Tuesday 25 December 2012

Christmas

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


Merry Christmas to All!!






May your hearts and homes be filled with warmth and love and your tummies with turkey!!

Friday 21 December 2012

In the World, Not of It

Well we're still here.  The Solstice has passed...the 13th baktun has ended and a new one begun.  Whew!!

Apparently 1/10 Canadians believed that the world was actually going to end.  I wonder what they were doing today.  I've met a couple of folks who said they believed, but their actions said otherwise.  They went to work, they've bought Christmas presents, they've generally lived life no differently than before.  I gotta think that if they really believed, I mean really, really believed, then this belief would be manifested in how they lived.  We would be able to tell that there was something different.

I suppose it's the same with many people that identify themselves as religious of one sort or another.  I'll speak of Christians specifically since that's the community of faith that I am a part of.  Too often we are no different than the main-stream culture that we are surrounded by.  We get caught up in all the same worries, strive after all the same things, and generally if we didn't go around claiming to be a Christian, no one would be able to tell anything was different about us.  I think it's a far cry from the counter-cultural lifestyle we probably should be living.  If we truly believe all that we say we do, then shouldn't the way we live reflect those beliefs? 


We should be known for our love for one another.  In a world that generally emphasizes looking out for the great and mighty "I" we should be looking out for and watching for opportunities to serve others.  Instead of pride we should practice humility...we are easily offended because of our pride.  We become indignant and defensive rather than forgiving.  We let the worries of this world and the lust for more stuff rob of us our joy, contentment and peace.

There should be a connection between how you behave and what you believe. It's easy to get swept up and away in the inertia of it all, but we really ought to pause and consider how our beliefs and convictions are manifested in our actions and lifestyle.  If our beliefs and actions are incongruous then there will be dissonance.  Where there is harmony, there is peace.


Tuesday 18 December 2012

More Blessed to Give Than to Receive



I don't watch a lot of television.  In fact our little 13 inch television circa the turn of the century broadcasts the same amount of channels as the cardboard box in our drive-way waiting to be recycled - zero.  We don't have cable or subscribe to any movie providers on the net and one of the main reasons we don't is because of the commercials.  Not because they're annoying but because they tend to propagate materialistic values that we would prefer to keep away from the girls as much as possible.  To be sure the girls are still exposed to them, it's nearly impossible not to be, but it is much more controlled and intentional most of the time - at least they're not inundated with commercial messages on a regular basis.

I do get my fix for television through the net (especially football) and of course commercials have invaded the net and you can no longer watch videos or highlights without being forced to view an ad or two (forced may be a strong word, no one is holding me down forcing me to watch these things...).

One of the things I've noticed this holiday season, in the commercials I've seen, is an emphasis on getting the things I want...in fact one of the slogans is, "I want that," or something to that effect.  Whatever happened to the commercials that promoted getting the perfect gift for that special someone...someone else?  Oh they're still out there...but I've been shocked with the blatant appeal to selfish greed over thoughtful blessings.  Maybe I'm just getting old and sensitive and maybe I've just never noticed before.  Or maybe I'm onto something here.



I'm not even sure what I want this year...but I have a ton of ideas for my ladies.  I sure have fun thinking up gift ideas that will really put smiles on the faces of certain someones in my life.  My wife is pretty prescriptive when it comes to gifts (which is good because it saves me from having to exchange that horrid sweater I would have picked out for her).  But I love finding something that she isn't even expecting and thinking about her reaction...like I did today...I can't tell you what it is in-case she overhears but I think it's nice.  It's not extravagant or especially fancy or anything like that (so don't get too excited sweetie), but I think it's great.  I do the same with my girls - I like to try to find something that will give them pause in the carnage that is Christmas morning, smile and wonder how I knew that they would like it even though they hadn't even thought about it themselves...maybe they're too young to connect the dots, but I like to give them a gift that shows them that I've been thinking about them...that they're on my mind all the time as I walk through my day.  There's no place I'd rather be than with my ladies, day in and day out, but that's just not possible presently - but I'd like them to know that I carry them around with me in my heart and mind each day.

I like getting presents, I do.  But for me there's nothing better than seeing a loved one's face light up after opening a gift from me, not because they're awed by the "coolness" of the latest gadget that in 4 months will be another outdated piece of trash, but rather because they are filled with the joy of knowing that they are cherished, adored and loved.

Gifts given in this spirit remind me of a gift we received from someone who gave because there was no other place He wanted to be than with us...and us with Him.




Hack Hack Sneeze

Well we're still sick. How exciting for you to read I know, but it is the dominating factor of my life at this point in time. Usually I pride myself on our robust and healthy family. We almost never see the doctor, and rarely get more than the common cold. However this season just seems to be knocking us out again and again with hacking coughs, sneezes, headaches, "bowel issues", and the most recent problem ear infections. We ended up having to take our oldest to a walk in clinic at 8:30 pm last night. We had to drive frantically around the city just to try and find one that was open; quite an adventure in itself.  Evidently you cannot trust the hours that are posted on the net - actually the three I had chosen were shut down altogether...the one I finally did find was purely by God's good grace as I was heading home to let my fingers do the walking (or driving in this case) and just happened to gaze out my window at a red light to see the faint glow of a walk-in clinic sign on a pharmacy.  I actually did say a really informal prayer (okay maybe it was more the expression of an exasperated father saying, "Come on!  Please just let me find a clinic that's open...") only moments before I found the open clinic.  Perhaps it's a sign of my lack of faith that I was not looking for a clinic at all but was in fact on my way back home to solve the problem on my own by looking-up and calling some clinics to find one that was open (what I probably should have done in the first place).  Nevertheless...I digress. 

One interesting tidbit that I found when we finally arrived at the walk-in was that the doctor that was attending us was actually trained and certified outside Canada and was therefore not able to prescribe medicine. He instead consulted, via video-conference, with a doctor in Toronto to validate that his diagnosis was correct and then get the OK to issue a prescription with the Toronto doctors name on it. I personally feel very confident with foreign trained doctors. I feel that their proven initiative through getting a good education in their home country, and then come to a new country and continue on in a different system that makes them jump through some ridiculous hoops to practice their vocation here, makes for one smart and dedicated Doctor. Not that becoming a Doctor in Canada is all that simple but I would guess its a bit harder for someone coming from Somalia, but maybe I'm wrong. Either way I'm glad to be living in Canada where I can walk-in to a clinic free of charge and get good care in a very creative way. Yay public health care!

I do hope that our sickness saga will be coming to a close soon and I can report more fantastic events soon. But for now I need to finish up this blog so I can get another Kleenex.



Sunday 16 December 2012

Can I Hide

In the wake of the Connecticut shooting I wanted to take a pause and try to hash out some of my feelings about the horror that happened there. When I first found out about the little children that had died I was nauseous. The Bible verse that came into my head (and often does when I hear about tragedy) was, "My God my God why have you forsaken me!" Of course this did not touch my life in a direct way; but initially I could not help feeling abandoned by our Lord. That  somehow God must have said, "Forget it they're all too messed up for me to deal with anymore." For how could this happen on his Earth? How can little children be fodder for this reigning evil?

