Category Archives: H

You Are Our Thumb Girl

You Are Our Perfect Thumb Girl

H, you are our thumb girl.

And I love it.

I can’t remember exactly the first time you started sucking your thumb, but you were probably only a few months old.

We tried to give you a pacifier, but as soon as you could pull it out, you did, and never accepted it again.

You are growing up so fast though and only suck your thumb now when you are extremely tired.

You are adorable.

We have had to fight for it here and there though.

Teachers and even grandparents have tried to make you stop.

But shame on them.

You do it your way.

I will always be on your team.

My doosie.

I love you.

-Dad

Kenny Is Not A Name I Would Have Thought Of

Kenny Is Not A Name I Would Have Thought Of

K,  “Kenny” is what we are calling you right now.

See, the ladies at school have given it to you as a nickname.

Mom heard one of them call you that when she picked you up the other day.

I did not know what to think of it at first.

And then I didn’t like it.

But I have had a few days to mull it over.

And I think I love it.

It’s funny because one of the reasons my mom loved my name so much was because she could not think of any ways to shorten or twist it into a nickname.

And nicknames have about become our thing.

I love you.

-Dad

Love And Logic

Love And Logic, And Better Parenting

We are giving Love and Logic a try.

Last month, mom and I went to a series of classes at church that taught it.

In essence, it says:

1. You should not be the bad-guy by lecturing, yelling, or spanking your kids.

2. Instead, you should let the consequences of a situation act as the teacher – only intervening if safety is an issue.

For example, instead of hounding and hounding your kid to do their homework, you might let them get a zero and deal with the consequences of that.

Or, instead of taking time off work to deliver a forgotten lunch, you might not say a word and let the hunger do the teaching.

There is obviously more to it.

But you can read or watch more about it as time allows.

Love And Logic has the advantage of handing problems back to your children so they can learn from them, rather than making an issue just one more thing for a parent to solve in an exasperated or angry tone that helps nobody.

I am so sorry for every time I raised my voice at you.

All I want to do is stand beside you and encourage you as you learn.

My love.

You are perfect.

If I have ever made you feel otherwise – from the bottom of my heart – I am so sorry.

I love you.

-Dad