Tonight’s awkward moment of reading aloud to your 8 year old brought to by Neil Gaimen in Stardust
Skipping to the next safe paragraph, I continue reading to my children.
Category: Family
Happenings in a 5 child, 2 adult household.
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Awkward parent moment
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Of Being Dad
I’d give the world to be a stay at home dad the next 3 years.
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Saturday Dad
It’s the first day of a long weekend. Monday is a holiday. I’m trying to maintain my cool despite the stress I am under to complete client projects and personal projects. I feel hamstrung by some of the service people in my life who have failed to come through. A surveyor who hasn’t come out to mark my property lines. An hvac person who hasn’t found the time to consult with me. My attorney is being slow to answer some questions. My electrician … well… my electrician is waiting on me to commit to the project.
As a father, it is difficult to remember that despite giving your children the same instruction 29999 times that they don’t truly remember the instructions until you’ve given it to them 30000 times. But this is how they learning. Today I watched my son start to use the weed eater without eye protection. Apparently he doesn’t remember his grandfather’s trip to the emergency room.
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At the butcher shop
Me: "Why do they call them cowboy ribeyes?"
Butcher: "They had to call it something." -
Of Being Dad
I just read to my youngest children for an hour. I am hoarse and happy.
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Saturday
I posed a question on Facebook today:
Oh my. Program? Cut the grass? Clean the house? Read a book? Run some new pipe? Build a wall? Upgrade the electrical wiring to 12-2? Install a panic button? Wash the wife’s car? Marinate some steaks? Repair the garage door? Clean the driveway? Finish hole 2 of the minigolf? Built a fort for Evan? Paint? Install flooring in the basement?
Thus far, my day has been:
- Wake at 5:30 to drive son to work.
- Wake at 6:30 to drive son to scouting event.
- 7-8am Help scouts pack van to Shining Rock
- 8-9am Visit with a friend
- 9-noon Internet. Some client work. Putz. Pick son up from work. Prepare garage for work on the garage door. And marinate steaks!
- Noon – 12:40pm Repair garage door.
- 2-4 errands with wife including Agrifeed for rats, pig ears, and cat toys, Target, and Sears.
Now to see about a garage door repair.
Update: 12:40pm Garage door repair complete. -
To My Children
Don’t discount the wisdom of those who came before you.
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Understanding Doug
I’ll own this.
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Me
I hate
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From the mouths of babes
Evan, 8 years old holding 3 week old kitten: "You know how they say they always land on their feet?"
Mom: "NO! Don’t drop the kitty!" -
From the mouths of babes
17 year old: "How many miles does the Jeep get on a tank of gas?"
Me: "About 228 before I get nervous."
Son: sends picture of gas gauge pointing to the red just above E and replies, "I can make it to school."It’s time to hide an empty one gallon container and a $20 bill in the Jeep. Nothing teaches one to respect the inaccuracies of a gas gauge quite like having to walk for gas.
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From the mouths of babes
17 year old: "The Jeep is partially in the grass and won’t move."
Me: "You mean it’s broken or stuck in the mud?"
Son: "Stuck."
Me: "Have you tried four wheel drive?"
Son: "Oh." -
What happened this weekend?
The weekend began with a visit to a client’s office where we accomplished none of her goals but an hour later had a plan. Relatives were visiting so family took priority which ultimately meant Chuck E Cheese and sushi with Froyoz for dessert. Then there was massive cleaning, throwing away of things, Goodwilling piles, and room moves. The house is gaining a new sense of order despite the current disarray. I can once again enter my garage! Things are only getting better.
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Of Being Dad
I really hope my children never read my text messages to my wife…I can’t afford the therapy bills.
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Progress report
The shelves in the tool box have been lined.