I switch back and forth from turning away from the news and then turning it on just to be disgusted again. Does engaging in the information about this Honor their memory, or does the crass coverage of the information sensationalize it?  I don't know.

For now I will pray for peace in our world in the midst of pain and sorrow...and hold my family closer.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33



Wednesday 12 December 2012

A Plague O' Both Your Houses

'Tis the season of sickness and it has come to rest upon my house.  I'm telling you I can't remember a more persistent season of illness in my home than this present one.  As soon as one of my girls gets over a bug another one gets it or something new, just to keep us on our toes.  None of the girls have been very sick rather they have all been intermittently "under-the-weather" for the past couple of months. 

Finally it has come to a head this week (I think) with Evie having a low grade fever for the past couple of days and generally just feeling like crap.  It has wiped her out (thankfully due to a school bus cancellation on Monday because of weather and the teachers' strike today, she has only missed one day of instruction at school).   I think she has emerged from the worst of it and is on the road to recovery but it sure has taken its toll on all of us. 

The past few nights have been akin to sharing a small room with Doc Holliday except my little Doc requires more attention which I happily bestow upon her.  My poor wife has borne the brunt of the burden this week - it's not easy taking care of a sickly child with two other young'uns in the house.  She has pretty much been housebound herself for the past three days (and just between you and me I think she might be getting a little stir crazy...in a good way).

I'm not sure what's worse, a short burst of violent illness or this long drawn out illness that seems content to slowly grind you down until all you want to do is crawl under your desk at work to have a nap.  I remember a couple of years ago when Evie and Noli had one of those nights of voluminous violent vomiting.  Whew-wee!! That was quite a night.  They were so considerate that they took turns being sick...repeatedly.  It's as if they were on a cycle...as if they had timed and rehearsed the exact time either one would blow.  My wife and I would just finish cleaning up one messy child, tuck them back into bed and be drifting back off to dreamland (that's wishful thinking, we never got anywhere close to dreamland that night) when the other child would puke all over the place.  Despite having buckets and towels in place, I believe we had to change each girls' bed about three times throughout the night.  That was an awful night...

I never stop being amazed at how much one can get done on so little sleep or how difficult being a parent can be.  It's plain draining some days.  I don't have much of a point today except to laud my wife for holding down the fort and to say to everyone else dealing with this bug or that one...I feel your pain.  Here's to better, healthier days ahead!


 Here's a little something for your viewing pleasure and something you can enjoy with your kids should they happen to be home sick with you today.



Tuesday 11 December 2012

Countdown to the End

Well I guess you know what today marks, right?  According to 2012 doomsday believers, there's only ten days left until the end of time (aside: check out some doomsday preppers on youtube for an interesting watch).  I'm not a global doomsdayer, but I find it interesting to consider different approaches to the end.  What would you do if if there were only ten days left until some global catastrophe and almost certain destruction?

While I am not convinced always preparing for the worst case scenario is a good way to live one's life, it does lend some perspective that I think can be useful.  Even though I don't think Dec. 21, 2012 has any significance beyond being the shortest day of the year and the end of a cycle in the Mayan calendar (like Dec. 31 in our calendar) I have no doubt that it will be the end of the line for some people - probably about 150,000 people (global death rate/day according to several sources).

Many of us are very quick to dismiss specific doomsday predictions, rightfully so, how many times was the world supposed to have ended in the past couple of years?  Just as always living with the end in mind is not a good idea, neither is it a good idea to go about our lives as though it has no end.  We don't know when our time on this planet will be up, death is a certainty...timing just needs to be determined.  It could be Dec. 21, 2012 - maybe more and maybe less.

How are you spending your remaining time?  Are you ready?

I believe I'd do more of what I'm doing right now.   I would ensure to spend as much time as I could with my family and look to increase that time (if I only had 10 days left, I'd probably stop going to work and spend that time with my family).  I would continue to write (not just this blog) as I think it's a great way to pass on knowledge, values, and memories to my girls.  It's a way of preserving my thoughts and contributing to a larger conversation.

There have been times when I've been discouraged with the output of my life, thinking that if I were to die in that moment, I'd have been disappointed with my accomplishments.  Not now, now I have purpose and I have goals and I'm doing my best to fulfill both.  I'm trending in the right direction.  I may not get to accomplish all that I'm setting out to do, but I'm working towards them and am making the journey along the way count.  That's good enough for me and really I think all we can do.  Who knows where the road will take us and how long it will take?  All I know is that our time is finite on the Earth, so make it count today.  

Beyond considerations of an unfulfilled calling, I've never been bothered by the thought of death and my own mortality because I'm confident in the promises of Jesus Christ and don't believe this is all there is.  As Paul once wrote to the church in Philippi, "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."




Friday 7 December 2012

Have a Crackin' Good Weekend!!!



Looking forward to taking my girls to see the Nutcracker ballet tomorrow!  It's always a splendid production that the girls thoroughly enjoy.  Thanks John and Bonnie!!

Thursday 6 December 2012

Bringing Down the House



Did you read about the fracas in the House of Commons the other day?  I'm talking about the near brawl, as some news sources called it, stemming from a "heated discussion" between Government House Leader Peter Van Loan and NDP House Leader Nathan Cullen. 

Now, let me say that I understand passion...I want our leaders to be passionate about their convictions. That's cool.  However this seemed to be less about a point of view and more about frustration and squabbling over procedure.  I understand frustration as well, especially at the end of a particularly long day, but there's gotta be a better way to deal with it guys!  

It's really disappointing to see the leaders of our country meltdown to nothing better than a schoolyard tiff complete with naughty words, finger pointing and the main combatants' buddies "holding them back."  Really, I don't think it was anywhere close to a brawl, simply a lot of empty bravado and attempted intimidation that if it had taken place on a playground would be called bullying.  "Boys will boys..."  

Come on!! 

The thing is these are supposed to be men, so grow up and act like it.  Unfortunately some men don't ever progress past the stage of deferring to such antics when things don't go their way. 

It's embarrassing, and really unfortunate that it was caught on tape.  There's so much emphasis on curbing bullying in children and youth but if these "gentlemen" can't even curb their own behaviour, how can we expect mere children to do any better? 

I am continually trying to instill a sense of civility and control in my girls.  I tell them that when they use anger or frustration as an excuse to act-out it only makes matters worse and will probably lead to trouble.  Things don't always go our way, we can't always control that, but we can control our responses in those situations.  A calm answer does turn away wrath...as long as said calmness isn't rooted in smugness. 

The sad thing is that when you let your anger get the better of you, your message is lost in the delivery.  Perhaps Van Loan had a valid point to make, but it doesn't matter because he lost it.  Remember, it's not just what you say that matters...but how you say it too!

We need to be aware that our children are watching and learning from us; regardless of our position we are role models for them.  Be intentional in the example you are setting for your children (and the other children who may be witness to your behaviour). 



