Tag Archives: Parenting

Retirement and Irrelevance

Teenagers think they know everything, yet they know almost nothing about life. They are barely educated and lack even the smallest morsels of life’s experience. They think their parents are old and out of touch. They truly believe they can … Continue reading

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Will you still need me, will you still feed me,

Sir Paul McCartney wrote “When I’m Sixty-Four” when he was only 16. I first heard it on the “Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band” album when I was 16. At the time, it was nothing more than another really good … Continue reading

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A Mother’s Courage

This is a wonderful example of a mother’s devotion, love, and courage.  I am always drawn to these examples that I may also show such traits in my life.          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMilJO1PjNQ

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Teach

My father was well known as a teacher.  If you’ve read my blog stories, you’ve recognized his unique art of teaching through the use of stories.  But all teachers possess that gift to impart knowledge, and often inspiration, to their … Continue reading

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Crime Worth Forgiving

This is a re-post of a video that was removed for a time from You Tube.  Interestingly, this is a commercial for Thai television that is three minutes long.  If only Americans could make such moving commercials.  I hope you … Continue reading

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The Memories of Parenting

This is why I wrote everything down knowing that someday I would lose that ability.  I wanted to remember those wonderful moments, those seemingly inconsequential moments of parenting that fill your heart with joy and love forever.  As I age … Continue reading

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Give A Little, Get A Lot

Sometimes we go through life without seeing those little acts of kindness that happen all around us.  Then, without warning we start to notice, we start to see, and we start to understand.  These small events then begin to affect … Continue reading

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It’s Not How Much You Have

Many of us grew up not knowing the true character of our parents.  Sadly, it is only much later that we find the evidence that changes our perception of who our parents really were.  I found this video exceptionally inspirational … Continue reading

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Children? Really?

Are you thinking about having a ‘mini-me’ running around the house?  If you and your partner have functioning biological equipment, you’re good to go.  And if you don’t, you can even adopt.  There’s no experience or qualifications necessary and there … Continue reading

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Be Counted

Each of us is the product of what we learned growing up.  Each of us incorporated what we learned into our own personalities and a new person emerged.  That person has an individual interpretation of right vs wrong or meat … Continue reading

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55. The Micros

As the children begin to grow into their own, there is always an event that tells the parent that each child is different. This event is different from what foods they like or their favorite color. In our family, the … Continue reading

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54. Not Just Another Tulip Story

I guess you would think that I had nothing better to do while working in that nice office in Falls Church, VA. but look out the window. That woodpecker and I sparred for a few weeks it’s true, but that … Continue reading

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51. Beginning To Grow Up

When Sarah was very young, I was blessed with the task of comforting her before bedtime. I would sing to her and gently dance with her until she fell asleep. It became a tradition and when Patrick was born I … Continue reading

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50. Settling In

The schools in the area surrounding the new house were reportedly very good and our future was bright. Sarah and Patrick thrived at this new house. We were in the middle of the Civil War [locally referred to as The … Continue reading

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47. The Interruption

When Sarah was four and Patrick had yet to experience his second birthday, something happened. It was something that I swore I would never let happen. In my job, I had shunned travel assignments or any other interruptions to my … Continue reading

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46. The Art of Behavior Modification

As a new parent, you are faced with so many challenges, but one of the earliest is trying to control the situation. We had already decided that when our children did something good, we would reward and when they did … Continue reading

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45. Now The Work Begins

So far, in our short married life, my wife and I had made a few conscious decisions. Among other things, we decided we wanted to have a girl and a boy and if that happened right away, our family would … Continue reading

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44. And Then There Were Two

We found out we were pregnant in March of 1989. Yes, we, as I have always believed that creating a family isn’t just, ‘you’re pregnant and I’m along for the ride.’ We were growing our family together and we couldn’t … Continue reading

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43. Emulation and the Thrill

Here are a few notable examples of life at our house in those early days. We had a nice little patch of lawn at our house in Lakeville. It was perhaps 12,000 square feet and it took me about an … Continue reading

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42. Boston Children’s Hospital

This is a story about two events; one where an 18-month-old child gets very sick and another about how life has changed in the last 25 years. We had just returned from a road trip to Maryland. Sarah seemed to … Continue reading

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41. How Many?

In those early days when we first began considering parenthood, the question of ‘how many children do you want to have?’ was always a part of the discussion. I would always answer that ‘six is a good number,’ and my … Continue reading

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40. The First Days

After my wife had been given 48 hours to recover, our new family of three was headed home. The new car seat was inspected first by the hospital staff, approved, and off we went. My mother-in-law had arrived for a … Continue reading

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39. The Road To Parenting

In a previously written post, “You Better Hurry Up,” I told the story of how my father very logically suggested that at 36 I was getting a little old for children. While I didn’t appreciate his interference, I did heed … Continue reading

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9. The US Steel Story

There is no doubt that my Dad had an unusual way of teaching.  He taught almost by parable, but not quite.  He would tell a story, sometimes funny, and leave the rest for you to figure out on your own.  … Continue reading

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6. Gullible Electrons

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One day my father explained to me that in the wintertime electricity was stored in the carpet.  I was only eight years old and my skepticism was met with a wry smile and the offer of proof.  “Take off your … Continue reading

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Thoughts That Parents Should Consider

Recently I read the “20 Marriage Tips Everyone Needs To Know,” by Gerald Rogers and the response article “10 Marriage Tips Every Wife Needs To Hear,” by Karen Lodato.  While both of these articles are excellent, I began to wonder … Continue reading

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Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice? — Guest Post

Sugar and Spice, and Everything Nice? By Holly Patrone http://www.hpatrone.com I’ve written two humorous novels, ‘Death Is a Relative Thing’ and ‘Relative Identity’.  They aren’t memoirs but it’s hard not to let bits and pieces of real life roll into … Continue reading

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