David Vienna's Blog, page 191
February 26, 2016
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!
Wyatt paused over his Cheerios. I could see him formulating a...
Wyatt paused over his Cheerios. I could see him formulating a question, how to word it or maybe whether he should voice it at all.
Finally, he said, “I feel like you yell at me more than Boone.” He did this a bit timidly. He’s not a timid kid, but he knows how to play things for effect. Still, I know him well enough to discern he was playing timid because he was actually sad. My reply surprised him.
“You’re right,” I said, “I do.”
I told him he tests us more than his brother does, he pushes to get his own way more than his brother does, he’s vocal and persistent and focused in a way that makes things more difficult for us. So, yes, we do yell at him more because, as parents, we can only go back and forth on whether or not Oreos make a good breakfast option a certain number of times before we need to just nuke the argument and get back to making lunches or we’ll be late for school. Again.
But, then I said, “Don’t stop doing it, though, okay? Don’t stop testing and arguing for what you want.”
I explained that as he grows, the ability to identify, vocalize, and lobby for what he deserves will lead to great things—the raise for which others were afraid to ask, that amazing audition for a great role, the better deal, the bigger prize, the real story, whatever. I added that he already cares so much about others, I’m not worried that he’ll hurt or use someone in the process.
“Just continue being kind, continue being strong, continue being the amazing person you are, even if we yell at you more than your brother. You mom and I love you, no matter how loud we get.”
It may seem counterintuitive to encourage my son’s most aggravating trait. I look at it this way: My duty is not to strip him of his strengths, but rather to grow stronger myself so that when he pushes back I can keep a level head and help him hone that ability. And maybe I can also learn from him how to apply it in my own life.
February 25, 2016
how2beadad:
Listening to how books get made with...
Listening to how books get made with @thedaddycomplex. It’s a lot more interesting than it sounds! #Dad2Summit (at Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC)
Hey, if you were one of the folks who came by the Book Publishing roundtable at the Dad 2.0 Summit and wanted a digital copy of the materials I mentioned, please email me (link on my site) or reach out to me @thedaddycdomplex via your preferred social conduit. I know I said I would put it up here for download, but judging from the last time I did something like this it could get a little clunky.
Also, if you were one of those folks, thanks so much for coming by!
February 24, 2016
"A chair is like a bed for your butt."
- Wyatt (age 7)
February 23, 2016
If there was ever any doubt about what Wyatt loves…
At...
If there was ever any doubt about what Wyatt loves…
At track practice, Wyatt did the long distance run and then was messing around. He somehow got a huge gash on his hand. He came up to me, hand out. Not a lot of blood, but it looked painful.
I said, “Okay, let’s see if they have a bandage or something.”
He said, “I’m tough. Just wanted to tell you about it. I want to run.”
Then, he ran onto the track and raced Boone. And he won.
@trans-parenting tagged me yesterday in a Stop, Drop &...
@trans-parenting tagged me yesterday in a Stop, Drop & Selfie thing, but I haven’t had time to actually do it until now—stuck in traffic. I have so much non-moving time, I decided to make my selfie a gif.
Okay, I’m tagging @andimthedad and @portlanddad (who I met at Dad 2.0), @mollysueschwarz, @ekrepcho, and @taylorswift.
February 21, 2016
"Deadpool is an anti-hero with a wretched mouth, pansexual desires and cunning killer instinct...."
-
Description given to me by another dad blogger, who shall remain nameless, when I asked what the heck a deadpool is.
Hey, @thedaddycomplex, in this case, you free for dinner one night during the @dad2summit? If so, IM me. And, bring the costume.
(via electradaddy)
Well, that was fun. Great to see all my friends again, make some...
Well, that was fun. Great to see all my friends again, make some new ones, learn a ton, and destroy my liver a bit.
February 19, 2016
One of the best things about the #dad2summit: Learning someone...
One of the best things about the #dad2summit: Learning someone you only know from a few online exchanges—like, say, @portlanddad—is a fucking AMAZING writer and funny as shit. #DadSLAM
My view of @askyourdadblog and the crowd just before taking the...
My view of @askyourdadblog and the crowd just before taking the podium at the #dad2summit Porchlight #DadSLAM to read a previously unpublished post.