Wednesday 5 December 2012

Whoah!! Christmas Tree!!

Well we got our Christmas tree today and let me tell you, it's mammoth.  We've nicknamed it the Giant Beast and I think that accurately captures the essence of the tree.

I didn't set out to get a big tree; I wanted a modest six footer that would fit nicely into our post-war veteran's house.  Alas the place I got the tree from was sold out of the nice sized ones and so I had a decision.  I could have drove elsewhere looking for a little bit of a smaller tree and be end up getting home later than I wanted or I could grab what I thought was a good sized one from the store I was at and be happy with it.  I did the latter - I picked one that fit in my little hatchback and away I went.

It seems much bigger in my living room than it did on the lot, and judging by my wife's shocked silence, it was a wee bit larger than she was expecting.  We had trouble deciding where to put it.  We tried the dining room and unfurled its branches...but it didn't quite work there.  So we moved it to the living room and in so doing messed up its placement in the tree-stand (which I suspect is a bit small for the size of tree we have).  We fiddled and fussed and generally worked up a sweat trying to keep this behemoth from falling over...so far so good. 

The girls were ecstatic.  When questioning if it was too big, Noli very confidently said, "No Daddy, it's beautiful."  Evie couldn't wait to decorate and asked about a million times if she could start while I was under the tree getting needles in my ears, eyes and mouth while trying to make the tree straight and secure.  I'm tempted to say that setting up the tree was a pain in the neck at the risk of sounding like Scrooge.  I have to admit though, my spirits though dampened by the extraneous effort on the tree were still buoyed by the festive mood of the night and the joy of my girls.

I had to stand on a chair to reach the top and I regret that the girls couldn't put the star on top this year.  Last year I held both of them up at the same time and they did it together.  This year, what with the size of the tree (not to mention the girls are bigger than last year) I couldn't get them close enough without risking knocking the tree down.  So we set up Christmas-star chain.  Noli passed it to Evie who passed it to me and I held it high for Mommy and Mimi to behold its beauty before I placed it neatly on top.  Everyone was very happy.

Whew!!  What an adventure!  But it stands (and hopefully stays up - I'm taking bets on who will
 knock it down first, our dog Chief or Mimi, my 10 month old) and it's beautiful.


Sunday 2 December 2012

Golden Weekend


Ah...another weekend come and gone.  What a great weekend.  My 'rents were visiting and brought along my nephews and niece.  They only live six hours away, but we just don't see them enough.  On our end, our kids make travel difficult.  Not so much the two oldest...but the baby.  None of our babies have enjoyed traveling.  In fact they have each hated it with our newest having the strongest negative reaction to the car-seat than either of the first two.

I don't know about these stories of parents using the car as a means of soothing a cranky baby - to me that's as much a myth or as the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.  I sure would like to believe it...but...

It is such a joy though when we're all able to get together.  The girls love seeing their cousins and have a blast playing with them.  What makes it even more fun is when my nephews and niece from my wife's side of the family is around too - it does my heart good to see my girls with both sets of cousins and with everyone playing and getting along.  It's important to build those connections with the extended family.  It gives them a sense of the family's heritage and identity.  I think it makes them feel a part of something larger than themselves and builds cohesiveness.

I'm grateful to the family we have in town and for my parents taking the time to come and visit when they can - and for bringing the kids.  It's wonderful!  And now I'm off to bed.

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Work-Life Balance Is a Misnomer

Back in the 1930s, famous economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that by the end of the century we would be working a three hour work day.  "He figured we would no longer need to work long hours to earn enough to satisfy our material needs. Instead, we would be preoccupied with “how to use freedom from pressing economic cares” that accompanied societal prosperity" (Globe & Mail, 09 2012).

So how's the working out for you?

I am a big proponent of a healthy work-life balance.  I buy into the whole idea of "working to live and not living to work."  My raison d'etre is not my career (shhh...don't tell my boss) but rather my family.  I like the idea of spending more time with the fam jamming at whatever we get up to. I don't think there's anything wrong with that even if "work-life balance" is a dirty word in the private sector.  I dig my job - I work hard at doing it well, to the best of my ability.  But to be honest, when I'm home with the family or out doing something, I'm not lamenting the fact that I'm not working.  I don't think I'm unique in that respect.

Though I support the essence of work-life balance, I consider to be a misnomer.  The idea that work is separate from our life is a misconception.  It's all life.  Here's what I don't like about using that term, it gives the impression that the two things are distinct entities that have little effect on each other.  Do you realize that you will probably spend the majority of your prime living years working?  A large portion of your life is spent at work.  It's not like you can take the portion of time used for work and add more years to your life because it was just work and didn't really count as life...as living.  But it does count...you don't get that time back, ever!

That's why we better make sure that what we do for a living is meaningful to us.  If I'm going to trade so much life - so much time that could be spent with family - I want to make sure it's worth it.  I want the return on my investment to make a difference and have a purpose beyond paying my bills.  We better believe in what we're doing because we are giving up an awful lot to be able to do it.

It's funny - I think where Keynes miscalculated was in our greed and lust for more than what we need.  As our ability to make more money increases, so do our material "needs."  Our material needs cannot be satisfied so we work more and more and more. 

I guess what I'm getting at in this rant is this - time does not equal money.  Time is life...how are you spending yours?  Are you getting your desired return on investment?

Tuesday 27 November 2012

What's In Your Fridge?

Just watched Food, Inc. and let me tell you, it was eye-opening.  Now to be honest it really just reinforced a lot of the views I already held, but perhaps will give fresh legs to the action that admittedly is lacking on my part. 

One of the more poignant points that one of the farmers raises is how little thought most of us give to something as important as what we put in our bodies on a regular basis.  How many of us stop and think about the processes that must take place in order to get a slab of beef from the side of a cow onto the side of you?  Yes I mean the processes that breakdown the meat (and everything else they put in the meat) once it's ingested and transforms it into energy, muscle, fat or waste.  How often do you stop and think about where that tomato, that you just threw into your spaghetti sauce, has been?  We city-folk are often so removed from the source and the process that we lose touch with the actual cost of our lifestyle.  And by cost I don't just mean what we pay for our food but the sacrifices that we and others are making (some which are forced on them) so that we can sustain our indulgent lifestyles.  There are sacrifices on the front end (the farmers) and the back end - not just the growth of the back side but there are health and nutritional sacrifices we make as consumers when we choose cheapness over quality.

Do I resent paying fifty cents more for a cup of coffee?  Sometimes, yeah...but then I stop and think, maybe it is what's fair...maybe that's more representative of the cost of getting me my fix in the morning.  Maybe I shouldn't be able to get a coffee and a muffin for under a buck fifty.  You know?  Perhaps I should ask myself, what had to happen in order for me to get such cheap sustenance?

I'm worried about all the implications of such a question.  I am concerned about the quality of nutrition my family is receiving.  I don't like the thought of turning our food into another industry where the bottom-line is the dominant driver in decision-making.  I think approaching food in such a way has serious socio-economic, environmental and health ramifications.   I worry about the people producing our food, the animals, the land and seeds that are the source of our food and my family who consume food...on a daily basis, usually three times a day (or more!).  I don't like the idea of a corporation owning a patent on seeds or the molecules that make up the seed...that's bad news.

