Bonding With Baby

It's been nearly ten years since we brought my son home from the hospital. I remember thinking that I wasn't ready to have a newborn in the house. After all, I had never been around babies before. My whole life I held a baby once, for about 30 seconds. I'm pretty sure I didn't drop it.

So I was completely unprepared for being a father. I had to go out and buy one of those step-by-step photo books that showed how to hold a baby, change a diaper, buckle up a car seat, and other simple, but daunting, procedures.

I wish I'd had more. I wish I'd had The Baby Bonding Book For Dads.

Written by the husband/wife team of James di Properzio and Jennifer Margulis, the book is specifically for clueless dads, like I was, who have little or no experience in taking care of babies. But it's not just about the nuts and bolts of caring for children. This is about building a real emotional bond between father and baby.

Oh yeah, it does have all that instructional stuff in it. Chapters about diapering, napping, travel, and exercise are all quick, fun reads filled with practical information. The authors then go beyond that to talk about how the experience of caring for a newborn helps dads forge solid relationships with their kids.

None of the topics in this book are a surprise to me now, but I've had ten years to learn it on my own. I wonder how much easier my job would've been if my eyes had been opened to a few of these concepts much earlier on. It's really simple stuff, but sometimes men don't want to see the simple truths staring them right in the face.

And when's a better time to form a bond with your child than the first day they become a part of the family?

If you know any new, or soon-to-be, fathers, The Baby Bonding Book For Dads would make a great gift. At 92 pages, with lighthearted text and charming photos, it's sure to soften the hearts of even the most stubbornly clueless men.

Is It Spring Yet?

My daughter celebrated spring by taking her hamster out for a walk in the backyard.

We finally have shorts and t-shirt weather, which means spending a lot of time outside walking, playing, and, oh yeah, pulling weeds, spraying wasp nests, and dodging dog poop on the sidewalks.

No Babysitter Needed

When we moved into our new house a few years back, one of our neighbors came over to welcome us with a plate of cookies.

She also wanted to let us know that her daughter had recently passed some sort of babysitter test and was "ready and willing to sit for your kids!"

We'd never used a babysitter before, and didn't foresee any need to use one in the near future.

Every time we'd see that neighbor, she'd remind us about her daughter. "She's very caring and attentive!"

Well, I'm sure she is, but I'm not running a welfare service here. I'm not going to create a parents' night out just to put a few bucks in some teenager's pocket.

So, my kids are almost 10 and 7, and they've never had a babysitter. What's the big deal?

Some people have a problem with this. I've actually watched friends become angry when I told them we have no need for a babysitter. "You have to spend time as a couple or your relationship will suffer," they yell at me, as if the health of my marriage depends upon a weekly date night.

The truth of the matter is, my wife and I probably see too much of each other anyway. I'm always around the house, night and day. If anything, I'm surprised she's not sick of me yet.

As for date night, we have one of those practically every night after the kids are asleep - watching DVDs, working on projects, talking, ordering pizza, or just sitting in front of the fire.

It's so much cheaper to just stay home. When we do have extra money for a movie or concert, it's usually one we want to see with the kids. So we go as a family.

No babysitter needed.

Carell on Children

In the latest issue of Wired Magazine, actor Steve Carell (The Office) gives his tongue-in-cheek advice on how to be a super genius.

His thoughts on children:

"Children are very smart, in their own stupid way. A child's brain is like a sponge, and you know how smart sponges are. My children are like little processors. They pick up all kinds of things, then process that into information. And what is knowledge, really, but processed information? We must always strive to be overly processed, like our children."

Go here for the rest of the article.

All This Time

My son had state testing this morning. Three hours of language skills and reading comprehension.

Which means I had three hours as well. To do whatever I wanted.

My question to you non-homeschooling stay-at-home parents is... What in the world do you do with all that time?

I cleaned the kitchen, folded laundry, vacuumed, cleaned the cat litter box, and all the other daily chores that I usually perform at night.

That only took up the first hour.

After that I drove to Best Buy and browsed around, trying to think of something to get my wife for Mother's Day, but only managing to find a dozen or more things that I want someone to get for me for Father's Day.

That took up the second hour.

I was so bored out of my mind, I ended up sitting in the parking lot at the testing center playing Scrabble on my iPod for the third hour.

You moms and dads who have six hours a day, five days a week all to yourself... Man, do I feel sorry for you.

The Hot Latin Giveaway

It's hot!

It's Latin!

Do I have your attention now?

