Talula Does the Hula and More Great Names for Children (Families in the News, #8)
(New Zealand) Some names are so weird they constitute child abuse, according to a court in New Zealand. The family court judge reached that conclusion after hearing evidence in the case of a girl named “Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii.” In a nutshell: The clueless parents were so resolute in keeping their daughter’s name [...]
Parents, If You Could, Would You Give Your Kids Up?: Families in the News, Part 5
“OMAHA, Neb. — The grandparents of nine children who were given up by their father under Nebraska’s unique safe-haven law said Thursday that they wished he would have come to them for help.”
Now this is a tricky situation because this dad who left all nine of his kids at a hospital had some seriously complicated [...]
Top 10 Things Parents Should Let Their Children Do at Restaurants!
I am begging all parents to PLEASE let your child do the following things at restaurants:
#10) Encourage children to whirl and dance in youthful glee around the tables. Note the look of enjoyment and smiles of appreciation on all the people around you as little Tiffany twirls and spins–(she is, after all going to [...]
The "Pre-Perfect" Parent
I am 46 and I still battling my middle school nemesis–acne. This keeps me in touch with the whole teen experience and sometimes makes me question God about the unfairness of life (Why God, WHY???). Though I love taking skinventory as much as the next TEENAGE guy…gets a little old at 46.
This added to the [...]
"A Dog + a Little Girl + An Automatic Car Window = Family Nightmare" Or "What You Gonna Do When Life Poops on You?"
It was an ordinary day. We had no reason to think it would spiral into a nightmare for my 8-year-old daughter, Kristin–and for our chronically shabby, ungroomed schnauzer named Frosty (Frosty’s a she by the way).
The family was packed into the Blazer, making a rare trip to Frosty’s groomer. Lined up on the backseat are [...]
Family Time or Family Crime? What’s Your Legacy?
I am a big fan of parents making sure they pass on to their children solid life skills and an honorable legacy. Good stuff.
But what about when one’s life skill and legacy is…um…crime? (And one is not very good at it–cause one is caught, convicted and sentenced?) Turns out that gets passed down too.
A recent [...]
Fun on Flight 1703 (The Zippy and Lippy Show or Dad Gone Wild!)
This past Christmas season my family and I traveled to New York City, (a favorite destination of ours–especially around Christmas). The trip was amazing–Central Park, The Grinch and A Color Purple on Broadway (go Fantasia!), pizza at Famous Ray’s (on 42nd St.), M&M’s superstore, breakfast in a diner with singing serving staff, and a number [...]
Go Dutch on Parenting?
In a recent article, “Why are Dutch children so happy?” children in the Netherlands were rated #1 in the world in “happiness”, according to UNICEF’s league table for child well-being (United States rated #20 of 21 industrialized nations). And though this may surprise you, they are NOT happy due to the way cool wooden shoes, [...]
I Am in Dulles Airport on 9/11…Observing Parents and Others
I am sitting in Dulles Airport, in DC, on 9/11 after missing my return flight home. (Love them last minute gate changes that aren’t clearly communicated–I stepped away to browse books–must have been then.)
When I asked the woman at the gate what happened, she explained, I guess. It was in such a thick accent, [...]
I Talked With My Daughter Last Night: A Father’s Joy
I didn’t want to. I was tired. There was a show on TV I wanted to watch. I wanted to work on this blog and the website.
Just before she came into the room I was thinking about how everything in my life has become too much “have to,” too little “choose to.” I felt [...]