There's a lot I don't like about this situation.  What I do like, is that we are not powerless.  We can choose what we eat - if need be we can plant our own food, forage and hunt (a little extreme, but I did say "need be," I don't think we're there yet). 

But what I am saying is that we're going to be more deliberate about what we eat.  Shop local...shop organic (second mortgage on the house may be needed)...eat fresh produce that is in season.

Mmmmmm...just a little food for thought.


Monday 26 November 2012

Thoughts on Alberta's New Anti-Bullying Law

Yeah, there's a problem with today's youth.  Perhaps it's not a problem limited to youth but definitely the ramifications of the problem seem to be magnified and compounded by the highly emotional state that youth find themselves in.  Bullying.

In the past the solutions were pretty simplistic.  The notion that "sticks and stones may break some bones but names will never hurt me" was a popular refrain among my peers.  The Berenstain Bears taught us that though it's not very nice, teasing is a part of life...and that we shouldn't be too sensitive.

All very sensible advice focused on encouraging the victim to toughen up, roll with the punches and let things slide.  Problem is, it doesn't work with everyone.  There are those that have the right disposition for this approach which I thinks takes a certain amount of internal strength and confidence combined with positive external influences (like parents and friends to some extent).

The sad thing is I'm not sure we're fostering the time environment that builds relationships and community cohesiveness.  Back in the day teasing was just as much a part of life - though I think we were able to get away from it easier - the internet and social media weren't so pervasive.  The thing is I remember my friends having my back and me theirs when need be.  Many kids don't have a support system - they feel alone which is a shame. And so we try to legislate kids to do the right thing and stand up for each other.  In the void of real relationships we attempt to create the defense mechanism that comes so naturally when you're part of a cohesive community.  

Alberta, in the education act, has a section (31) that if interpreted literally, would hold bystanders liable for not getting involved.

I just don't think it's going to work.  I believe we should look out for one another.  We need more people to get involved when they see something not right going down.  But I think we need to do more to build those relationships and that community, then we will see the desired results.  We'll see people standing up for one another.  We'll notice that we aren't as alone as we thought. 

We need to tell our kids to put down their devices and start to build real relationships.  They need to understand that knowing everything about someone is not the same thing as knowing them.  Heck, maybe we ought to start at home and unplug while the family is around.  Revolutionary, I know.

I see the new part of the education act as simply treating a symptom while ignoring the main issue.  Until we treat the issue, bullying is just going to get worse.  The more disconnected we become, the easier it is to trash someone and the easier it is to walk on by when someone else is getting trashed. 

It's a sorry state of affairs and I worry about my girls but know that they'll at least have a good home to take refuge in.  Is it the answer to bullying?  Maybe...it's a start I think. 

A little more of the golden rule, a little more turning the other cheek and a lot more love for one another would go a long way.


Sunday 25 November 2012

Ice, Ice Baby

Funny thing about life - it often defies your expectations and plans, for better or worse.  In this case I think for better.

I never imagined having a hockey family.  I never pictured myself spending hours at arenas, teaching my kids how to skate and cheering them on as they play.  Not that there's anything wrong with hockey.  It's a great game.  It's exciting and fast paced...it's Canadian.  Heck I'm from the hometown of the Great One...It's just that I was never the hockey player. 

I played football.  I love football.  Watching it, following it, and playing it (though the opportunities to play it are few and far between now).  Tonight I watched the Grey Cup...now I'm watching the Packers vs. Giants game...I'm in my glory tonight.  Back in the day, I would have spent most of Grey Cup Sunday focused on football, watching all the pregame and post-game festivities and maybe even finding the time and peeps to play a game.

To tell the truth, I'm not sure I thought much about what my girls would be into.  I suppose I thought maybe they would humour my love of football and maybe grow to enjoy watching it with their old man.  There's not much opportunity for them to play it...not much to aim for long term and no real role models for them in the world of women's football.  Sorry all you LFL players...models you may be, role models...maybe not.

Hockey on the other hand...well maybe one day we'll see "Gideon" on a Team Canada jersey...it could happen.  But more importantly they are enjoying the game now, having fun now and being active and healthy.  I also like the fact that their coaches are all girls (young women I guess I should say) that they can look up to.  Evie thinks it's awesome when the local universities' women's hockey teams come out and help coach.  I think it gives her a sense of being a part of something bigger than the ordinary...a community.

This afternoon we spent two hours at the rink skating around.  Most of that time I was squatting helping Noli skate around the rink.  My thighs, butt and back are toast right now (I'm getting old...or maybe just out of shape).  Last winter we were lucky to spend half an hour on the ice.  Today was our first family/public skate of the year and the girls didn't want to get off the ice.  I know I wrote about Evie and her mad skating skills last week, but I'm still amazed at how she's taking to the skating.  She was cruising around today like it was just what she did all the time - and she was lovin' it.

Noli...well today was her first time on single blades (she was bobbin' it last year) and let me tell you, she is a go getter.  I shouldn't be surprised; their mother was one heck of a hockey player herself.  If today is any indication, then today was just the tip of the ice berg and I can expect to be spending a lot more time on the ice and early mornings in arenas sipping my double-double and watching my girls do their thing.  If they take after their mom in other ways, they'll be doing well for themselves.




Friday 23 November 2012

Black Friday Indeed

Every year we hear in Canada about the legendary "shopping holiday" Black Friday. The deals the steals, the longer store hours, and of course a few people being trampled to death in a mob of shoppers bent on getting a deal. In my mind this is what Hell might be like. A mindless mob.

Of course retailers in Canada want a piece of that action too. But I for one am very grateful that Black Friday has not yet seeped into the Canadian culture entirely; although I think it won't take too long. It's not that I don't like sales or shopping or any of that, it's just that when it comes at the expense of an actual holiday it makes me cringe. It seems ironic to me that Thanksgiving and Black Friday are even in the same month.  Thanksgiving is a holiday that symbolizes contentment, peace, sharing, love, family, and plenty. Black Friday can be characterized as one big pushing, shoving, buying, lending, debt-bacle.

I would urge my American brothers and sisters and any Canadian defectors not to be lulled into such a silly marketing scheme, and to instead rest and let the thanksgiving coma take hold until Black Friday passes over.





Wednesday 21 November 2012

It's Hard Being a Kid

As I watch my girls grow, try new things, struggle and finally "get it" I am reminded about how hard it can be, being a kid.  I started to think about this on Saturday as I watched Evie skate around at hockey practice.  She has come so far in her skating in the past two months and it is a joy to watch her enjoying finally cruising along the ice.  She often looks to see if I'm watching her, beaming and full of pride at her accomplishment.  I'm always sure to give her a big thumbs up and a smile. 