It's a diet!

Wait, come back. It's The Hot Latin Diet, a new weight loss book from Dr. Manny Alvarez (medical correspondent for Fox News).

Penguin Books sent a copy for me to give away to one of my readers. If you'd like to have it, simply leave a comment here.

So, what is The Hot Latin Diet? It revolves around the Seven Latin Powerfoods, which are: tomatillos, garbanzo beans, avocado, garlic, cinnamon, chiles, and cilantro.

In the book, Alvarez incorporates these foods into a diet plan that includes flavorful recipes, fitness advice, shopping lists, and stress busters. The Latin food angle is an interesting approach in a field that is crowded with a dizzying number of diet books.

We all know what it takes to have a healthier diet and lifestyle: Eat better and exercise more. The Hot Latin Diet follows that mantra and just might be the plan to help you lose weight and keep it off.

Again, if you'd like to have this new book, just leave a comment. I'll pick a winner after the weekend.

Soccer Screamers

My kids are playing soccer again through the city parks and rec programs. It's the eighth team for my son and the fourth for my daughter.

They like it because it's fun. Everyone gets to play, and nobody keeps an official score or team standing. The highlight of each game is still the snack at the end.

That's the way the kids like it, even the 4th graders who are becoming a bit more competitive. If they want to take soccer seriously, they can move on to Sting and its long season, strict practices, and parents who dream of college scholarships.

Parks and rec kids just want to have fun.

Sometimes the parents forget that. Last week I had my first experience with a screamer at my son's game, a dad who was berating his kid for some improper footwork.

All I ever say to my son is, "Have fun."

He's not the fastest kid on the field, and he's never scored a goal in eight seasons, but he enjoys being a part of the team and honing his defensive skills.

I hope the screamers and their kids move on to something more challenging. Parks and rec soccer is not the place for them. My son only has three years left to play it, and I just want to see him out there having a good time and getting some exercise.

Go, Speed Racer, Go!

Good news for those of you who are looking forward to taking your kids to see Speed Racer when it opens this weekend. Over at Ain't It Cool News, Quint has posted his review of the new movie. Sounds like it's a cool kid-friendly family flick. Here are a few quotes from the review:

"I'm amazed at what the Wachowskis have done with this film. It's a kid's film through and through, make no mistake. But it's a kid's film that succeeded in making me a kid again while watching it."

"The real surprise for me was the incredible heart the film has. The racing is incredible, of course, but the quiet moments were literally a love letter to the family unit."

"The film isn’t just a love letter to family, but a valuable lesson on how to treat those that love and support you as well as letting the kids know to look out for those who put on a friendly face when all they want is to use you."

Read the rest of the review here.

Summer Blockbusters

I was looking at a list of the big summer movies being released this year, and I marveled at the number of potentially exciting blockbusters. I do this every year, but never seem to learn that most of them will end up being duds. When it comes to Hollywood, hope springs eternal.

The big question, though, is which of these movies do I get to see on the big-screen, and which ones do I just wait to see on DVD in the fall? Since we only go to the movie theater with one or both of the kids in tow, I have to seriously consider the content of these films from a child's perspective.

Basically, can my 6-year-old and/or 9-year-old handle it? Both of them can differentiate between real and make-believe. I always show them the "behind the scenes" clips on DVD, so they can see how the special effects are made and that the characters are played by actors. It's more a matter of how intense the storyline and subject matter might be.

My son has already watched all three Indiana Jones films, so the new one is a given for him. Wall-E, Kung Fu Panda, and Space Chimps all look like sure things. Prince Caspian and Speed Racer show some promise, although the extreme action and effects of both films might be too much for my daughter. The Dark Knight is definitely out. The others, I'll just have to read the reviews.

How do you decide whether to let your kids see a popular movie?

Here are the movies that I'm looking forward to seeing this summer. Click on the title to watch the trailer. We won't see all of them, partly because of the content and partly because it would cost a small fortune to take a family of four to every single one.

Speed Racer
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Wall-E
Get Smart
Iron Man
Kung Fu Panda
Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D
Space Chimps
The Incredible Hulk

Wounded Knee

Two days ago, my wife strained the ACL in both knees and has been unable to walk without pain ever since. She's spending most of her time in bed, but has hobbled downstairs a couple of times and then wondered why she put herself through the ordeal. She'll spend a third day in bed and hope that's enough time for the ligaments to heal.

I'm running up and down the stairs to make sure she has what she needs. Instead of ringing a little bell, she just calls me on her cellphone.

