Dad Can Hardly Wait

My girls have only been off of school for a week, yet I am finding myself counting down the days until they go back.  Does that make me a bad parent?

It doesn't help that I don't like the winter.  I can't STAND it.  I am bored.  I put on weight.  I am tired all day and am ready for bed at 5:30 (FIVE THIRTY!!!) when it begins to get dark.   I can't send the girls outside to play.  I can't take the girls for a walk and enjoy the weather.  I AM taking them to Lifetime today to play in the kid's area.   But I am not exactly a role model when it comes to dealing with the Winter Blues.

I am finding I am doing one of the things they told us who work in education NOT to do; take things personal.  It is easy for me to get on one of my football kids for being an idiot in class, or being lazy at practice, or treating people the wrong way.  It is part of learning.  It is part of growing up. 

However, as soon as I tell Ayla to stop hitting her sisters in the head (for fun) with her over sized stuffed animal, Baby Gracie, then my whole morning is shot.  It starts with the playful banter amongst siblings. You know, the oldest sibling is laughing while the other two yell out "Leave me alone Ayla!!!"  Playful or not, I told Ayla more than once to stop.  She didn't. 

So of course I take the stuffed animal away and the tears start flowing.  At least today I didn't hear how much I hurt her feelings. All I heard for the next ten minutes was "I want Baby Gracie back!!"  Music to my ears.

In the meantime, Elanor has been on an antibiotic for bronchitis.  It is recommended that she takes it after eating something.  She has been up for over an hour now, and I have gotten her to eat a spoonful of peanut butter.  Awesome.

Lastly, Sofia has been up and down too with her health. (While I am writing this Elanor tripped over the wire to the Singing Snowman and the hat broke off.  They are trying to fix it.  I am ignoring it to try and finish this blog before I lose my mind).  This morning she woke up in a good mood, but she has become very vocal with what she wants (She is crying now because I took those little candies on paper you peel off to eat away from her.  She finds everything and anything).  I feel guilty because I go back and forth: I can't stand hanging out with my girls (like now, while trying finish this with Sofia clinging to me, crying, and driving me nuts).  But I love hanging out with them when they are happy, fun, polite, smiling, and making me laugh. 

Does this make me a bad parent?

Update on the Girls :)

A lot has gone on in the last few months.  Sofia is blabbering her head off.  Elanor still thinks she is a rock star.  Ayla is going a long way to becoming class mom for life.  But one thing hasn't changed:  my girls don't stop talking.  Ever. 

On most Tuesdays and Thursdays we have added a new body to the chaos at Daddy Daycare.  Cousin Jacob!!!  He is a couple months younger then Sofia (he turns one next week), but doesn't stop moving.  At least with the girls they will stop and read a book, dance to music, sing, etc.  Not Jacob.  If he wasn't trying to get to the our fish in the fish tank then he is getting out pots and pans.  Then he turns to attacking the DVD player and stereo.  Oh, don't forget the TV!!! 

The one thing he hasn't gotten to yet is the Christmas Tree.  I am sure it is coming.  Putting up the tree was fun.  It reminded me of being a kid and going up into the attic to get the boxes of ornaments and the such.  Stephanie was getting a little annoyed with Elanor though. Every ornament she put up she asked Steph, "is this one from when I was a baby?"  I mean, EVERY ornament she asked this question.  I thought it was hilarious, of course. 

Last thing.  Halloween candy is almost gone!!!  They rarely ask for it anymore!!!

Brian

We're Back!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Hi friends of Daddy Daycare.  Sorry it took so long for us to write again. The girls and I have been busy, so let's get right to it:


Ayla started kindergarten.  Wow, it's amazing the things she tells us when she gets home.  She is so full of information it is unreal.  I think my favorite part so far is that she told her teacher while doing her "All About Me" project, that she wanted to be a football coach when she gets older like her dad.  Had that is awesome!!!

Elanor started preschool.  I honestly thought she would struggle being by herself, but she has been great.  I think my favorite part is when Grandma Sherry went to work her class and Elle wanted to hang out with Grandma more than playing with the toys.  I am sure it made Grandma's day :)

Lastly, Sofia fits her nickname well: TROUBLE.  I had a really hard time with Elle at her age, but this is nuts.  She runs off whenever she feels like it (fun game).  She grabs her sister's hair.  She has a rivalry with her cousin, Jacob.  If she doesn't want her drink or her binkie she swats away your hand.  I guess this goes to say for all the girls: when they are fun, they are FUN.  But when they are brats?  Good Lord.  Is it because I am a guy that I feel this way? 

FYI I will make sure to submit pictures from Halloween tonight.


Brian

Football Season

Sorry it has been so long.  Football has started and my life got crazy.  Things that have happened in the last few weeks:

1. 4 day trip to Alpena.  It was a very peaceful, yet wet vacation.  I would rather go up there then spend a ton of money on Florida, California, etc.  You feel God's presence when you are sitting by the lake at 6 am. 

