Disqus - Latest Comments for RecycledDad

Re: Fall adventures

RecycledDad — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:18:55 -0000

Pumpkin pie every day for the next two months.

Re: Sleep, Who can sleep?

RecycledDad — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:55:06 -0000

Jason, I really sympathize. I had a 15-year gap between sons 2 and 3, so I had a *lot* of time to repress the memory of being sleep-deprived!

Then, with #3, it all came back to me. We had a pretty rough start with him. Eventually, what worked for us was sticking to a bedtime schedule and resisting the temptation to get him when he cried during the night. I think by about the third night, he figured out no one was coming and gave up! But every child is different, amen?

Re: FF-58 and Fatherhood Friday #21

RecycledDad — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 02:48:09 -0000

Ciara, you faked me out three times. First I thought (correctly) that the first part of the post was Flash Fiction; then it started to seem autobiographical, so I figured it was a 'real' post; then you called the first part Flash Fiction; then, as I read the main part of the post, I realized that your Flash Fiction was 'based on a true story.' Too trippy!

I was a star student through about grade 5. Then my parents divorced, and I (maybe rebelliously) started slacking off, or maybe school just coincidentally got more difficult. In any case, I struggled with certain subjects throughout middle school and high school. With math and science, I failed to grasp some things, then started to fall behind, and then felt this futility like I was never going to be able to catch up and keep up. In addition, even in subjects I cared about, like literature, I was lazy and often didn't even read the assigned books.

I won't presume to know what the problem or the solution is for anyone else's kids, but I think I would have been a different student if I had believed anyone cared about the *details* of my school work. Not just the outcome, but what I was experiencing, how I felt about it, that kind of thing. I really felt like I was totally on my own to dig myself out, which was pretty discouraging. I hope there is a nugget of insight in there somewhere that will help you!

Re: Carnivals and Disney On Ice: A Steely Son Interview

RecycledDad — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 01:55:47 -0000

I love good dialogue! (My kid started doing robot imitations last week.)

I would not have thought that Disney on Ice would be any fun for parents. Now I'm considering it. Thanks!

Re: A Great Fair Day

RecycledDad — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 00:13:17 -0000

The "fried sampler" and "you bring it, we'll fry it" -- my stomach hurts just thinking about these things. But I'm glad you guys had fun.

Trying to get an overtired child to fall asleep -- that can be maddening. Sounds like you all handled it very well.

Re: Implementing a Toddler Defense

RecycledDad — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:58:46 -0000

Clever! But my favorite tactic is to just call a time-out.

Re: Homeschooling Here We Come!

RecycledDad — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:25:31 -0000

This is the second post I've read tonight on homeschooling. It's making me want to research it. My first two kids thrived in public school and got into great colleges, but I don't know if public (or private) school will be the right thing for #3. My wife and I had better figure it out soon!

Re: Lost and Found

RecycledDad — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:46:52 -0000

What's a hosta? (How lazy am I? I'm on the Internet right now, and I'm asking you the meaning of a word instead of Googling it. But based on what I've read in this post, I think your definition will be better than Merriam-Webster's.)

Re: Top 10 Reasons I Couldn’t Homeschool

RecycledDad — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 01:40:48 -0000

It is good to be frank with ourselves about our strengths and weaknesses!

My parents home-schooled my two younger brothers for a few years, and my brothers both ended up a grade ahead. But my parents are both professional teachers, so I guess they had kind of an edge?! It's certainly not a job that every parent is qualified to do.

Thanks for an entertaining post!

Re: Being a Dad

RecycledDad — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:08:11 -0000

Those are the experiences we signed up for, right?