News broke this week of the birth mother of one of Angelina Jolie’s daughters making a public plea to see her child again. This was good canon-fodder for the magazines near the check-out line at the supermarket, but left me rather unimpressed. Although I do enjoy any mention of adoption in the headlines of the day, … [Read more…]
“No bread? No beer? You’re kidding me!” I was diagnosed with Celiac Disease almost 7 years ago but can clearly remember my doctor’s response to my initial, shocked discontent. The scrubs-clan doc calmly looked at me and said, “You know, Mr. Walsh, you’ll have no meds to take and will feel better right away. This … [Read more…]
I won’t let my kids file Martin Luther King, Jr. Day into the category of non-gift-giving holidays that serve only to close school for the day. No matter the age, I’ll tell my children that the holiday is bigger – filled with purpose that we should each deeply understand. I’m not a teacher, so I … [Read more…]
My 3 year-old now wants to go to the bathroom in privacy and I have no issue with it. So, as I patted him on the head and reassured him I’d be standing right outside the door, the scene seemed fairly innocuous. That is, until I heard three large thuds – the sound of a … [Read more…]
Gyms are as crowded as Target on Black Friday. Salads have temporarily become the most popular lunch at the office. It must be New Year’s Resolution time! But, before you dust of running shoes and clear the treadmill of the neatly pressed work shirts, Toby Jurging – the resident health and fitness expert for The … [Read more…]
I have resolved to be more present in 2017. I will be engaged more and on auto-pilot less in all facets of my life – as a father, husband, friend, co-worker, and son. I’m feeling satisfied with my resolution – proud of my worthy goal that bucks convention like losing excess weight, going to the … [Read more…]
New Year’s Eve presents a choice for parents with young children like me: Is having some desperately needed adult fun worth the hassle of ushering tired kids through midnight and then dealing with their next day exhaustion? The annual ball-dropping party can spell doom for parents who enjoy the post 9 p.m. nightly silence provided … [Read more…]
There is nothing better than sitting down with my kids to watch Christmas movies. That is, until I do – and my children spoil my favorites. They ruin them with questions that interrupt the comedic timing. They ruin them with observations of holes in the plot that I otherwise choose to consciously ignore. This Christmas … [Read more…]
I hate punishing my kids – I’d rather re-direct, distract and resume playing with them in a more amiable manner. I stink at being tough – and I could get away with that when my children were younger. At that time, most of their wrongs were innocent – easier to excuse as normal “kids being … [Read more…]
My son was disappointed when my wife broke the news, “Lynden, you didn’t make the Gifted Program at school.” He played-off his dejection, but I could tell the finality bothered him. I was relieved. Sure, there was a part of me that scoffed at the notion of my straight-A-earning, otherwise seemingly capable third grader wasn’t … [Read more…]