I wonder what life is like without stress?

Weekend Whatnot

29 more days... That's what my son said to me at bedtime tonight. You see, homeschoolers may have a lot more fun, but they still count the days 'til summer vacation just like all the other kids. Truth be told, I'm counting the days too. I have an unbelievably long to-do list.

Normally, I don't play computer or video games. There's just not enough time in the day. But lately I've become addicted to Scrabble on my iPod. It's a powerful little game that gives my mind a good workout. And, it's only $5 at iTunes!

Overheard in the kitchen: "You are a beep-beep-beeeeeeep-beep!" "Oh yeah, well you're a beep-beep-bebeep-beep!" Sigh. No more episodes of Ice Road Truckers for my kids!

Vlasic Pickles is launching an interesting contest this month. All families giving birth to a baby in May 2008 can submit their baby’s name, height, weight, etc. with a photo and an entry about why their baby should be the Vlasic Stork Baby. The winning baby receives a $20,000 savings bond. But what makes it really interesting is that if you give your baby the middle name of "Crunch," then you get an extra $5000.

Speaking of contests, I had a couple of them this week. First, The BummKinn Band CD goes to... Oda Daddy. Enjoy the music!

My other contest was for the photo caption below. You all made me smile, but in a very close finish it was ImPerceptibility taking home a first place prize of $10 to spend at iTunes.

Gorilla My Dreams

Hey, it's my first ever Photo Caption Contest!

Here I am with a friend at the Benson Sculpture Park in Loveland, Colorado. I need your funniest, cleverest, or weirdest caption.

I don't know what the winner will get, but I'm sure it will be something good.

YeeHaw - A Giveaway!

A good country music song will tell you a great story, entertain you, and maybe even make you think.

But most adult country music songs tackle issues that are a little too much for young minds.

Enter The BummKinn Band. Rather than sing about ex-wives, trailer parks, and bar fights, they sing about things that kids can identify with, like broken toys, dropped ice cream cones, and playground friendships gone sour.

We loved last year's debut CD, and now their new disc, Rockin' The YeeHaw, delivers more classic country sound to the children's music scene. They also mix in a little rockabilly, bluegrass, and Southern rock on this fun 16-song collection.

Lead singer Kimber Breaux has a great big Texas-sized voice that kids and adults alike are going to find irresistible. She and her bandmates, Sam Nickell and Ryan Bueter, serve up a tasty down-home sound, with warm honey-dripped harmonies and perfect hand-clapping rhythms. Songs like "Woke Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed," "Crab Bit My Toe," and "I Dropped My Ice Cream On The Ground" are memorable favorites in my house.

Listen: "Woke Up On The Wrong Side Of The Bed" (60-sec. clip)

The last track on the CD, "Rhinurtle Elesnail," is a wonderful story song about a strange creature (a combination of a rhinocerous, turtle, elephant, and snail) and its arrival in an old west town.

Rockin' The YeeHaw gets the highest recommendation from my family.

You can buy the CD, and listen to more song clips, at CD Baby.

And, one lucky reader can receive the new CD for free. The BummKinn Band was nice enough to send me an extra copy of Rockin' The YeeHaw to give away, so if you'd like to have it just leave a comment. I'll pick a winner by Friday.

The Warmth of the Sun

Warm sunny days have been few and far between this spring.

Today we're having our third such day, and the feeling is that we have to rush around outside doing cleanup, planting, and other general yard work.

But I never get very far. There's just something about the fresh air and the warmth of the sun that inevitably leads me to our couch swing for a long nap in the middle of the afternoon.

The yard work can wait, I guess.

Book of Life

My son has been on a biography spree lately, checking out dozens of them from the library over the past few months. There are valuable lessons to be learned from studying the great men and women of history. You get to read about courage, determination, creativity, leadership, and so many other positive virtues. Plus, nothing livens up history like getting to know the stories of the real people who lived it.

Here are ten biographies that my son would like to recommend to your kids. We found them all in the children's section of our local library.

And you know, you don't have to be a homeschooler to encourage your kids to read books like these.

