Fatherhood Archives - Page 8 of 9

Boys Day Out

December 3, 2009 TechyDad Fatherhood, JSL, NHL, Parenting

While I go off to work, my wife gets to stay home with the boys. While this means that she gets to have fun with them more than I do, it also means that she gets to be there during the "challenging moments." She needs to deal with these moments alone over nine hours a day, five days a week. It is easy to see how one could get burned out. So I like taking the boys out every now and then for "Guy Time." Sunday was one of those days. (B did laundry then, but at least she didn’t need to take a break from the laundry to break up a fight or send NHL to his room.)

First up was the grocery store. We needed some food for the coming week and so I had made a list all ready. Unfortunately, I forgot that list at home. No problem, though. Text messaging to the rescue. B texted me the list and I checked my phone from time to time to get everything we needed.

After the grocery store, we quickly stopped back home just to drop off the groceries. Then it was back out. This time, the boys and I went to the playground so they could let off some steam. The minute we got out of the car, they took off towards the slides and didn’t stop until we left. I’m going to miss playgrounds when the snow falls.

Like I said, they first went down the slides.

Next. we went to some tunnels they had.

Once they were done crawling through the tunnels, JSL rode in a plane while NHL sat atop a dinosaur. Eventually, NHL joined JSL in the plane.

Then a quick trip to another set of slides.

And next, it was swing time.

At one point, I got on the swings myself and decided to shoot video… a rather nausea inducing video. Watch at your own risk.

[flv]/2009/12/P1220297.flv|424|240[/flv]

After the swings, we went on the spinner and got a bit dizzy.

Then, after a failed trip to the "big slides" (failed because they were too wet to slide down), the boys climbed a tower. Ok, NHL climbed a tower. JSL flew up to the top (with a little dad-assist).

Finally, it was back to the original slides for some more sliding fun.

Reluctantly, they bid farewell to the playground and followed me back to our car to head home. How I love Boys Day Outs!

Aloha Friday: A Fun Night Out = Abandoning My Family?

November 20, 2009 TechyDad Aloha Friday, Family, Fatherhood, Guilt

Last Thursday night, I had the pleasure to go see Dr. Phil Plait (aka BadAstronomer) talk. He spoke of such interesting subjects as the end of the world, Hollywood and eggs standing on end. Amazingly, he was able to relate those things together into a coherent (and downright funny) speech including some clips from Armageddon and Deep Impact. While there, I met TechSkeptik. We had a great time talking about many things before and after Phil’s speech. (No, not during. That’d be rude. Besides, Phil’s speech was too interesting to allow for talking.)

As I went to the speech, excited though I was, I also felt guilty. I usually go home, make dinner and help get the boys ready for (and into) bed. Instead of helping out my family, though, I was going to hear a speech for my own enjoyment. I felt selfish, even though I knew that nights out like this for me are extremely rare. I really don’t have any friends here that I can have a guys’ night out with. Back in June, I posted about feeling isolated at times. That feeling still pops up from time to time. Yet here I was out on the closest thing to a "guys’ night out" that I’ve had in a long, long time and I was feeling like I was abandoning my family by doing so.

My question for you is this: How often do you have a guys’ or girls’ night out? When you do, do you feel guilty for leaving your family?

(NOTE: To balance out my night out, B had a girls’ night out of her own the very next week.)

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the MckLinky there if you are participating.

Aloha #14

Embarrassing Pooltime Antics

October 21, 2009 TechyDad embarrassing, Fatherhood, NHL, pool, swimming

NHL has been getting swim lessons, but unfortunately things haven’t been going too “swimmingly.” During the first swim lesson, during which B accompanied him, NHL didn’t get into the pool until the very end. So this time we went prepared. B’s parents took NHL and I went along with them. Under my clothes, I had my bathing suit on so I’d be ready to jump into the pool.

Things started out well enough. We got to the pool early and walked around for a bit. Then we got NHL changed (easily done since his swimsuit was on under his pants). After a short wait, it was pool time. NHL went with his teacher while B and I followed the other parents into the “parents’ viewing room.” This room was right next to the pool room and had a nice big window so all of the parents could see what was going on. Every single parent there could see exactly what was happening in the pool. Remember that.