She has worked hard for weeks trying to get the skating thing down.  Week after week she would attempt the proper technique in vain.  But she didn't give up and now she's starting to reap the rewards.  To be sure she's not Gretzky out there, not yet but she's come so far.  The funny thing is that almost as soon as she got the forward motion working properly, the coaches started teaching her backwards skating.  And she did it all with such a positive attitude and a smile.  I'm a proud papa.  Sometimes it's so hard to sit and watch your child struggle - but it's essential to remember that they're getting stronger because of the struggle.

Evie works hard at everything - piano, swimming, hockey, speech, school work - and there just doesn't seem to be any let up at this age.  Everything is so new and just when they think they've nailed something, they discover the next step.   It's no wonder that every now and then kids meltdown as if they just can't handle expelling another iota of effort.  Like on Monday when we were getting ready for school Evie freaked out because she was having trouble zipping her coat up.  Her reaction seemed somewhat disproportionate to the situation.  We as grown-ups sometimes forget just how much learning our kids are doing on a daily basis - the things we take for granted are still struggles for them.  Learning takes a lot out of you.  I'm going to try to remember that and maybe be a little more patient with the girls next time they're struggling with something.  Definitely not excusing or condoning freaking out - but maybe I can understand where she's coming from and look for a way to circumvent her "learning fatigue" and frustration before it results in a meltdown. 


Tuesday 20 November 2012

More Ranting - The Daddy Voice

I have noticed more and more as the people of my generation become parents (us crazy generation Y's) that there is a sharp decline of yelling going on during parenting hours. Now you might be saying to yourself  "yay for us, we are above losing our tempers with our children and we will only discipline using gentle fairy sounds forevermore!" Hang on! Before we congratulate ourselves too much, I want to give some credence to the art of yelling in parenthood. Yes it is a fine and practised art. When my kids are bad, I yell at them. Not in a scary way but in a way that makes it clear that I expect their respect and obedience - I call it, the "Daddy Voice."  And no it doesn't always work.

 When I was little, adults were not afraid to raise their voice to their children or for that matter other children. I remember countless times being yelled at by strangers usually for good reasons. And I think this instilled a good amount of respect for my elders, something really lacking from children today. Yes perhaps it sometimes went a little far but judging by how children behave now versus how they did when I was little I think our parents might have had the better plan.

I don't see and have never seen much point in reasoning why the three year old is not allowed to smack the 2 year old, it is confusing for them and takes up much more time than simply yelling "NO HITTING"!!! Any three year old can understand that statement, and odds are they will be less likely to reoffend because being yelled at is understandably annoying.

I'm not advocating going around screaming at kids all day, but I would tell parents that it is OK to raise a little old school discipline a bit more often, if for no other reason than because I am tired of listening to the fairy discipline voice.


Here is some additional "parenting advice" from one of my favourite comedians. It has some foul language, but its still so funny.


Sunday 18 November 2012

Lasso the Moon

I was driving home from swimming lessons with the two oldest girls this weekend when Noli noticed the moon.  She's quite fascinated by the moon and has been for a few months now.  Evie also found it quite interesting how the moon seemed to follow us when we moved but stayed still when we stopped.  I think we spoke about the moon for the entire car ride home, which suits me just fine as I've always been rather fond of the moon and other things space related.

The funny thing is that part way home, Noli asked in all seriousness, "Daddy, will you try to get the moon down for me one day?"  (To my knowledge, she hasn't seen It's a Wonderful Life yet).

It never ceases to amaze me how much confidence kids exhibit in their parents - especially their fathers.  Whether it be capturing the moon or fighting a bear to protect them, my girls don't ever seem to doubt that I can do it.  We fathers have great expectations to fulfill and sometimes lack the means to accomplish them.

It's sometimes hard to balance the desire to give to the girls and the need to withhold so as not to spoil them.  I sometimes think that if it is within my means to give them somethings simple, why wouldn't I?  Does any father want to hold back any good gift from their child?  But surely there is a time to restrain from giving our children all their hearts' desires even if we could.

I guess it's a matter of balancing their wants and their needs and determining what is good for them.  Momentary, temporal goodness doesn't necessarily equate long term or big picture goodness.  For example...for an extreme example...if it was within my power to get the moon down for Noli, it doesn't mean that it would be the good thing to do.  In fact it would be bad, very bad for Noli and everyone else.  Can you imagine the havoc that would wreak on tides...among other things? I understand the desire to give but it isn't always the good thing...or the right thing to do.

So I guess Noli will just have to keep enjoying the moon in the sky, where it belongs, where all the world's children are free to share in its beauty and mystique.  Something tells me that she'll be good with that.


Wednesday 14 November 2012

Christmas is Coming...Are You Ready?

Ah...another Christmas season is upon us.  The radio announcer told me it is now less than six weeks until Christmas.  Stores' shelves are filled with Christmas merchandise while the air is filled with Christmas tunes and holiday "cheer" is finding room in people's hearts.  Ah yes, the Christmas spirit...the hustle and bustle of the shops, the hob-knobbing of the office Christmas parties, the rushing to and fro to get things just right, the endless baking and gift exchanges, "Merry Christmas" after "Happy Holiday" and "Festivus for the Rest of Us!"  And on it goes until we collapse on Christmas morning ever so glad the season is behind us for another 364 days.  SERENITY NOW!!

I say not this year, we can do better.  We can spend so much time trying to build some prefabricated experience  of Christmas that we end up missing the point of it all.  My family wants to step back and do something different but are often compelled to participate lest we rob our children of some essential memories of childhood.  And before you know it we are swept away...I'm saying let's get ahead of the Christmas bustle this year.  Let's pause now, before the inertia of the holidays carries us away.  Let's take back Christmas, reshape it and recast it so that it's no longer another hallmark holiday and rather it becomes a Holy day once again.

We do the whole gift thing in our family and we spend tons of time together over copious amounts of food.  Our kids like getting presents and you know what, I really like giving presents and that's okay.  But we try to be deliberate in making sure our focus is more on Jesus than on us during Christmas (and ideally throughout the whole year, no?).  For us this means that our giving comes from the desire to bless each other, because we love one another.  Therefore we try not to get caught up in how many presents we got each other, how much we spent, or if we got the "perfect" present.  Which I'm glad for because I have to admit I used to get stressed out if I didn't find the right gift that conveyed how important my wife was to me and how very much I loved her (in retrospect I think that's asking a little much from a gift).  We spend less on us and give more to various charities.  We want to give more of our time...admittedly we guard our time closely now but I think as the girls get older we'll be able to devote more of our time serving others.  In short, we try to pay tribute to Christ's incarnation by putting that love that we are supposed to have for one another (neigbours and strangers and all) into action.  Again, it would be ideal to do this year round...but it is good to have a touchstone date to remind us of that which we ought to be doing all the time.

The thing is, if you try to live that love out throughout the year, it takes a lot of the pressure off of getting it "right" at Christmas.  You know, if you try to be a blessing to others, through gifts and especially through other means, spend quality and quantity time together and serve others a little bit more throughout the year then it's like having Christmas all year round without the stress of having to do it all in a 4-6 week window.

