Beth

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Have you ever wanted to let out a cathartic scream, but didn’t? Futility over comes you instead, and you do nothing – hopelessly wallowing in the absurdity of the moment. A phrase comes to mind, “if it’s not one thing it’s,” One minute Cheryl is guilting me into riding my bike to work. She’s browbeating her parents into accepting my exercising needs. The…
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Beth

Throwing aside the shackles of second grade oppression

My daughter is in second grade, and she has spent more time on homework these last couple days than I spent my entire senior year of high school. Now before you say something snide about my senior year of high school, remember that I got into a decent college – even after my senior year. However, I will admit I was something less than your model high school student (unless your model was…
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Family and Friends

Walking through the mall

There are few things that warm my heart with contentment more than watching one of my kids sleeping. Lest your cynicism take hold; no, it’s not because they’re simply not awake. It’s all those things you hear other people say but don’t really appreciate until it’s you. It’s the innocence, the peacefulness, the adorableness, the loveliness. You know what? I can…
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Family and Friends

Tempting fate

I have added my wife as an authorized author for this site. So, if you see an entry posted by “Herself” and you suspect I didn’t post it, I probably didn’t. Why on Earth would I do such a thing? Heck if I know. She hasn’t asked and I haven’t asked her; it was a spur of the moment thing. **Contrived linguistic bonus: “Spur” might just be an apt…
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Family and Friends

Who feels my pain?

There are certain things where you should be able to count on spouse. For example, when you are asking your wife if there’s anything she needs done, and you are clearly just asking to be polite (having no real desire, intention, or energy for chores), shouldn’t a caring and thoughtful wife immediately sense this and act accordingly? Love isn’t honeymoons, Valentines Day cards, or…
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Family and Friends

Child rearing as sport

Cheryl was standing over my shoulder the other night (no small feat, considering her height), and noticed that I was having a hard time. Don’t you just love it when a loved one notes your difficulties without lending a helping hand? I replied, “If we weren’t wrestling outside of our weight class, I’d never get this (diaper) on him.” Ladies and Gentlemen: Greco-roman…
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Beth

Forgive me father, for I have sinned

Yesterday morning I got a call on my cell phone. It was my mother-in-law calling from my house, where she was watching Beth and making sure she got off to school. She wanted me to talk to my daughter about her suspiciously sudden illness (right before it was time to leave for school). I talked to Beth for about ten minutes and convinced her that staying home sick wouldn’t be much fun (I…
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BethBicycling

The first ride

It started innocently. “Beth, I’m not sure you should ride your bike until I can tighten those training wheels, unless of course you want me to take them off?” “Alright dad, take them off.” Fifteen minutes later we were together on the sidewalk; father, daughter, and bicycle. The father was standing behind it all, grasping the seat. The daughter was astride the bike…
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Family and Friends

A miracle for every moment

Nothing inspires optimism like a newborn child. Apparently, the same can be said for wonder and amazement. We have such low expectations for a newborn’s abilities; each small feat of physical ability transcends normal development to the realm of the natural wonders of the world. “Look at Adam now, he’s so big, look at how well he holds his head up.” “Awh, isn’t…
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Family and Friends

Relapse

Wouldn’t you know it; Adam woke up in the middle of the night last night. Just who does he think he is? Can you believe the nerve of some babies, filling their parents with false hope like that? He sleeps through the night for a few nights in a row, so I let my guard down, then WHAAA, WHAA, WHAAAAAAAAAA, it’s heads up at 2:30 a.m. Cheryl got up first. I heard her rustling in the…
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