Are you making plans for the new year?

I’m not a big fan of resolutions, per se, but…I am a believer in making plans and taking steps to achieve them.

My list is coming along and I’ll be sharing it with you in the next few days.  Stay tuned!

Father’s Day Contest and Giveaway

McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant is sponsoring a really cool Father’s Day giveaway.

You can find the details here.

The restaurant’s PR firm contacted me (and some other daddy-bloggers) a few weeks ago to see if I’d be interested in a contest.  Contest?  Heck yes, I’m interested!

The winning dad will receive twelve dinner-for-two gift certificates!  And..as a contestant, I get to give away a $50.00 gift certificate here on the blog.  How cool is that?

Here’s How You Can Participate

1. Go vote for Top Notch Parents.
2. Leave a comment on this post to let me know you voted.  In the comment area, tell me one of YOUR proudest ‘dad moments’.

That’s it!  Pretty easy, huh?

I will hold a random drawing of all the folks that left comments once the official Deserving Dads contest is over (around June 20th).  The winner will receive the $50 gift certificate by mail.

Want To Help Me Win This Thing?

Tweet about it and post a Facebook comment too, would you?  I will sure appreciate your support.

Getting the Kids to Sleep

Both my boys (now sixteen and soon-to-be eleven) had a difficult time getting to sleep when they were younger.  In fact, it was only a few weeks ago that my youngest was able to get to sleep on his own.

Before that, he needed (wanted?) someone to sleep with him.  At least until he got to sleep.  We referred to this as ‘starting him off’.  Many times ‘starting him off’ became an all night deal and either I or my wife ended up in his bed all night.

Not a big deal.  Or was it?

I know there are those parents who allowed their newborns to cry themselves to sleep.  That wasn’t us.   We couldn’t do that.  And while it’s not a great situation when your kid is begging you to ‘start him off’, there comes a time when you simply give in and do it.

Exhausted

It’s late.  He needs to get to sleep.   We need to get to sleep.  My wife and I tried lots of things to get Matt to sleep on his own.  We bought special night lights for his room.  We even redecorated his room to make it more “his space” thinking that would do it.

Nope.  That didn’t work.  We told him we were just a few feet down the hall.  He had nothing to be afraid of.  That didn’t work either.

There were many times when we gave up and helped him get to sleep.

Good Parents?  Bad Parents?

Did we do the right thing?  I’m not sure.  I’m very happy that he’s able to get to sleep on his own now.  It’s better for him and much better for my wife and me.

Here’s some interesting information I found on the Good Morning America website:

It’s incredibly common,” Jennifer Waldburger, a family sleep therapist from Sleepy Planet, told Good Morning America.  ”So many families struggle with this and it’s kind of one of those really well-kept secrets nobody talks about.”

According to Waldburger, despite how much kids may want to sleep with their parents, quality of sleep for both the parents and kids can be affected for the worse.

“Kids really need to have that sleep in their bodies to have enough energy to make it through the day and to think smart thoughts and grow properly,” Waldburger said.

 

I did some more online research and here’s what Kidshealth.org has to say about it.

What About You?

Have you gone through this phase with a child?  What worked?  What didn’t?

Please post a comment.

Sick. Sick. Sick.

I don’t know about your kids, but mine have had more than their share of the common cold over the past few months.  They’ve had strep throat, major sinus infections and ear infections too.  While antibiotics cleared up the throat and ear issues, the common cold symptoms were untouched.  Modern medicine?  I’m not so sure.

Viral vs. Bacterial Infections

Seriously, I know that antibiotics only cure bacterial infections (strep throat, ear infections, etc.).  Learn more about the differences between viral and bacterial infections here.  Since the common cold is a viral infection, antibiotics won’t help.  You’ll get the most relief with over-the-counter meds to make you feel better.  Our medicine chest is stocked with acetaminophen, ibuprofen and nasal decongestant pills (the ones without pseudoephedrine of course).  While they don’t cure the cold, they do make it a little bit easier to deal with.

Keeping the Bad Germ Level Low

When our kids our sick, my wife and I are constantly telling them to wash their hands.  It’s amazing how many things we touch during the day.  And all those surfaces are great places to pick up germs.  Add that to the coughs and sneezes and little fingers that end up in nostrils and you have a million germs to deal with.