So in light of the coming Christmas, here is a little video to inspire you to raise the standard Christmas and a link below the video if you want to know more about such stuff.



Monday 12 November 2012

Heroes They Were and Heroes They Are

We took the girls downtown yesterday to see the Remembrance Day ceremony at the war memorial.  They were very proud to see Grampa up on the memorial as one of the WWII veterans present.  I believe it was a significant moment for them and one that I hope they remember.  John, my father-in-law, is the second veteran that I've been close with.  My own Grampa was a WWII vet as well and I have clear memories of proudly watching him in a Remembrance Day ceremony.

I've benefited greatly from my relationship with my father-in-law.  One very tangible way is in the wisdom and perspective that he readily passes down to me.  He will be the first to say that he doesn't have it all figured out but I'm not sure he gives himself enough credit.  I believe that age should speak wisdom and the young listen closely and hopefully learn.  One topic that John readily discusses is the war - which has given me a whole new perspective and even greater respect for the men and women whose efforts and lives were given to the war.

It's so important for us and especially the next generation, my kids, to remember the horror of war.  The farther we get from the last great war, the less impact it seems to have on us.  Whether it's because we have become desensitized to the terrible aspects of war due to the constant barrage of violence as entertainment or the ubiquitous coverage of contemporary conflicts (covered in such a way that often casts it as an uber-reality show), the devastation of WWII seems to be slipping into the history books.  Sometimes I forget that the consequences of that war are still being felt.

Just from a physical, literal stance - the wounds of the war are still wreaking havoc.   My father-in-law still has trouble sleeping some nights because of the bullet fragments left in his arm that he collected running across a field in Holland.  On a whole other level he questions what it was all about...he's still coming to terms, wrestling with the things he saw and did in the war.  He often talks about the boys on the other side of the war, how they were probably just like him.  Here they were, trying to kill each other...why?  Because they were ordered to.  For freedom and democracy.  To defend those who could not defend themselves.  Sure.

Sure...all of that.  But often it came down to the fact that they were boys trying to stay alive. I've heard John say time and again that it doesn't make any sense.  He ponders the notion that during the war, him and I (if I were older) could have been shooting at each other (due to my Finnish heritage).  But here we are...now...family.

The Remembrance Day ceremony is something else.  It's a great tribute - but let it not be just in remembrance of those things done and gone.  Sometimes I think that on Remembrance Day, it's easy to go through the motions...it's easy to wear a poppy and say the right things.  We remember the bygone sacrifices and are grateful for the freedoms we enjoy.  But sometimes I think we do it all on a very superficial level that does a disservice to the depth of the sacrifices made (past and present) by our men and women in the Forces...many of which have resounded through the generations and are still being and will continue to be felt.

Heroes they were, and heroes they still are - lest we forget.


Friday 9 November 2012

Pop Culture Daddy Hall of Fame III: Cubs Over Bears

Charles Tillman, cornerback of the Chicago Bears made some minor news this week by voicing his intention to be at his wife's side for the birth of their baby - even if it meant he would miss this weekend's game against the Houston Texans.  Apparently, according to the writer, there were some detractors who claimed that he had a duty to be on the field since players only play in 16 games a year.  "Rubbish," I say. 

The fact that there is even any debate as to where Tillman should be is ridiculous.  We're talking about the start of a new life that he helped create.  We're talking about being by his wife as she goes through one of the hardest things a living being has to go through.  How many times has she probably stood by him as he goes about his "business" of playing a game?  How many times has she picked up the slack that enables him to pursue excellence on the grid-iron?  How can anyone expect that her needs at a time like this would be relegated to second fiddle because football's fan base takes the game a little too seriously?

I say, way to step up and be a man Tillman, despite the pressures of your marketplace. Good on you for choosing to be a husband and a father first before being a football player.  Truth be told very few people will remember Tillman the football player in 50 years...sure he'll probably be part of some nice montages, maybe even make it to the hall of fame.  But really...can you name the top cornerback from 50 years ago?  How about QB's?  That's a little easier, but tell me, do you remember the games that Unitas or Tarkenton missed?  I can't...it doesn't make a difference to their legacy as a football player.  But I bet you their families would be able to tell you the things they missed because of football.

My point is, for all of us, we have to measure our legacy against things and people that actually matter - against those that our choices really have an effect on.  That's why it has been easy for me to take parental leave for each of my kids - two years out of a 35 year career isn't going to be missed, at the end of it all.  But 2 years given to my family now has had a tremendous effect now and will be remembered down the road possibly through the next generation.  Tillman's kids and grandkids will be talking about him long after crazed football fans have shifted their attention to the next generation of Bears...they'll share stories of Tillman the husband and father that surely will eclipse the memories of Tillman the cornerback held by the masses.

So here's to Charles Tillman and his family as they prepare for their new arrival!  May they be blessed for making the right decision and for being an example and an inspiration to the masses.




Tuesday 6 November 2012

Ryan the Tool Man?

I love home ownership.  I'll tell you why, because it forces you to become a handy-man.  It's great being able to work on something in the house and know that I can do whatever I want to it because it's mine.  I woke up one morning in the spring, felt a little restless and so I decided to knock a wall down.  Not just any wall, the first wall you see when you enter the front door. Since I've moved into this house, I've done my fair share of painting, plumbing, electrical work, wood work, demolition, construction and all around general labour.  Before this summer when I built my own fence, the last big woodworking project I undertook was when I was six years old and built a toy helicopter out of scrap pieces of wood. 

I'm not saying my craftsmanship is top notch, definitely not at a professional level, but I generally get the job done - even if it doesn't always look the prettiest.  Then there are other times that I'll work a couple of days on trying to solve a problem - like the clogged basement sink that I took the completely apart including the plumbing - only to have to end up calling in a pro.  But even then, I end up knowing a lot more than I did when I started.

I love the projects that I don't even know are coming.  Like the other day when my wife and I went to Ikea to buy a shelf and ended up walking out with a new ceiling light for the dining room.  I didn't even know we were considering replacing the 40 year old chandelier that was hanging in the dining room...I thought we liked that ol' thing.  Well, now we have a little more modern "pendant" light.  Very chic.

As I sit here and feel good about my ability to play with electricity and hook up a light, I realize just how much more needs doing around here.  Yes - owning a house is great blessing...a privilege.  And like all privileges it comes with a lot of responsibility.  Sometimes we let our blessings become burdens - but it's all perspective.  I'm blessed with a house - work and all.  I'm also lucky that once in awhile that work includes taking an axe to a wall or a chainsaw to the logs in my backyard...fun stuff!

GRUNT GRUNT GRUNT!!







Monday 5 November 2012

Someone Tell the Kids

Ahh...fall back time.  The end of daylight savings...when we gain an extra hour.  The best part about it is the extra hour of sleep gained on this day.  That is of course unless you have kids who are young enough that time is still kind of an abstract concept to them.

