Comments on: 20 things I now know, that I didn’t know the first time around

By: grammy

grammy — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 08:44:40 +0000

[quote post="1256"]Your relationship with your own parents enters a new and strange phase when they become grandparents. You realize that they were making it all up as they went along, and they realize that you now know that, and everybody hopes that you can keep up the charade long enough to get the next crop of kids out the door. [/quote]

Oh, ain’t it the truth, baby! We have been officially BUSTED!!!

By: Daniel Semsen

Daniel Semsen — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:41:59 +0000

Nice. Funny library story!!

By: rod

rod — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 07:10:29 +0000

ok, in the songs dept., my kids were always huge fans of meter and rhyme. The ultimate Uncle Shelby fan club (In the laid-back California town of sunny San Rafael lived a girl named Pearly Sweetcakes, you probably knew her well…)(just kidding).
But they were masters of rhythm and rhyme at an early age. I made up a song in the car one day, at their request: I once had three little children, two boys and one little girl, so I spanked them all on their bottoms, and sent them to bed without supper. They howled. No matter how many times I sang that song, they’d laugh themselves silly. Surprise! no rhyme!!!
ya never know.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 06:57:32 +0000

Making up songs on the spot is indeed an important parenting skill. In our house this nearly always involves altering lyrics to existing songs. My current (and rather dumb) favorite is a takeoff on “Rockin’ Robin.” Since Zion is generally known as “Baby Z” or “Mr. Z,” I have started singing,

“Zeedleedeedleedee,
Zeedleedeedleedee,”(repeat twice, then)
“Zee (ump) Zee (ump ump) Zeedleedee!”

He loves it.

You can’t do this with adolescents, by the way. Instead, you make up songs about your animals, e.g.,

(to the tune of “Camptown Races”)
I’ve got a dog named Buster Brown, doo-dah, doo-dah,
He’s the meanest dog in town, oh doo-day day!
And he barks all night, and he barks all day,
Etc.

Actually, your adolescents won’t want to hear this song either, especially when their friends are present.

By: rod

rod — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 05:51:52 +0000

Congrats on round 2. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full.

your #8 brought back a lot of frustrating uncomfortable memories. Actually, these occurrences don’t stop. Can I plug my own blog about a similar, older daughter circumstance?

By: Bobby

Bobby — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 04:46:34 +0000

I think I remember hearing this one… I believe it goes:

Did someone make a stinky?
A stinky stinky diapee?
Did someone make a stinky?
I think it’s Mommy’s turn.

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:55:15 +0000

“Wow Mike, great song. What song did you write about Sophia’s rockin’ mommy?” Hey, great question!

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:54:09 +0000

[quote comment="56868"]
Now, I don’t want to name any names, but when we get to the end and repeat the song, sometimes not everybody sings along. (ahem)[/quote]

I plead the 5th

By: Dave

Dave — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 02:39:57 +0000

your daddy, which is me, who is fully employed and not at all creepy!

You sure? Just kidding… love the three of ya lots… I have no idea what Gretchen is going to do with a third child (mike, sophia, and new one)

Congrats…

By: michael lee

michael lee — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:32:05 +0000

if anyone is interested, here are the lyrics to “Daddy is awesome”. I wrote it so that I could start the long process of brainwashing my daughter, in hopes that some of it would stick during the teenage years.

(to the tune of Crystal Lewis’ “People Get Ready” sped way up)

Daddy is awesome,
Daddy is awesome,
This is the Daddy song

Daddy is awesome,
Daddy is awesome,
Everybody sing along!

Now, I don’t want to name any names, but when we get to the end and repeat the song, sometimes not everybody sings along. (ahem)

By: TomTom

TomTom — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 21:50:26 +0000

Thanks for a great reminder of how cool kids are. (Sometimes, when mine are going at each other, I tend to forget)

As a dad who worked nights so I could care for my daughter during the day, I was a frequent victim of ” profiling”. It got to the point where I would get the long, hard look from someone and just pick up my kid and start running. Then I’d feel bad for a few minutes, but it was worth it to see what the reaction would be. People look REALLY funny with their mouths hanging wide open.

Congratulations on the next arrival.

By: Zack

Zack — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:30:15 +0000

Yay! Congrats to you both! Your tax returns are gonna be SO SWEET now!

And the baby thing, that’s cool, too.

By: Sharolyn

Sharolyn — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:57:27 +0000

Mike, I apologize for the Babywise thing. I responded without thinking and agree, this is clearly a happy-only zone. I just read these again and they are hilarious.

