen year old.
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From the mouths of babes January 16, 2010 1:15 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesAmy, 7.5 years: "Evan’s got a bloody nose!"
Evan, 4.5 years: "Dad! My nose is bleeding!"
Evan: "Oh, it’s just a boogie."
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From the mouths of babes January 11, 2010 12:14 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Evan, Family, From the mouths of babesEvan, 4.5: "I want a baloney sandwich with no crust and cut in the shape of a triangle."
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