Even on regular days the girls don't seem to care about what time they wake up at.  All they care about is that they're awake and ready to go and no amount of rationalizing with them will do.  I've been woken up at four o'clock or before at times by a kid who is convinced it is time to wake up.  And you would think that it's a treat when you tell them, you don't have to get up for another 4 hours...but it's not.  They're just excited to be awake and see what good things the day has for them.

I wonder when that excitement ends?  I suppose it's when you stop getting the proper amount of sleep required to feel rested in the morning.  It would help not to be woken up multiple times through the night for various reasons from needing a drink to wanting a back rub.  I don't know why kids don't seem to be affected by late nights or rough nights.  And I don't know why they don't coordinate their rough nights.  It'd be nice if both decided to sleep through the night on the same night - or if both decided to sleep in on the same day.  But they don't.  One of them usually sleeps in while the other one gets up and gets everyone else up.

Ahhh...to be young and carefree again.  If I knew then what I know now, I think I would have slept more...but then again life is grand and too good to spend in bed...unless you have young kids, then a day in bed sure seems as good as a month in paradise.

Thursday 1 November 2012

Post-Mortem: Halloween




Well it turned out to be a perfect night for trick or treating.  No rain, nice and warm...fantastic.

Despite being a bit sick, we decided to take the girls out for a quick tour of the neighbourhood to see what we could scour up.  I'm very impressed with my girls tonight.

Noli made it for about a block and a half, maybe two blocks then she decided that she had enough.  So she hopped in the stroller and lounged for most of the rest of the night.  Evie was raring to go and demonstrated such empathy and consideration for Noli that I couldn't help but be impressed.  At each stop, she advocated for Noli, her poor little sister who wasn't feeling well and of her own initiative collected candy for her.  Then when she decided her bag was full enough, she took Noli's bag door to door as she felt Noli didn't have enough on account of her stopping after a block and a bit.

She pretended to be Balto, the heroic sled-dog who braved harsh conditions in 1925 to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to Nome, Alaska, who badly needed it to save some of Nome's citizens, particularly its young people.  Of course Noli was the sick child and the candy the serum.  Evie bravely trudged along though her legs grew tired and her arms weary from carrying her burden...until she decided that Noli finally had enough candy.  Then it was time to go home.

We weren't out very long at all...my wife and I had to confirm that they in deed wanted to go home.  It surprises me that they have the wherewithal to know when they've had enough - despite the availability of untold amounts of candy.  There's often the temptation to project our own thoughts and feelings onto a child (don't they know we could have gotten so much more candy?) but to what end.  I was worried that they would miss out...but really how wise of them is it to be content with the amount that they deemed enough without spending time on extra candy that they don't want and certainly don't need?  Ah, lessons learned from kids...if only we could always be content with "enough" without constantly striving for more.  How much more at peace would we be?  It's something to think about.



Wednesday 31 October 2012

Another Halloween...another flu bug.  Oh yes, three sick girls...a cold wet day...yuck!!

It reminds me of two years ago.  Evie was 4 years old and really it was going to be her first year of proper trick or treating.  We were in London, Ontario living in a townhouse complex brimming with young families and student-types - the kind of people that really get into the whole trick or treating thing.  It was to be a banner year for acquiring candy - I was excited!  My nephews and niece came with my sisters and my parents.  It was truly a festive time.

After some pizza and games we head out to collect our bounty.  We got maybe five houses down the row of houses when Evie stopped and said that she had enough.  I was shocked.  Had enough candy?  I questioned if she was my child.  I tried persuading her to continue - but she would have none of it.
So we went home.

Shortly thereafter she came down with the worst flu that she has ever had and the next day Noli got a touch of it too.  I believe it was the dreaded H1N1.  We survived but not without the memories.

Now another Halloween is upon us and another form of the flu.  Fantastic.

These festive days...there's always so much build up and pressure to make them memorable and to have fun...when things don't turn out just right we have a choice.  We can let it spoil our day...or we can roll with the punches and make the best of it.  Remember we can't always control what happens to us, but we can control how we respond.

As we move from festivity to festivity - don't forget to take joy in the ordinary days too.  There are far more of those types of days that are just as useful for creating memories as the "special" days.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!





Tuesday 30 October 2012

Where the World's Children Sleep

Where Children Sleep

Here's another link for you to check out - however the link brings you to a site about a book.  I came across the book, Where Children Sleep at my sister-in-law's house and was rather moved by it.

It's really a photo essay of sorts that reveals the disparity of living conditions throughout the world.  It's a a large, hard covered book that randomly shows photos of children's bedrooms around the world.  On the page opposite the photos of the bedrooms are portraits of the child who sleeps in that bedroom plus a short blurb about the child's life.

The photos are presented randomly with seemingly little intentional juxtaposition of slums and high style living.  The effect is the opposite of emotional manipulation - rather the author seems to allow you to be drawn to the images that you are inclined to linger on without forcing his message on you.

The impact it had on me was significant - it is utterly heartbreaking when you see the conditions that some children have to live in.  I'm left wondering, isn't there more that I can do...isn't there something to be done that could make a difference?  I have to admit I find it overwhelming and don't know how to action the anguish that I feel when I dwell on the seeming unfairness of it all.  To be sure, we try to do our part to help those who need it but sometimes I wonder if I'm doing enough.

We are so blessed - even those who can afford to rent the smallest of places here in Canada.  If you have a clean, warm and secure place to lay your head at the end of the day, consider yourself rich.  I consider being good stewards of the things that I have so that I may be able to give to others a start.  If we have been given or have gained some level of material success, then we have the responsibility to help others.  It is a privilege to live in the great country of Canada, and of course with privilege comes responsibility.

I also try hard to remind myself constantly to be grateful for the things I have and not complain about the things I don't have.  I literally have everything I need and so many of the things I want.  When I want to eat, it's not a matter of going to see if there's anything to eat, rather it's a matter of deciding what I want to eat from the plethora of delicious foods that I have.  That's a luxury that should not be taken for granted.

Take a look at the website or check the book out from your local library branch.   The next time you tuck your children in or you bundle up in your nice warm, soft bed, remember you are a lucky one.  Be grateful and maybe even offer up a little, "Thank you."  Then consider a way that you can make a difference in someone's life...and do it.



Monday 29 October 2012

Living the Dream

Happy Monday!

I came across a really great website last week - check it out:

Better Life Index

It's a site put out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) that
compares a number of different facets such as education, health, and housing among others, across nations.  These facets are used as an indication of well-being in those countries (or in some cases lack of wellness).  It's a very interesting site that you could easily whittle away large chunks of time on.

I'm not one to recommend many websites or whittling away time.  However this site is worth a perusal especially because it caused me to start to consider on the facets as they relate to my life.  It really gave me pause to think on my values and the things that I hold up in my life as indicators that I am "living the life."  And by "living the life" I mean living a particular lifestyle that reflects that which I consider to be important.  In doing so it makes you evaluate and reaffirm those things that are important to you.