By: aly hawkins

aly hawkins — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 18:29:21 +0000

I’m doing a little dance of joy in my ergonomically correct chair.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:41:01 +0000

YEAH, YEAH, YEAH! Congratulations to all three of you! :) I am teary and laughing at the same time at this list.
Bobby has had the same thing happen to him. He took the kids out for donuts one weekend while I was away and he said he could tell people thought he was a divorced dad with his weekend kids.
I LOVE the picture of Sophia with the u/s pic. Very cute!

By: Morphea

Morphea — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:06:25 +0000

Warm congratulations to both of you. I didn’t get to meet Her Majesty, but I did meet you and Gretchen and you couldn’t be anything but wonderful parents in my mind. 3 cheers for you ‘into kids’ people.

Hip hip, hooray!
Hip hip, hooray.
Hip…

OK, that’ll do it.

Cerise

By: Gretchen

Gretchen — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 17:04:51 +0000

Awesome. I love this list :)

#21 Daddy can make up a song about anything. Ex: “Daddy is Awesome!”, “Where in the World Can I Find a Little Girl Who Would Like to Take a Bath”, etc. It’s good stuff.

We will take all the advice of our many friends with 2 kids. We’re excited, though we know it’s a big road ahead of us.

By: Matty

Matty — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:48:10 +0000

Oh…and I always tell parents…

“Two kids is 1.5 times as expensive but 3 times the work.”

Unless you have a boy this time. Then it’s still pretty much twice as expensive.

Congrats!!!!!

By: Matty

Matty — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:45:35 +0000

Laughed out loud at number 14.

Last night Rona and I were hanging out with parents of a 10 month old. “Sam” (I’ve changed the name to protect the baby’s real identity from some techno-pervert who is reportedly stalking kids on Wednesdays at the Burbank Library) walked up to her mom and handed her a wheat thin that was apparently to rich for her ten-month-old palate.

The mom looked at me, confused, and asked, “What am I supposed to do with this?”

“You eat it,” I said, matter-of-factly.

She did.

Training parents one wheat thin at a time,

Matty.

By: Daniel

Daniel — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:23:40 +0000

wow man. Nailed it.
ON.
THE.
HEAD.
especially #15…been there. Still there, all the time…

and congrats! Two is only ten times as hard as one!! Yipee!!!
HAHAHAHAHAAaaaaaa….

By: june

june — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 16:15:01 +0000

Michael, I keep thinking about your post and chuckling…I’m afraid I’ve looked at the lone Dad at library story time and thought: “Hmmm…wonder what’s up with that?!” (I’m such an idiot!)And, I’ve eaten soooo much slobbery food it’s not even funny and we pay as much as $10 an hour for young people to eat our food and watch our tv while our children sleep.

Again, so happy for you and G…having BOTH your kids interact is sweeter and funnier (and more exhausting)than anything. And, daily gives one pause for insights into the notion that we are children of God.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:51:10 +0000

Yes, I’d love to see a post on babywise as well.

Congrats on your newest addition!!!

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 08:28:42 +0000

I agree… This post should remain joyful and non-controversial.

By: michael lee

michael lee — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:52:48 +0000

Lemme jump in for just a second to suggest two things

1) Paul, you should write that post. I’d be very interested to read it.

2) Let’s shift the impending babywise flamewar over to that post, once it’s finished. I’d love to hear people’s thoughts, but I don’t want that to take over this post. Know what I mean?

By: Stick

Stick — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 07:03:55 +0000

Hey, I’ve got a couple kids that I might sell cheap for all you people all “into kids”.

Ok, kidding. Our boys make us laugh every single day. To hear Nate (2) laugh at Zane (6) who happened to be wearing his pajama pants on his head, and not much else, was pretty good.

By: Sharolyn

Sharolyn — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:48:33 +0000

WOW! How exciting! When???

Paul, you should write the post. We have a friend whose mission it is to actively prevent any message from Gary Ezzo (including practically stalking him). I would be curious to hear your thoughts.

Sophia, the big sister! Hooray! :)

By: june

june — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:34:49 +0000

Whoo-hoo! Another lil’ Lee is on the way! Congrats Michael and Gretchen! Clearly, you’re quite well-adjusted.

There’s an entire pantry between our couch cushions I’m sure and perhaps small ecosystmes elsewhere in the house. I don’t even care anymore…makes ya wanna visit, eh?!

Kiddos rock.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:33:22 +0000

1. This is a wonderful set of observations.

2. Sophia is blessed to have you as parents. Sophia’s sibling will be likewise blessed.

3. Speaking of which, mega-congratulations on number 2!

4. I’m glad Babywise worked for you. Actually, your parenting skills worked. “Babywise” has some, er, baggage associated with it. Actually this is a big topic. Maybe I’ll write my first official Addison Road blog on this subject…