for Al
Monday, December 7th, 2009
Archive for the ‘Family’ Category
9 years ago tonight
Wednesday, October 21st, 2009We had a pretty good party in Chimayo New Mexico. Thanks to our friends and family who were there to celebrate with us.
Life just keeps getting better!
Things my 3.5 year old boy says in the dark at bedtime #fb
Friday, May 22nd, 2009(Note- All are replied to with “Be quiet and go to sleep now.”)
“Daddy, I’m upside down.”
“Pablo is a penguin.”
“Daddy, I’m breathing. Will you breath with me?”
“Daddy, I’m Spiderman.”
“Something is missing.”
“Daddy, I’m shooting arrows. I’m shooting arrows at you Daddy.”
“Is tomorrow a birthday party?”
“Daddy, do you like the stars or the moon?”
“WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!” (from a cartoon he saw today)
“Daddy, I need another hug.”
“Are you a good guy or a bad guy? Do you like pink or blue or orange?” (colors on his night light)
“Daddy, I am sooooo tired.”
“pee-pee, pee-pee-pee” (chanting)
“Daddy, did someone knock on our door?”
“I want orange juice.”
“We wish you a merry Christmas tree and a happy new year!” (singing)
“Daddy, who are you?”
“My blankey is a boat!”
“Quiet! Stop talking to me.”
“What was that sound?”
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!” (as the Chef in Pixar’s Rat movie)
“Daddy, you should go to sleep.”
(humming happy birthday song)
“What does a fork say?”
“No, don’t take it away, don’t just take it away! When you want to play don’t just take it away.” (Yo Gabba Gabba song)
“Daddy, I need to tell you about me and I need to tell you about Spiderman but not right now because first we need to go to Earth for the birthday party and then we can eat the birthday cake but you can’t eat the birthday cake fast because you need to eat it slooooow.”
“YEEEEEAAA!!!” (wtf?)
“Ice cream is not for you. Understand Daddy?”
“Daddy, I want to get tucked in.” (30 seconds after just being tucked in)
“Daddy, you are my best friend. And I am your best friend.”
3 years
Sunday, November 30th, 2008My son had a birthday yesterday.
He’s three years old.
He is growing up too fast. I feel like I don’t get to spend enough time with him.
Sometimes I feel like I am missing it.
He can be an annoying 3 year old at times, but he’s also one of the most interesting people that I have ever met. Maybe I’m biased.
Being Human
Friday, November 28th, 2008We took two flights this morning with the kids. Our little girl is 18 months old, our son is 3 years. As we deboarded both flights we had numerous people remark how well behaved our kids were on the airplane. A few even mentioned that they did not know that kids were even on the flight.
It was not to last however.
By the time we got down to baggage claim both kids had been awake for 7 consecutive hours without a nap. They were hungry and tired and were not at all interested in hanging around waiting for bags to show up. Unfortunately we had no other options.
My daughter was inconsolable and my son was running around the baggage claim area in a manic state, getting in everyone’s way and endangering himself. I finally said enough, picked him up and put him in the stroller next to his sister for his own good. My wife wheeled the stroller over to one of the exit doors to keep him away form the crowds, for the crowds own good.
My son then proceeded to go absolutely bad shit insane crazy. Screaming in frustration, wailing in sadness, shrieking in fury, typical toddler behavior when they are in this state, but annoying none the less. Until the bags showed up however, we were stuck with him.
I was waiting by the bag carousel while my wife was with the kids. Despite her attempts to calm Toddler Smithers he continued with his tantrum. Apparently it was too much for one woman standing nearby who finally exclaimed: “THAT’S ENOUGH, FUCK!” and stormed out of the terminal to the sidewalk outside. While she did not solicit her comments directly to my son or my wife, it was clear what her issue was.
After a few minutes outside in the cold she returned to the inside of the terminal and, as she walked past my wife, made a comment to the effect of “You need to control that kid.” She made the same comment to my wife one more time before we were finally ready to leave the terminal.
Control that kid? Anyone who has had children knows that “controlling” the temper tantrum of a 3 year old sounds great in theory but you have a better chance of holding back the tide. The only thing you can do is try and figure out how to distract the child out of the tantrum and, failing that, isolating the child away from other people as best you can.
Anyone who has not had children probably feels that there is something else that a parent can do to stop the child from behaving in that way.
I can assure you that, as parents, there is nothing that would have pleased us more than to get Toddler Smithers to stop his screaming. But in the scenario we were in it was simply not possible. I guarantee that as annoying as his screaming was, it was worse for us than it was for the rest of the crowd hanging around waiting for their bags. There is nothing more painful for a parent, nothing that elicits a stronger response to solve the problem, nothing that causes the same spike in stress and anxiety than your own child crying. It’s a built in panic button that only your child knows how to press. And they do press it hard.
I’ve written about this before, and I know that it is hard for non-parents to understand. But when you are out in public and encounter children who are in the same condition that my children were in this afternoon please understand what is going on and take a small amount of pity on the parents. If you can’t muster the strength to be compassionate then just walk out of earshot.
Resisting the urge to make comments to the parents will help prevent an already stressful situation from getting worse.
You have my thanks and gratitude.
8 years ago tonight
Tuesday, October 21st, 2008I was lucky enough to convince Mrs. Smithers to marry me.
I can sell ice to Eskimos!