All of the kids sat down by the pool while the teacher got into the water. They had these little stands in the pool so that the water wouldn’t be too deep for the children to stand in. One by one the children got into the water. Well, one by one minus one: NHL. He didn’t get in. We couldn’t hear what his teacher was saying to him, but I could see that she was using every trick in her book to convince him to get in the water. When dealing with NHL, though, you can have an encyclopedia and it won’t be enough. He refused and eventually, we could see that the lesson was continuing without him.

Now, we didn’t pay for “sit by the pool” lessons, so we knew it was time to act. I went in (with B behind me) and tried my best to get him into the pool. When that didn’t work, I took NHL over to B and she tried. No go. We decided it was time for me to jump into the situation, literally.

I got changed in a nearby locker room. (Side note: Does it show how geeky I am that I felt like a superhero, pulling off my clothes to reveal my suit underneath? ) Then, I went back to the pool with NHL while B went back to the parents’ room. You know, the one with the big glass window. You haven’t forgotten that, have you? Just checking.

At first, I just put my feet in the water and tried to get NHL to go in first. When it became obvious that he wasn’t budging, I sighed and jumped into the water. Then I grabbed NHL and pulled him in. That’s when things got “fun.” He completely freaked out. Instead of just standing on the platform, he grabbed my shirt (I wasn’t going topless in front of all of those parents). His legs wrapped around my suit and pushed down. He had a death grip on me and was screaming at the top of his lungs.

Now my suit stays on just fine usually, but it doesn’t tie tight at all. The force of his legs pushing on my suit was enough that I could feel the suit slipping down. If I didn’t take action, I’d be showing much too much TechyDad to the parents!!! I let go of NHL (his deathgrip was more than enough to keep him on me and not in the water) and fixed my suit. After that, I managed to push NHL onto the platform. Crisis #1 averted!

After awhile, he was calm enough to watch the other kids and not grip onto me. Still, I had to be behind him holding him or he’s start to freak out again. And anytime water splashed near or in his eyes, he’d get upset. He also wouldn’t participate in the floating or kicking practices. So we were now paying for “stand in the pool” lessons.

Finally, it was “wind down” time and the teacher took him out of the pool. Of course, I was still in the pool. I decided that I should get out too so I looked for an exit. One problem: NHL’s isn’t the only class. In fact, there are so many classes going on that the pool becomes packed with kids and teachers. It was all I could do to not interrupt another lesson, forget about actually getting out. So there I stood in the pool feeling like a fool with all of the parents watching through the glass.

At last, his teacher got out of the pool too and I saw an opening. I got out and took NHL to the locker room to get changed. This is where I encountered the next embarrassing item. (And this one is all my fault.) I have a few pairs of underwear that B and I purchased for laughs. Joe Boxer type boxers with funny sayings on them. The only reason that I feel comfortable wearing them is that I know that B is the only one who will see me in them.

Unfortunately, that day I wasn’t wearing “plain white” boxers, but was wearing a pair that said “horny devil” (complete with cartoon devils all over them). When I got changed at home to get ready for the pool, guess which boxers got put into my clothes bag? You got it. So there I am in the small lockerroom in front of lots of other parents. I’m the only parent changing back into his clothes… and I’m putting on “horny devil” underpants on. I tried to do it as discretely as possible, using the towel as a shield, but of course towels shift and jeans don’t go on as quickly as you’d like in situations like this. Mental note: Next time be sure to wear plain white boxers on pool day!

All in all pool day was a ton of fun that I just can’t wait to repeat. (Note the sarcasm dripping more than a bathing suit fresh from a pool.)