For me, one of the most significant personal indicators of better living is a healthy work-life balance with a heavy emphasis on the life part (as if work isn't a part of life).   Work-life balance is the catch phrase that gets thrown out there to justify not working crazy long hours and for spending more time with the family rather than in the office.  I can do with less if it means I get more of what I want and what my family wants - which is time together. For me that is what makes life enjoyable.

I think the time we have together is short - by the time we know it our kids are old enough to  be doing their own thing and we old fogies get relegated to taxi service.  I suppose it's the natural order of things.  I plan to enjoy this time with them now.  The thing is, even when they are all grown, I'm still going to covet my family time as it means that me and my little woman will get to spend more time together doing the things we like doing like popping in on our children and hanging with our grand-kiddies.

What are your indicators of the better life?  What things do you value and strive for in your life?  I'm not asking rhetorically, I'd really like to know.  Leave a comment to share.

Hey, one last thought, as this Frankenstorm threatens to redefine the Eastern seaboard, stay safe and don't forget to count your blessings, even in the midst of the storm.  This too will pass.



Friday 26 October 2012

Sitting Here On the Couch

As I sit here, look around me and think of all the stuff I need to do before bed, I realize that maybe I don't have time to be writing tonight.  There are the toys to pick-up, dishes to put away, lunches to make, sheet to bring in from outside, and garbage to take out plus a sick kid in bed that I'm hoping gets a good night's sleep.  And my wife had a long day today.

Sometimes you just have to turn off all the distractions, buy into a little delayed gratification, buckle down and take care of business.  Wants often come into conflict with needs - such as all I really want to do tonight is sit on my butt, do some reading and writing and maybe eat a Jos Louis.  At those times you gotta ask yourself, whatcha gonna do?  I guess I'll do what I ought to do and get to work...right now.  Hey look at that, I still got to some writing.

Wednesday 24 October 2012

Daddy Hall of Fame part 2




Marlin from Finding Nemo is my second entry into the Daddy Hall of Fame for demonstrating strength and courage in the face of perhaps a parent's worst nightmare - a lost child.

Having temporarily lost a kid from time to time, I have been briefly aquainted with the sheer panic that some parents have to deal with on a much larger and longer scale. Most recently I was at the public swimming pool with my girls and my wife when we lost our precious Noli. I had thought she had left the change-room with my wife and my wife thought she left the room with me. As it turns out she left on her own and then waited outside the swimming pool on a very busy street. I can only assume that she thought someone would be picking her up eventually or that she went outside to hail a taxi. Either way she scared the bejesus out of our whole family. Luckily we all ended up together and now it's just another funny story about how one kid's adventure made her parents go temporarily insane.

I like Nemo because it is a good lesson in bravery.  I like to tell my girls that being brave does not mean that you are never afraid - rather it means that regardless of the fear you feel, you still do that which you know you should.  You take care of business though you be quakin' in your boots.  Marlin does just that.  He moves out of his comfort zone and though is illusion of control over his domain is shattered, he takes a breath, lets go of all his inhibitions and discovers that he and his son are capable of much more than he could imagine. 


We could all use a little bit of that courage every now and then - the kind that enables us and our kids to push past our self-imposed limitations.  The kind that draws a family closer together even in the midst of the toughest trials and tribulations. 


Tuesday 23 October 2012

The 39 Steps

This past weekend marked an exciting milestone in the life of our youngest daughter.  She turned 9 months old...and more importantly discovered that she can climb stairs.  Yes indeed, she can climb from the bottom right to the very top (of course I was there spotting her).  Exciting and terrifying...now there's no rest for poor ol' ma and pop.  Well, actually it just means we have to deal with the nuisance of a baby gate - but the peace of mind it brings is worth it.

You should have seen her face the first time she got to the top - pure delight.  But as she performed her new skill again and again (it seems to be her new favorite thing), I observed something interesting.  The more comfortable she got climbing the stairs, the more easily distracted she became.  The first time she was intent on each step, her focus rarely moving from the top stair.  By the fifth time however, every little dust bunny (nothing like a baby to point out all the spots you've missed in your cleaning) or tiny shiny sparkle that fell off one of the girls' dresses was reason enough to pause and explore.  She even took time to try to eat one of the stairs.

It kind of reminded me of me I guess...and a lot of other grown up types I know.  How often do we start a new initiative all gun-ho ready to go only to be distracted and pulled off-course by some meaningless diversion?  Of course there are times when things arise that are deserving of further attention.  I guess the trick is to discern which diversions could yield something special (like a sparkle from a dress) and which are merely dust-bunnies.


Monday 22 October 2012

Star Trek

I have recently rediscovered Star Trek: the Next Generation. I know, how could I have forgotten how wonderful it was? I really do think it's wonderful. The episodes always have a problem that is hard to understand at first and then in the last ten minutes or so, starship Enterprise finds a way to fix it by working together and using their heads. Captain commands his crew in a wise and fatherly nature, with inexhaustible resources of patients despite the Romulan ship that is about to blow them to, as Jordi would say, "to kingdom come!"
The one aspect that annoys me about Star Trek is the fact that faith in the supernatural is viewed by Captain Picard as a prehistoric and backward superstition. It would seem that humans in the future rely more and more on technology and less on God. This may in fact be an extremely accurate representation of humanity, but in my opinion it deviates from the shows inherent positivity.

Of course this does not bother me enough to stop watching the show. But I will hope with each passing episode that the crew can find some sort of joy and value in things that cannot be explained. Maybe I'm investing too much in the fictional characters, but what can I say, I care about their fictitious souls!





Friday 19 October 2012

Sleeping Like a Baby

Yay it's Friday!!

I often wonder about that term...sleeping like a baby.  Who came up with that saying?  Was it spoken in jest the first time?

I suppose it's not too hard to imagine.  Babies have a knack for sleeping through just about anything, when they want to.  We could be in a crowded room, a bunch of kids screaming and Miriam is completely out of it.  That must be what it refers to, the ability to sleep through anything.

It certainly doesn't refer to their ability to sleep through the night - at least not judging by my children.  I've heard of other babies sleeping through the night, but really I chalk that up as simply urban legend.  I remember when Noli was about a year old telling a friend that it had probably been a year since I last slept through the night...and I don't even have to nurse the baby, my poor wife.

Did you know that sleep deprivation is in fact a type of torture.  Anyway, here's to the elusive solid night's sleep...and a weekend of rest and fun to recharge our weary selves.


Thursday 18 October 2012

Daddy Instinct

I slipped and fell down a few stairs today, while holding Miriam, my nine month old.  We're all okay thank goodness.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to be pretty sore in the morning but Miriam didn't get anything worse than a little fright.  Upon beginning my descent my free arm, rather than going to the ground to catch myself, instinctively went around Miriam to ensure she didn't get bumped.  Of course that meant that my elbow, shoulder and butt took the brunt of the fall...thankfully I've got a little padding on the behind.

It amazes me how instinctive our protective nature is for our children.  This is of course just a small example as neither of us were in any serious danger.  But even the smallest threat to a child can elicit a rather primal instinct that very few dare stand against.   There's something fearsomely beautiful about it all.  In the spirit of that sentiment, enjoy the following video.