Good Germs. Bad Germs.

Now, I realize there are good germs and bad germs.  This post is not about that debate.  I’m simply saying that washing your hands is a smart way to keep the bad germs at bay.  And…washing your hands all day but drying them with a germ-filled hand towel is a war you won’t win.  Change your towels frequently during sick times.  Launder them in hot water to kill the germs.

Getting Your Kids to Wash Their Hands

Granted:  your kids won’t find the act of hand-washing as fun as playing a video game, watching television or drawing on the family room walls with markers.  Really.  I get it.  So, like with other just-have-to-do-it chores, you need to make washing up a positive experience.

The folks at Softsoap have come up with a video geared to kids that’s pretty clever.  I invite you (and your kids) to watch it.  They make some great, kid-friendly foam soap too.  Here’s to your health!

Was this post helpful?  Leave a comment to let me know.  Thanks!

DISCLAIMER:  I am not receiving any financial payment from the makers of Softsoap (or anyone else).  I’m just passing along some information that I hope will be helpful to you.

photo credit: katerha

Here’s a little game I devised to keep things lightened up during the week.  Feel free to give these ideas a try and see if they help you get through the week with more smiles and less stress.  Each day has a special theme as you’ll see below.

Marvelous Monday

Turn a typical manic Monday morning into a marvelous one.  Take a few minutes on Sunday afternoon or evening and get ready for the first day of the week.  Make sure homework is done, lunch menus have been checked, today’s clothing choices have been made, and a quick review of this week’s calendar has taken place.  These four things will go a long way in keeping the stress levels in check on Monday morning.

Terrific Tuesday

What better way to follow up a Marvelous Monday than with a Terrific Tuesday?  Keep the momentum by taking a look at this week and next weeks’ calendar so there are no surprises like, “I have a Legos Robotic Club meeting today after school.”  Or…”I need to bring a bag of apples to school today.”  This is also the day that, as parents, you praise your kids up and down.  Let them know how TERRIFIC they really are.  Tell them what a great speller they are.  Let them know how much you appreciate them getting out of bed on the first request.  Give them a high-five for always remembering to check their backpack for important ‘mom-and-dad’ papers.  How ‘bout a big hug for improving their math grade this semester?  Kids have bad days too, you know.  Keep them pumped up and excited about school.

Wander-ful Wednesday

Not wonderful, wander-ful.  Get out of the rut.   Do something out of the ordinary today.  Wander away from the normal routine that can seem downright boring sometimes.  Try something totally new for breakfast for the kids.  Have your son or daughter wear a shirt he/she hasn’t worn in a long, long time.  Pack something new and exciting for lunch (for you and the kiddos).  Take a different route to school and/or work today.  Try a new recipe for dinner.  Watch something way different on television.  Or…turn OFF the television and have a time for family discussion.  “Tell me about your day.”  “What did you learn at school today?” are some great conversation-starters.

Thankful Thursday

Begin your day by making a list of all the things you’re thankful for.  My wife and I wake up our youngest son 2on Thursday and we immediately start listing all the things we’re thankful for:  a house to live in, food to eat, our favorite clothes, our family, a great school, friends, recess, etc., etc., etc.  Parents should do this too.  We go through life at the speed of light and sometimes we just need to stop.  Take a breath and really think of all the things we have to be thankful for.  If you have a few minutes, grab a pen and paper (or use your computer) and write down your “I’m thankful for” list.  You might surprise yourself.  And you might have a whole new perspective to your day.

Freaky Friday

Today is the day you ask your kids this question:  “What is the strangest thing that happened to you this week?”  It’s not a typical question so it will make them think (a good thing!) and once you get a reply, it’s time to dissect and discuss.  It’s also a good time to plant the seed of surprise.  Ask them what they could do or what they might say to surprise someone ( in a positive way, of course!). Here are some examples:  Perhaps one of their weekly chores is to gather up all the newspapers and put them in the recycle bin.  But…every week they have to be reminded two or three times to do it and it really ticks off Dad.  So..freak Dad out and have your son or daughter take the task by the horns and get it done before Dad has a chance to remind him/her.  Here’s another one:  you have a son who has trouble in math.  You have an older son who is very good at math.  Tell the eldest that he could be a HUGE help to Mom and Dad by helping out his brother.  THAT’S freaky:  siblings helping each other?  Seriously though, it’s a great way to make it a win/win/win event:  youngest gets the help he needs; oldest learns that helping is a good deed; parents get to spend time on other tasks and get to enjoy watching the interaction between to the brothers.  Nothing warms this dad’s heart more than seeing his kids get along with each other.

