Dad Does What?

As a child I had a vague idea of what my father did for a living. He worked in the John Hancock building, he had seats at the White Sox games, and sometimes he took us to the circus to sit in "work" seats. I remember him pointing to the tarp used to cover the field during a rain delay at a Sox game and explaining that the phrase, "Near North covers the infield" was his work. Somehow, I had learned it was insurance.

But, knowing these things lent no real concept to what it was he did all day. As a 5th grader struggling through long division, I sat in his office, read his door plaque and it hit me. I looked to my dad and asked, "Since you're the division manager, can you help me with my math?" Yes, I was clueless as to why he broke into gales of laughter...

That brings me to the present. Kids today tend to have a better idea of what it is their parents do all day. Just the other day Youngest was telling me, "boys want to grow-up and do a job like Dad's."

"Really?" I inquired, "Why, what does Dad do at work?"

Youngest: "He goes into his office at work. The ladies all work, but he stays in his office and sometimes he goes out and talks to them."

Me: "Oh yeah? And what does he do in his office?"

Youngest: "He has a whole bunch of paper in there. Sometimes he writes on it."

Me: "So writing on paper is his job?"

Youngest: "Well, he doesn't work with the ladies and he has a whole bunch of paper. Oh and he sits at his desk too. There's a computer there, right in front of him. So, I guess he does the computer too."

There you have it, management summed up in a neat little kindergarten package.

Now, it's Fatherhood Friday, so click this link and read some great blogs by some great people!

Peaceful Morning Interrupted

Did  you ever wonder...

This post has been interrupted by the early rising of 2 smallish children. The need to pack lunches, make breakfast, and otherwise take over parenting tasks has reared its ugly head an hour ahead of schedule.

Though I will be foregoing my quiet time today, I strongly urge you to take some time and read some great material available at the following locations: Surprised Mom, BellaDaddyBlog, Being Michael's Daddy, & World of Weasels.

Enjoy some great reading and check-back tomorrow for a great fatherhood friday edition.

It Works for Us

We all know the classic rules of romance. Wine and dine, romantic words, and stolen glances across crowded rooms. From the beginning of my relationship with my hubby, we have never met the conventions of traditional romance. 

From spending our teen nights hanging out in a field, or talking on the phone 1200 miles apart to mutually deciding the time get married had arrived as we drove down the highway with our one-year-old laughing in the backseat, we have had our own way of doing things. Comfortable, loving, fun, with a touch of sarcasm thrown-in to keep life interesting. So when a holiday comes along that sets standards of how we should behave in our relationship, it should come as no surprise that we tend to rebel. 

We did go out for a dinner alone - but it was Saturday. This was followed in the distinctly non-romantic venue of a local comedy club where we met some friends and laughed until the tears rolled. After this, we made a stop to pick-up treats for our little valentines. Romantic? Certainly not by any traditional standard ever established by a group of my peers. 

Today found us hanging out at home. With youngest in bed with strep, we had nixed all weekend family plans. The house was full of family and we stole the living room to watch a comedy while the kids were doing their own things. We spent the early evening out alone. Ahhh - you're thinking, romance at last. Well, it could be. If you find teasing and laughing your way through the grocery store romantic. It sounds lame to many, I know. 

But to me it isn't the place, it's all about the company. His laughing, "I love you" after a particularly goofy dance across the room is better than a diamond pendant. Now, it's off to eat some more chocolate. What? Some traditions are worth keeping!

Conference Code Confessions

It's Friday! So read this...then head over to DadBlogs for some really great reading. You won't regret it.

Parent-teacher conferences, they can be moments of great inspiration or moments of quiet dread.

As a parent of three I have experienced both ends of the spectrum. As a teacher of more than a few minutes years, I have experienced each end as well. For both parties, surprise surprise there is a code, a secret language that transpires at such gatherings. Life and conferences progress much easier when both parties keep to the code. 

But, for those who haven't experienced the dread conference and never will I know you're knocking on wood now, aren't you I am going to confess the thoughts behind both parites:

Teacher: She is a bright student, she just isn't applying herself   

means: There are more gaps in her gradebook entries than there are in a schizophrenic's memory.

Parent: We have been working on this at home.

means: We have cajoled, yelled, grounded, bribed, and screamed the next step is WHAT?

