The things we do for our kids
- Deliver 301 boxes of girl scout cookies. While she's on a playdate. And a sleepover. Why? because the boxes are too damn heavy and "if you don't get these boxes out soon, I'm going to kill you with them" threats make you move your kiester
- Go to class and get beaten with a bamboo sword. Yeah, got hit last night, and it freakin HURT! But I'm doing it because I want to do it with Aidan, not because the class is cool as hell and hopefully at some point, I'll be able to wear cool ass armor and stuff. Geeking out, me? NEVER!
- Allow them to put together projects without taking it over so 'they are doing it right' and instead give gentle nudges like, "Dude, the clay is falling off the base, you might want to shore up that one side" or "Yes, I think orange clouds would be really pretty".
- Read to them, every night before bed, because you know what? THEY LOVE IT! So what if you're half asleep yourself - do the voices you A-HOLE or you're a shitty father!
- Remind them to make their beds because when they do, Mommy gets really happy with them.
- Make their lunches in the morning, and every once in a while, slip in a note. Doesn't really matter what you say, just makes them feel loved. Tho I found that "Farmer John's Overalls are full of poo" is not a good thing to put in a note to your son because he spits milk out of his nose laughing.
- Stop writing on your blog when they come to you with a question. I SAID STOP! Save it where you are and be a Dad.
Okay, I think that's all my meager brain can come up with right now.
Two wonderful kids
Am I biased? Duh! Let me tell you a little bit about my kids. Aidan is 11, and Gillian is going to be 9 next week. One of the things that Fae and I really wanted to try to foster was a loving, friend-like relationship between our two kids. We wanted them to be able to count on each other, talk to one another, and if necessary, protect one another. You shoot for the ideal situation, and hope for the best.
I can tell you that I got the best. Here's one example:
I've been trying to spend more quality time with each of them, so to calm them down and get them ready for bed, I've been reading to them for 30 minutes before their bedtimes. It's kind of an excuse to get them into bed and beginning to relax before their actual bedtimes. I've been doing it for a week or two now, and it's working well. We usually read a chapter, I give them a hug and a kiss and then they go to sleep. The example of my wonderful son, is we just got back from going to a haunted Putt Putt (they decorated a minature golf course - really cool) and we're trying to clean up the house for company we're having starting tomorrow. Gillian asked me to read to her, because she was going to bed early because she has a soccer game in the morning. I told her to go up and get ready and I would try to get up there in a few minutes.
"Dad, you're busy, I can do it if you want" he says, already heading up the stairs.
"Can he Dad?" Gillian said, freezing on the way up the steps.
So I got to bustle around moving stuff into closets and wiping stuff down, listening to the kids giggle as they took turns reading paragraphs of her book.
Example 2: Aidan was in trouble the other day. He forgot to go to his baritone lesson and an email came to Fae and I from the band teacher. Fae was talking to him about how he'd said he would be more responsible and more organized this year because of an issue we finally got cleared up last year, but was an issue nonetheless. So he's sitting there getting an earful from Fae, and Gillian is sitting in the chair next to him. Without looking up, she pulls a piece of paper from her stack, crosses out the stuff that was on there and writes a note and slides it over slipping it under his hand. She then goes back to her work.
The note says: Don't cry, it's okay, just remeber(remember) next time! (star, heart, diamond)
Sometimes I wonder which one is more mature
I love the way they crack each other up. I love the fact that Aidan, my shy, quiet son, will shed his shell and turn into a bear when someone is being shitty to his sister. I love the fact that she knows when somethings bugging him and does something to cheer him up or distract him. I love how he keeps her calm, or when she starts doing the annoying, repetitive, sing the same line from a song 20000 times, he'll put his hand on her arm and quietly tell her to stop. I love the fact that my two children are growing up friends.
