Ever feel like you’re playing zone defense with your kids, still losing, and drowning in dad guilt? Here’s my take as a dad of five (six any day now). I read a story recently about a dad who shared his breakdown in his car on TikTok, freaking out about going from one kid to two,… Continue reading Sixteen: The Big Transition
Category: Thoughts
Random Musings #7
“The way we talk to children becomes their inner voice.” – Peggy O’Mara I ran across this quote just today. I’m not sure how I hadn’t seen it before, but it hit me kind of hard because I realized that virtually all I do all day long is talk to kids. When I wake my… Continue reading Random Musings #7
Fifteen: Why the Slate Truck Sparks Joy for Our Big Family of (Almost!) Eight
A little something different today…. As a dad of five (soon six!) rambunctious kids, I never thought I’d be daydreaming about a two-seat electric pickup. With car seats, baseball and ballet gear, and enough snacks to feed a small army, our family’s rides usually scream “minivan or bust” (actually, our Honda Pilot isn’t a minivan, but I… Continue reading Fifteen: Why the Slate Truck Sparks Joy for Our Big Family of (Almost!) Eight
Fourteen: I’ll Be Back
Woke the kids up early to see what the Easter bunny left. Went to sunrise mass to worship and receive the body, blood, soul, and divinity of our risen Lord and Savior. Came home to hide Easter eggs all over the back yard. Watched all my kids hunt those Easter eggs, count the candies they… Continue reading Fourteen: I’ll Be Back
Random Musings # 6
I recently had the opportunity to take a group of students to hear author Stephanie Land speak about her book, Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive. It was quite the experience to hear her speak about how she knew she had a good story to tell but didn’t think anyone… Continue reading Random Musings # 6
Thirteen: So Many Little Questions: A Dad’s Insight
Sometimes, my life feels like one, (very) long Q&A session. The questions, small as they may be, come hot and heavy from the first moments the kids are awake in the morning until the last moments before they go to bed. What’s for breakfast? What time is it? Why do I have to get dressed?… Continue reading Thirteen: So Many Little Questions: A Dad’s Insight
Random Musings #5
My last post was about stress and one way which my family responds to it, which got me thinking a little broader: what exactly is stress? Turns out, there’s actually a lot more to stress than I originally thought. A lot more. So, naturally, the English teacher in me took over. Time for a little… Continue reading Random Musings #5
Twelve: Teacher by Day, Dad by Night: The True Story of How Early Dinners Keep Me Sane
Everything I’ve written about so far has been fairly positive. And that’s been purposefully done, because there are so many positives to highlight from life with a bunch of kids. But one thing that is ever present is the stress that comes with it. It is hard to adequately sum up just how stressful raising… Continue reading Twelve: Teacher by Day, Dad by Night: The True Story of How Early Dinners Keep Me Sane
Eleven: Cherishing Moments: A Dad’s Very Brief Guide to Raising a Girl and Lots of Boys
The author reflects on parenting four boys and the importance of spending quality time with them while also acknowledging his daughter’s changing interests as she grows up. He emphasizes the need for parents to cherish moments, whether grand or simple, and to make time for meaningful experiences together before children become more independent.
Ten: Unique Family Tradition: Rotating Date Nights with Kids
In this post, I share a unique family tradition of conducting individualized date nights with each child to ensure they receive the necessary attention amidst a busy household. The dates rotate among parents and involve activities chosen by the children, promoting connection and joy. This practice underscores the importance of quality time in nurturing parent-child relationships.