NHL’s “Naked Gun” Moment and Turning Six

August 17, 2009 TechyDad Family, Fatherhood, Humor, Life, NHL

Last night as NHL was getting ready to go to sleep, I was setting some programs to DVR and making sure we had enough room. While checking to see if an episode of “The Spectacular Spiderman” was one I hadn’t seen, I accidentally hit play. NHL only saw the first couple of seconds, but that was enough for his “bedtime procratination sense” to tingle. He asked to see it and I told him that I’d show it to him another day. He asked what happened in the episode, so I explained the story briefly.

Me: “Spiderman found a black costume that made him stronger, but it also made him mean to people. He didn’t like being mean, so he took off the costume. This episode tells how he took it off.”

NHL: “Who’s Howie?”

As this point, I couldn’t contain myself. I burst out laughing and had to leave the room. I told B who also burst out laughing. As I caught my breath, I told a confused NHL that he just said something very funny even though he didn’t know it. (I didn’t want him thinking I was laughing at him.) It was all-too-much like something from the Naked Gun movies. Yes, I am serious and don’t call my Shirley.

All this is just a roundabout way of saying Happy Birthday to my now-six-year old NHL. Last year, at this point, he couldn’t read at all. Now he’s reading whole books to himself (and us). Last year, he couldn’t ride on a bike two feet without help. This year, he can ride almost all the way around the block without needing help. (Only some uneven sidewalks stand in his way.) Last year, he didn’t know any math at all. Now he’s adding and subtracting like a pro. He keeps learning so much that it is sometimes hard to keep track of it all. He’ll display some piece of knowledge and I’ll have to stop and ask “NHL, when did you learn *THAT*?” This can be good, like with reading various complicated words, or bad, like playing Mario Kart Wii with me and telling me that he’s going to “kick my ass.” (Yes, I told him never to say that again.)

While tucking him into bed last night, NHL told me that he’s going to miss being five. He was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to do things that he liked doing because he’ll be six. I told him that he’s had a lot of fun being five, but that every year he’ll be able to do more, not less. He’ll still be able to do the things he loved doing when he was five, but he’ll be able to find new things that he loves doing that he wasn’t able to do before.

I watch NHL grow with mixed emotions. Part of me finds it amazing to watch him grow into such an intelligent young man, but part of me wants to keep him a baby forever. As he gets older, I’ll miss the hugs and father-son cuddle moments that were so much a part of his younger years. But then again, I guess I’ll take my own advice and look forward to finding all of the new things that we can do together that we weren’t able to do before.

Happy birthday, NHL, from your very proud dad!

(For B’s Happy birthday message to NHL, hop on over to TheAngelForever.com.)

JSL/Daddy Bonding Time

December 19, 2008 TechyDad Fatherhood, JSL, Parenting, Photos

Last night, B’s parents took her and NHL to see Disney on Ice (check TheAngelForever.com as I’m sure my wife will post pics/videos soon). JSL and I stayed home. JSL wanted to watch TV. Usually, this means recorded episodes of Blue’s Clues. As I didn’t want to deal with tons of different Blue’s Clues episodes, I I looked through our DVDs to find a nice, long Blue’s Clues movie. Instead, I happened upon "What’s the name of that Song?" from Sesame Street. The DVD featured Super Grover and Elmo on the cover. As soon as he saw it, JSL started chanting "Grover! Grover!" So in went the DVD and we sat down on the couch to watch.

As the movie commenced, Super Grover is flying above the city wearing his helmet, cape and G on his chest-plate. JSL chanted "Grover! Hat!" Yes, JSL, Grover is wearing a hat. He watched the movie enthralled by it all. He did get a bit annoyed when Grover wasn’t on screen though. That’s my boy! (I loved Grover growing up. I had a stuffed Grover that I carried everywhere. He’s still my favorite character.) At the end, he kept pointing and laughing as Super Grover flew past the screen. Then he signed and said "More! More! Grover!" So we watched it again. And again. And again. And again. Yes, that’s 5 times. I assure you, I *DO* know the name of that song as well as all of the lyrics and everything every character says.

During our bonding time, I decided to do a photographic experiment. I found a sturdy perch for my camera, set the timer to 10 seconds, and took photos of JSL and myself. JSL laughed whenever he saw his photo on the LCD screen.

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