Teacher: We've noticed a recent change in his friends and behavior.

means: You better keep an eye on your son. His new friends make the drug cartels look kind.

Parents: She just never talks about school.

means: She has clammed up tighter than Scrooge's wallet at a charity auction.

Teacher: We strongly encourage the students to practice and take-on more responsibility.

means: We are not going to call after every class with and update. OR Please stop doing your kid's homework!

Parents: Math is taught completely differently than when I was a kid.

means: You are the teacher, teach! OR I hate math, so you need to do it at school - stop sending me homework!

Teacher: I'm glad we could work out this communication issue. 

means: It is completely understandable that you would believe your child over the AP. We always bust/fail/report kids for doing nothing - it's how we get our kicks.

Parents: I just don't see how this could have happened in the classroom.

means: Hello! Are you even watching my kid?

Obviously, when we use the code everyone gets along. If you find yourself at a loss for code just remember everyone is there for the child. And vent through another venue...a blog for instance.

As My Teen Would Say...Randomness

Yea, I've made it! Made what you ask. Well, made it to the point where a person who only knows me from the blogging world, BellaDaddy, has used his wonderful blog to name me in a post and given an award to accompany the mention. Very big news, in my very small life.

Of course as with most items, there is a price. I am to give you 10 random facts about me. So, here goes...

1. I am more of a garden starter then a gardener. I love digging in the dirt and planting the garden but it is really my husband who keeps the plants alive. Constant watering and care are just too much for me.

2. My preferred hairstyle as a teen was a mohawk. My mother was terrified I'd be expelled from Catholic school, but the principal, Sister X, told me it reminded her of nuns in the olden days. (did not please my mom)

3. I do not drink coffee. It just didn't taste very good, and I always figured why add a vice that I have to get used to? So, it is tea in the am and Diet Coke the rest of the day.

4. Even though I appear laid-back to many, I am a closet worrier. Things are constantly knocking around in my head. (a trait I fear has been passed to Youngest as she couldn't sleep last night because she wants "all the people on this planet to just stay alive")

5. I met my husband on my 15th birthday. We dated, I moved, we were friends for 5 years before we were an actual couple.

6. I try to convince myself that I blog for me and for fun...but I LOVE comments. So really, who am I fooling?

7. I'd rather vacation in the woods than the city. Whether I am in a tent or a cabin, I find the woods relaxing and ever-changing.

8. I don't regularly separate the colors when I do laundry. Another step in the laundry process, who needs that? Keeping towels, linens, bleach stuff, and clothes in their separate loads is as far as I am willing to go on a daily basis.

9. I'll read almost any fiction book put into my hands. And though I love to read the classics, I am very fond of young adult lit. Good thing I teach, so I have an excuse to be reading them all the time!

10. On payday, I retrieve my check to look at my vacation time accrued. The money is always the same, so I take pleasure in the accumulation of time.

Well, it may not be coherent, but the rule was 10 random things!

I am passing this award on to a couple of very fun bloggers: nonnasnonsense , life of a new dad , & bad momma . Have fun!

New Parts

It is Friday! Yea! A whole weekend looming on the horizon is a wonderful thing. Plus, it is time for Fatherhood Friday, brought to you by the wonderful bloggers at DadsBlogs, go give them a visit!

My father explains it like this: when the transmission in your car breaks, you don't run-out and buy a new car. Well, you may but I don't Instead you go to the local shop and have the mechanic repair the part or put in an entirely new one. 

The last time I visited my dad it was clear that he was having issues. Getting up and down the stairs at the cottage was incredibly painful. To the point where he ventured down to the lake seldom. My sister and I worried and fretted. If it was this bad here, how was he getting around at his home, with 4 floors? We talked to him and he said his knees were bad. He had been seeing a doctor and needed surgery, but he was ok. 

That was a year and a half ago, and as of Jan. 1st the man still had not had the surgery. Why? Well, because he didn't have time for recovery. I, personally, think he was worried about recovery.But, he had a plan - surgery on the 15th. 

So it was that my dad had his transmission, err knee replaced in January. And the recovery he was dreading? Well, to use his words "this place is like a cruise...there is always something going on and a nurse even puts on my socks in the morning!" So, maybe the next time he needs to hit the repair shop, he won't wait quite so long. After all, he is from the save and repair generation!