Let me know if this post was helpful.  And let me (and others) know what tips and tricks you use with your kids.

This post might make you laugh.  And cry.  Let me know what you think.   Here goes.

The Morning

I thought I was having a bad day today.  My youngest son would NOT get out of bed this morning.  When he finally did, it was nasty.  He fell on the playground at school yesterday and bumped his knee a good one.  He was whining about it all night.  We gave him Advil, ice packs and Tylenol before he went to bed.  We were hopeful that all was well.  Wrong.

Nothing seemed to go right at work today either.  It was one problem after another.  Unhappy customers, unhappy team members, unhappy me.  Every time I touched something it turned into another ‘issue to resolve’.  Referring to the television commercial from the 1970’s, I chanted “Calgon take me away” under my breath several times today.

I was ready for lunch at 9:00 this morning.  And that’s always a bad sign.

Lunch Time!

Lunch started out okay.  Until I looked at my gas gauge and saw the needle teetering on the ¼ mark.  Damn!  I just put gas in the car.  At $3.99/gallon I’m not pumping a full tank these days.  I’m hoping and praying that the price will go down at least a little.  Then I’ll buy more.  That is a pipe-dream:  prices are not falling.

I had a delicious house salad at King Gyros today.  Fresh lettuce, gyros meat, black olives, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and Italian dressing.  It was wonderful.  And I was a good boy and had water to drink.  My lunch buddy, Rick, got the Chicago hot dogs with fries.

As soon as he sat down, he picked off the slender peppers and put them on his paper tray-liner.  I’m a foodie, so I quickly took note of them laying there.  Waiting for the okay to take them.  I should know better.

I had one and almost stopped breathing.  Yes…it was THAT hot.  The other three guys laughed as I gasped for breath and sucked water in through my straw trying to put out the fire.

After Lunch

And then.  Yes, there’s more.  I forgot that I was supposed to skip lunch today and take my son’s saxophone to the repair shop.  He has a contest in a few days and the cork is falling off the neck piece and he’s missing a screw in one of the key guards.  The old man is missing a screw too.  Or has a loose screw.  Or…something like that.

The Wake Up Call…

My afternoon continued with the ‘what-will-go-wrong-next’ theme and then.  It came to an abrupt halt.  I got an email message from one of my team members.  Her husband has cancer and the doctors say he has just a short time to live.

Today’s message was full of references to ‘no other options’, ‘feeding tube’ and ‘I will need to take some time off next week for his surgery’.  For the second time today I stopped breathing.

My perspective changed in the blink of an eye.  I figured out that I wasn’t having a bad day after all.

Spring is finally here and, before you know it, another school year will be over.  Here are some things to think about:

Don’t Let the Kids Slack Off Too Much

With nice weather finally approaching, it’s important that the kids continue doing their homework in the evening.  The longer days are a magnet for pulling my youngest son out onto the driveway to shoot baskets.  But…homework hasn’t stopped, so I have to tug and push and pull to get him back in the house to focus on his assignments.

Hey I know:  Fresh air is important!  I like it too.  I’m anxious to get out into the yard and rake and cut grass for the first time.  In fact, I cheated and fired up the Lawn-Boy last night for a test run around the side yard.  I love the smell of the oil/gas mix and the smell of freshly cut grass.  Okay…I digress.

Inspection Time

Take a quick inventory and make sure your son or daughter will meet all the requirements for whatever grade he/she is in.  Waiting until the last minute is ugly – for both you and your kiddo.  No need for any extra pressure.

And…while you’re at it, look around the house to make sure all the school’s library books have been returned.

Getting Ready for Next School Year

While you may be anxious for this year to end, it’s never too early to start thinking about next year.  At my son’s elementary school, they offer the parents a chance to help “place” our kids with a teacher that might be a best-fit.  While it’s not really an “I-want-my-son-in-Mr. Brown’s-class” request, it gives us a great change to voice our opinion.