Charles Lindbergh: A Human Hero
by James Cross Giblin

A comprehensive study of the aviator hero, this book pulls no punches in examining Lindbergh's flawed and sometimes controversial life. It made my son think about how we can put too much faith in our heroes.
More info

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The New Deal President
by Brenda Haugen

An informative introduction to one of our greatest presidents. It's packed with facts about Roosevelt's life, and how he guided our country through the depression and World War II.
More info

Genius: A Photobiography of Albert Einstein
by Marfe Ferguson Delano

An eye-opening book for all ages that is beautifully put together by National Geographic. It has stunning photos of Einstein from throughout his life, but also serves up explanations of his accomplishments and theories that anyone can understand. Even me.
More info

Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster: The Discovery of the Smallpox Vaccine
by Albert Marrin

This book tells two stories. One is the horrible history of the smallpox virus. The second is the biography of Edward Jenner, an 18th-century English surgeon who developed the smallpox vaccine. Amazing history AND science, all in one!
More info

Marie Curie: A Brilliant Life
by Elizabeth MacLeod

The story of the first woman to win a Nobel Prize, Marie Curie was certainly one of the most important women of the 20th century. Another easy-to-understand blend of biography with science, this book helped my son to see how important scientific research is, and how Curie's discoveries are still being used today.
More info

Who Were the Beatles?
by Geoff Edgers

My kids have been listening to the music of The Beatles since the day they were born, so it was only natural that my son would want to learn a little bit about the lives of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. This book tells about their childhoods in Liverpool, how they met and formed the band, and how the four of them changed the world.
More info

Onward: A Photobiography of African-American Polar Explorer Matthew Henson
by Dolores Johnson

Another stunning biography from National Geographic, this one covers the life of African-American explorer Matthew Henson, who was denied the honors and recognition that he deserved in 1909 simply because of the color of his skin. As with the Einstein biography, this book is beautifully published with amazing photos of Henson at the North Pole.
More info

To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers
by Wendie C. Old

Orville and Wilbur Wright overcame many problems in their quest to fly, but they never gave up. They never stopped thinking and creating. That's a lesson I teach my own kids every single day.
More info

The Boy on Fairfield Street
by Kathleen Krull

This book focuses on the childhood of Theodore Geisel, a "doodler and dreamer" who grew up to become Dr. Seuss. It talks about not only his love for animals and his wild imagination, but also about the difficult times he had in his young life and how he overcame them. A great story for any kid who might view the world in a slightly different way.
More info

Gertrude Chandler Warner and the Boxcar Children
by Mary Ellen Ellsworth

The first chapter books my son picked up back in first grade were The Boxcar Children books by Gertrude Chandler Warner. I think he's read at least fifty of them over the years. He was quite pleased to find a biography that revealed how she created and published her famous series. I'm a big fan of anything that reinforces the importance of reading and writing in childhood.
More info

Have fun at the library! And if you know of any good biographies for children, let me know.

Wordless Wednesday

Lying Liars

Parents are such liars.

We lie to our children...

"When I was your age, I never talked back to my parents!"

We lie to our spouses...

"No dear, I didn't watch the latest episode of Lost. I'll wait until we can watch it together."

We lie to each other...

"We'll have to get the kids together for a play date. I'll call you."

We lie to ourselves...

"Just one more hour of blog reading, and then I'm going to bed."

What lies have you told lately?

Father of the Year

And the Father of the Year Award goes to...



... not this guy, obviously.

This picture is just sad beyond words. Teaching your children to hate is reprehensible. That poor boy has many years of misery ahead of him. Thanks, Dad.

AP Photo by Haraz N. Ghanbari

Seepy Sams

Last February I reviewed a CD called Stardust, a soothing collection of lullabies by Cher and Gene Klosner. Now one of their songs has been beautifully animated by Pascal Campion. Here it is, for your sleepy Sunday enjoyment:

Whooping Cough

PKIDS, a national nonprofit whose mission is to educate the public about infectious diseases, is currently trying to raise awareness of the dangers of pertussis, which is more commonly known as "whooping cough."

Classic pertussis usually starts with normal cold symptoms. After about two weeks, however, coughing becomes increasingly severe. This stage can last for weeks or even months. Patients may have 15-24 coughing attacks a day.

Pertussis is on the rise right now, from 1,010 reported cases in 1976 to over 25,000 reported cases in 2004. The number of misdiagnosed and unreported cases may actually be nearly a million. More than half of all whooping cough cases are spread from parents to children when the mom or dad thinks they just have a cold or bronchitis.

One of the best ways to protect babies from pertussis is to make sure that anyone in close contact with them is vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control is recommending that adults and adolescents receive a pertussis booster vaccination to prevent the spread of pertussis among young children before they can be fully vaccinated themselves.

Visit the PKIDS website and educate yourself about pertussis!