29
Aug
The Toddler’s New Clothes
First things first:
I am NOT advocating for a society in which our toddlers run around buck-naked all the time. That’s insane.
But I do have some ideas about children’s dress codes.
Category: Learning
25
Aug
We’re All Faking It
I’ve been a parent for just about three years (though I haven’t felt like one for that long). I repeatedly admit my total lack of parenting know-how, partially because there is no one right way to parent, partially because I have no idea what I’m doing.
And yet people keep asking me what to do.
Not on my advice page, unfortunately, but in real life. Don’t they know I’m faking it?
22
Aug
Toddlers Are Assholes
My kid has been a real punk lately.
When your kids are at their most trying, it can make even the most seasoned parent question themselves. I say don’t. Especially if you’re parenting a toddler.
Toddlers are assholes and there’s not much you can do about it. Don’t let them bring you down.
13
Aug
(Driving Me) Mad Skills
My son is closing in on his third birthday, and he seems to be developing at an astonishing rate.
I’m not much for tracking development via checkpoints and milestones, but hardly more than a day goes by that I’m not impressed by something he says or does.
Unfortunately, not every ability he acquires is something to write home about. He’s good at a lot of things, but some of the things he’s good at are bad.
24
Jul
Parenting Milestones
According to my son’s birth certificate, I became a father in 2010. But becoming an actual parent took longer. In fact, I think it took until last week.
When we imagine having kids, most of us have similar daydreams. Most of them focus on big moments: choosing a name, putting together a crib, going through labor, changing diapers, playing catch, taking off the training wheels, the first day of school, etc.
When I finally, actually became a dad, many of those milestones remained significant, but dozens – hundreds! – more piled up around small, everyday stuff. Every single first is a capital-F First: first burp, first smile, first poop, first solid poop, first roll-over, first sit-up, first crawl, first fall, first steps, first words…
But after a while, and folders full of pictures, you realize that those aren’t your milestones. They’re your kid’s. Here are some actual parenting milestones.