I know this is going to sound like a broken record because I've talked about math worksheets in past blog posts. But because it just happened two days ago on a hot and humid "homework afternoon", and I ended up all hot and bothered, with my son C all scared and flustered, the memory is … Continue reading Daily Living with Autism #8 — Fractions that fracture
Okay what?! Setting boundaries as a parenting strategy with a teen? I must be joking right? Alright my apologies. Who fires off three questions in rapid salvo to kick off a parenting mini-series that's looking less 'mini' by the week? (Oops not another question!) The truth is as I pen this series, I have to … Continue reading What I learned from parenting workshops #4 — Adaptive Mechanism 2 — Setting boundaries
Three weeks ago I started a parenting mini-series. To share insights gleaned from workshops I attended this year on how to parent teens. I then followed it up with another entry a week later. That one discussed the emotional, biological, social and relationship changes teens undergo. I ended the piece by mentioning mechanisms that parents like me might incorporate … Continue reading What I learned from parenting workshops #3 — Adaptive mechanism 1: Respect & consideration
I'll Never Be A Dad (circa 2007*) Throngs of tall and short folksInvading my line of sight Playing Frolicking DelightingEnjoying a family day outAt the playground in my 'hood. But me? I'm looking down from my windowAfraid to step out ForlornWonderingLips quiveringLongingUnfulfilledFeels likeFour score and seven years agoSince first we started and desiredYet it seems our turn might never … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #85
Last week I started this new parenting mini-series as a way to document my own learning journey on how to better parent my teenage son. Today, I continue on from there to talk about the myriad of changes that are happening irreversibly, and often imperceptibly, in him! And boy are there many changes indeed when … Continue reading What I learned from parenting workshops #2
One of the things I often hear the older generation tell me is that parenting courses or workshops were non-existent during their time. Instead they just 'learn on the job'. "See, we got through without attending a single parenting course. Yet you young whippersnappers turned out okay no? So why bother attending any?" Actually, I … Continue reading What I learned from parenting workshops #1 — Stages of psychosocial development
I remember as a kid, when school enrolment or administration moments come around, we would have to fill up among other things details of a next-of-kin in case of emergencies. For that, I would typically put down my father's name. This went on for pretty much all of my academic life as I progressed from … Continue reading Are fathers more “next-of-kin”, “next-of-skin” or “‘neath-the-skin”?
A recent incident reminded me that only a fellow stay home dad can truly understand another. One minute a fellow stay home dad and I were catching up over a cuppa to share our respective journeys minding our kids at home. The next minute I was bawling right there in front of my bewildered friend! … Continue reading How one fellow stay home dad emancipated me!
Recently I attended yet another webinar about parenting. I hate to admit it, but every time I do I find myself wondering: why am I here?And why are parenting woes never ending? Also, why are the questions parents ask at such gatherings almost always the same? Like endless loops acrobats leap through? Or the cycles … Continue reading Parenting Woes #1 — A new mini-series
Sonnet #1 - A day at a time Son, I'm learning anewHow to be a dad to youA day at a time Son, I wish to get it rightMore times of good than times of grime A day at a time Son, I hate to fake itJust so I can make it A day at … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #72