Are there times when they fight and bicker, yeah, but it never gets mean. They're never disrespectful to one another which is a thrill. They annoy each other at times, but they never fight. And that's the key that just occurred to me. They really don't fight. He'll yell her name to get her to stop doing something or vice versa when they're being annoying, but it's never gotten physical, and they've never gotten into screaming crying fights or anything like that.
I love the fact that from where I'm standing, it's not much of a stretch for me to believe that Fae and I are doing something right.
Oh my god, oh my god you guys
Yes, I will be singing that in my head for the next 1000 years, please shoot me.
Gillian's bday is coming up, so to celebrate it, we decided taking her to see a show on Broadway would be a really cool idea. Little did I know how it would turn out. Before I continue, I will fully admit in front of witnesses, that I had a great time.
There was a show on MTV a while back that showed the musical for Legally Blonde and followed the star through from beginning to end. This in turn led to a Reality Show that Gillian started watching (thank you DVR) and totally fell in love with. She was really happy when Bailey won the part, and mentioned multiple times wanting to go see the Broadway show. So Fae and my inlaws got together and got tickets to a show last night.
We went to a pizza place on 23rd that serves Gluten Free food/pizza/pasta. It's called Mozzarellis and it's worth the schlep. Really good regular food, and some of the best that Gillian has had that is Gluten Free. Hung out there for dinner and then headed to Time Square for the show. I forget how awesome Time Square is. The lights, the people, *ugh* the traffic!
So we saw the show and I had a really good time with Fae and the kids and my inlaws. Gillian was dazzled the whole time I laughed my ass off, there's so much in there that flew right over the kids heads. The neat thing is that as we were leaving, we got to talk to Heather Hach, who I believe wrote either the original book or the Musical, I couldn't figure it out. Very sweet.
So we went outside and stood outside the stage door waiting for the actors to come out. We got to talk to some of the cast as well as some of the principle actors and after waiting about an hour, got to talk to and get signatures, and the finally met Bailey, the girl who won the show and played Elle.
A quick stop at the Hershey store in Time Square and we were on our way home after a wonderful family night together.
Happy Birthday BabyGirl.
Ohayo gozaimasu (Ohio Go Zai Mas)
I was looking at my stats to see where people are coming from, and noticed someone is coming in from Japan. Hence the title
I picked up a set of Pimsleur cd's on Japanese to teach the boyo. I've been listening in my car and it's really interesting. Here's what I learned:
Sumimasen (Sue Me Ma Sen) - Excuse me. Like if you were trying to start a conversation.
eigo ga wakarimasu ka (Eh go gah wah kah ree mas ka) - do you understand English. Literally - English do you understand.
Iie (ee eh) - no.
Hai - (Hi) - yes.
Nihongo ga wakarimasu ka (Nee Hon go gah wah kah ree mas ka) - do you understand Japanese.
adding ka to the end of something is like a voiced question mark.
Wakarimasu - I understand
Wakarimasu ka - Understand? or Do you Understand?
It's a neat language, and since my commute is so damn long, I've got plenty of time.
Turning Japanese
As promised, here are your japanese terms for the day:
arigatou (Ah Ree Gah Toe) - Thank you. (normal)
arigatou gozaimasu (Ah Ree Gah Toe Go Zai Mas) - Thank you. (formal)
douitashimashite (Do Ita She Mahsh De) - You're welcome. (normal)
ohayou (sounds like Ohio) Good morning. (informal)
ohayou gozaimasu (Ohio Go Zai Mas) -Good morning.(normal and formal)
konnichi wa (Koh Nee Chee Wah) - Hello. (normal)
konban wa (Kohn Ba Wah) - Good evening. (normal)
sayonara (Sai Oh Na Rah) - Goodbye. (normal)
The difference between Normal and Formal is really dependant on whom you are speaking to. If a co-worker loans me a pen, it's Arigato. If the CEO loans me a pen, it's obviously more formal adding the Gozaimasu (Go Zai Mas). And if it's the CEO, you'll probably want to bow as well
Ajay, am I getting this right?
