My son, Finley, is significantly bigger than a lot of kids his age. At just 5, he’s outgrowing many of his size 7 pants, his size 1 shoes are starting to get a little tight, and he weighs about half as much as I do. He doesn’t recognize his own strength, and I often have to remind him that he’s too big and too strong to be so rough… with me. I’ve had accidental bruises from playing with him and not so accidental bruises from the rare occasions when he's lashed out physically. Knowing his …
The Pre-Teen Parenting Paradox
My ten year old daughter is a funny, beautiful, talented and intelligent girl. She is also utterly and completely exhausting. But not in the physical sense that my son is; he wears me out, yes, but nothing that a hot bath, a bottle of Shiraz, and a good cry can’t cure. Pre-teen girls, I am discovering, are exhausting on an entirely different level. It’s like comparing the pain of a toe stubbed through steel-toe safety shoes to a leg fractured in a fall down seven flights of wet, …
How to Say No and Not Feel Bad About It
Did you know there are two words, that if used correctly, can make your life so much easier? It’s true, you can change your life with the proper understanding and use of just two words. Those words are “yes” and ”no.” I’m a big fan of saying yes to things, especially if that yes will enrich my life in some way, make me a better person, make me feel good, or put me outside my comfort zone and scare me shitless. I’m also a big fan of saying no. I use this one when I don’t want to do something and …
How To Be A Good Partner
We do a lot of partner work in karate class and it got me to thinking, what does being a good karate partner teach me about being a good marriage partner? Be generous with the do overs Karate: Last night I was working with a lady who is still getting used to the way you position your hands for certain self defense moves. If she made a mistake I’d call a do over and let her try again. I gave up a couple of my turns so that she could do the moves over and over and remember the feel of …