As a parent, we know our kids better than anyone else, right?  We’ve had good luck with sharing the information.  And…we’ve been pretty bold and told the school that “We don’t feel that Matt would be a good fit with Mrs. Jones.”

Paying it Forward

Consider putting back a few bucks each pay period to buy your son or daughter’s teacher an “end of school’ gift.    It doesn’t have to be anything expensive, but they have a tough job and they’ll appreciate your thoughtfulness.  Depending on the teacher, we’ve purchased gift cards from Barnes & Noble and Starbucks, hanging flower baskets and a box of name brand golf balls.

Summer School?

If summer school is in the cards for this summer, be sure to get all the information you need regarding dates, times and fees.  Enrollment for some classes goes quickly.  Don’t be disappointed by waiting too long.  My high-school son is taking PE this summer…and we’re gathering information NOW.

Comments?  Thoughts?

Be sure to leave a comment or get in touch with me directly by e-mail.

Stay Connected

Reading is a great way to stay connected to your kids.  And nothing makes reading easier than the Scholastic book program available at most schools.

Both my boys love to read.  We make several stops at Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com during the month, but we’ve found that the Scholastic book flyer that comes home in my youngest son’s backpack is a GREAT resource.

I Give Scholastic Book Club an A+

The books are age- and grade-appropriate.  The prices are good (sometimes REALLY good).  There’s no shipping and handling charges.  The Scholastic program benefits my son’s school and, more specifically, his classroom by earning points for new books for his classroom.

No, we don’t always buy a book.  But we did this week.  Matt is a huge fan of Legos and is a member of the Legos Robotics Club at school (way-cool club).  Scholastic had a great bargain on a set of books.  So…we went for it and bought them.  The arrived just the other day and they are yow-za good.  Matt loves them.  And (truth be told) so does his fifteen year-old brother.  Double score!

Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Books a bit pricey?  Yes…they can be.  Be frugal and:

• check out the library
• scour garage/tag sales (the season is ramping up)
• visit your local charity shop (St. Vincent de Paul in my area) or Goodwill or the Salvation Army Thrift Shop
• look through your bookcase…there might be an old favorite you’ve forgotten about!

The Take-Away

Read to your kids if they’re not old enough to read.  Read with your kids if they can read.  Set a good example.

No Patience!

Much like the hair on my 49-year-old head, my patience is growing thin, thinner, and thinnest these days.  And that’s not a good thing.  For anyone.

Here’s a great example:  as I’m typing this post, the family dog, Riley, is gnawing away at the base of a wooden chair (the one I happen to be sitting on).  My youngest son, who I can’t believe is up before 9AM on a Saturday is hollering at me from downstairs as he sits in front of the TV with his game controller.  “Daaaaaad”, he yells, “do we have any double-a batteries?”  And me?  I’m trying to think of some good subject-matter for three blogs that I write for.  Oy!  I’m driving myself crazy.

Light Bulb Moment

And then it hits me.  Yes:  I’m driving myself crazy.  It’s not the dog.  It’s not kids (okay, sometimes it is), it’s not work, or anything else.  It’s me.  I am the cause of my malady.

Are you still with me?  Or have I made you crazy too?

So Many Things To Do; So Little Time

There are just so many things I want to do.  I want to read the books that are stacked up on my nightstand.  I want to keep up on my blogs.  I want to write.  I feel passionate about writing and sharing my thoughts.  (Anybody out there?)  Writing is therapeutic for me.  It’s in my blood.  I’ve been a voracious reader and writer all my life.  So far, it’s been pretty much a ‘hobby’ thing.

Yes I’ve made a few bucks with my writing skills, but for the most part it’s about me transferring thoughts from my brain to my hands and onto a keyboard ‘just because’.  And, voila, those mostly-coherent thoughts appear on a screen.  On a blog post.   On a piece of paper somewhere in the world.  And that makes me happy.

What Makes You Happy?

Maybe writing is not your ‘thing’.  Maybe it’s golf, or tennis, or singing, or shopping, or weaving baskets. What makes you happy?  What do you want to do, but struggle finding the time to do?  How do you keep your sanity?  I’d sure like to know.

Share your thoughts in the comments section, won’t you?  I promise not to yell.