Great Post – Metro Dad
Over at MetroDad, his post aboutRaising a Nation of Pussies hits things spot on.
I'm not into war, or conflict, or picking fights. Aidan had a tough year last year, pretty much cringing at what would come next. Now don't get me wrong, he's a sensitive kid and he takes things personally way too much, I will admit that right up front. We did tell him (and Gillian) that if it ever did get physical, that Mom and Dad wouldn't get mad if they dropped the little SOB. I'm not talking dirty, I'm not talking about them bullying people and starting things.
Someone starts it? You end it. Nothing bad, but if someone is pushing you and talking to them isn't working, don't run. Just drop them. No face or privates, but anything else is fair game. Folx, I've been taking Martial Arts for the last 15 years now. I'd love to teach them the finer points of a snapkick to the side of the head. Gillian has the chutspah to back anyone down, just by force of will. Aidan's gonna need some help, which is why I've been teaching him subtle things. I'll grab him by the wrist and not let go until he figures out the best way out of it. I'll swat him lightly in the back of the head and give him a "What NOW?" face and see how he comes back at me.
I think he's at an age now where I can begin really training him the way I want to, and truthfully, it'll be interesting because with me starting to work out at the gym, it might tie in nicely with my own physical fitness. I just wish he'd grow like his friend did over the summer. I swear the kid is going to be 6'5".
GilliSongs
My daughter has been singing pretty much since she came out of the womb, so it's no big surprise that she's writing songs now. I thought I would share them.
Mr. Moon
Mr. Moon don't be blue, don't worry we're gonna help you.
It's okay, you'll be fine, don't worry we'll have lots of time.
Just listen to the song and sing along.
Don't worry, nothings wrong
You're not made of cheese, just listen to me please!
It doesn't matter what other people think, it matters what you think of yourself.
I care about you and I hope you care about me too.
Rain
Pitter Patter, pitter patter goes the rain drops
Pitter Patter, pitter patter goes the rain falling on my rain coat
It falls on my rain hat and rain boots.
It makes big puddles, bigger than my head.
When it falls down and lands on the grass, it trickles down like dripping water.
It's Rain..OOh...It's Rain.
Traditions
What is the full moon? The end of a cycle? The fruition of a month? Not sure I used fruition right, but it's my blog, right?
One of the things I wanted to start doing was spending more time with the kids, just doing things together. Went boogey boarding yesterday and taught them at least the correct theory of how you're supposed to do it. Come on, this is Long Island, there aren't any waves around here except MAYBE Montauk. So that was interesting. Gillian was more interested in letting the wave crash and have the whitewash pull her and her board. Giggled her butt off for about 2 hours, so she must have been doing something right.
So, while Fae was cursing at her Palm Centro, Yahoo, and her computer in equal measure, I took the kids out to see the full moon and we all talked about what we'd tried to accomplish the month before, and how we think we did. They were both tired and kinda punchy, but I think it means something to them to do stuff like this, and to have traditions.
Do you remember any from when you were a kid?
I remember camping as a kid. We'd pack up the three kids and my Dad and go somewhere on the Appalachian Trail and walk around for a day or so. Got caught in torrential downpours a few times, even remember sleeping on the floor of our VW rabbit one time. Miserable, but I remember it fondly nonetheless. We ended up waking up the next morning for a hearty breakfast of Dinty Moore Stew and hiking quite a bit.
That's what I want to make for my kids - things to remember. Traditions to pass down, things like that.
Don’t want her to
So my little girl is going to camp. For a week. By herself. SHE CANT CALL HOME!!!
Do I think it'll be good for her? Absolutely. I just think it'll be harder on Fae and I than her.
Aidan’s videos
Don't blink, you'll miss it
Aidan - Moo Ha Ha from Matt Cushing on Vimeo.
Damn Chips (Aidan imitating the guy from Homestarrunner)
Damn Chips from Matt Cushing on Vimeo.
Aidan and his friend Joe:
It's a Drive By!!! from Matt Cushing on Vimeo.