2.  The start of football season.  After watching our intersquad scrimmage, Ayla told me she noticed we passed the ball more than last year.  Is that a good thing Ayla?

3.  Ayla performing in a play her summer preschool program put on.  She was awesome!!!  Her one line in The Hungry Caterpillar was, "I'm one apple!!!!"  I think the funniest part was Elanor repeating her by saying "I want an apple!!!"  Or the fact that Elanor made us watch the recording of Ayla's play over, and over, and over. She loves her sister. 

4. Elanor finally getting the hang of riding her bike so we don't have to push her now.  She is a character.

5. Sofia is in the climbing stage.  Climbing up the stairs with no one watching.  Climbing on the back of the couch with no one watching.  Is she trying to tell me I need to pay more attention to her?

6. The passing of Uncle Rick.  What a blessing it was to spend a Sunday with him at the Tigers game last month.  I am glad I got to share a special day with him before he got to see Aunt Susie, Grandma and Grandpa Stark, Gunk, Mrs. Sparks, my Dad, and God all up in heaven. 

That's it.  Kept it short today.  Only a few more weeks until Ayla and Elanor are back to school.  I can't wait!!!

Brian

Morning Date

Since Ayla was pretty mad at me yesterday for not working her up to watch the sunrise, I dediced I wouldn't make the same mistake today.  So we woke up, to a walk around the block, and enjoyed a God filled, peaceful morning.  You would think that she would be quiet the whole time, since we woke up before six.  But no.....not Ayla.  She wanted to now why \we had seasons (I tried to explain the whole earth being on an axis thing), why the sky was ful of pretty colors, etc.  It was cool :)

Of course, after being back for two minutes Elanor wanted to get up and hang out on the couch.  So be it, because I did not want to batlle her over this.  So we are on the couch watching the World Cup of Softball on ESPN.  USA is winning 6-2 over the Czech's.  Those darn Czech's are feisty, but I think the Americans can finish them off.  Going to the sixth inning , USA now up 4. 

Sofia awoke slightly, but she was tired and didn't feel like putting up much of a fuss over her sisters hanging out with me.  Her time will come.  I told Ayla we can watch the sunrise with Elle when we go to "Alepena," in a few weeks (that is what she calls it).  Looking forward to that more than I am the start of my football season.  Perspective, I wish everybody had it.

Brian

Happy Friday?

Well, it should be a happy Friday right?  Aren't all Friday's supposed to be happy?  Instead, I woke up to: 1. Ayla crying because I forgot to wake her up to see the sun rise.  In truth, I didn't think she was serious.  2. Sofia up around 6:30 crying because she was wet and I think cold.  But she has been unhappy since. 3.  Elanor being Elanor.  She is like her mother, not a morning person. 

But I have a complaint to the girls.  Why do they all have to be annoying at once?  I can handle one, cranky, crying, annoying kid.  But why all three of them at the same time?  Who do I give attention to?  The baby who needs to be held?  The two older girls needing attention?  Is there a right answer?

Again, it is mornings like this that I want to tell my friends "spend a day doing what I do and try to tell me I live off my wife."

Happy Birthday to Ayla's Godfather, Christian. 

Brian

Happy Monday!!

Wow, it is hot.  I may be the only person around who can't stand the summer.  I enjoy watching baseball games, but can honestly sit there and tell me they have no problem hanging outside dripping in sweat?  If you say that doesn't bother then I don't believe you.

So today started with a bang.  One of my girls (whom I will leave nameless) had an accident in bed.  This never happens.  All she wanted was for her daddy to carry her to the couch.  Well, I did the one thing I shouldn't have done:  I mentioned her bed was wet. 

Of course drama and tears ensued, which is always delightful at 7:30 AM.  She was pretty ticked at me for even thinking that she could have done that.  So add washing all her bed stuff to the list of things to do today.

Now, since Ayla is doing her summer pre-school fun stuff, Sofia is sleeping, and Elanor is watching "Barney" (good God but I feel bad wanting to tell her she can't watch it but I won't), I finally have a chance to ........clean?  Yep, no time for myself, except for this blog.  So I go to the closet to get out the vacuum and what do I see?  A spilled toolbox, with nuts, bolts, screws, nails, and tacks all over the floor.  Have to clean that up with little feet running around.  Ugh. 

So I am off to finish my cleaning before I go to summer workouts for my football program.  As Ayla will tell you, the reason I have to do football stuff so much is because  of her "we have to win this year so you don't get fired" mantra.  Thanks Ayla. 

2 weeks until Alpena trip.  3 weeks until my summer officially ends.

Brian

Yard Sale!!!!!!!!!!!!

The day is finally here!!!  I can't tell you how long I have been bugging Stephanie to have one, so we can get rid of some of our stuff.  Unfortunately, I have the impression that some of the stuff we get rid of will be replaced rather easily. 

I am finding that I am not as emotional as I thought I would be about getting rid of this stuff.  You know, coming to the realization that we don't have babies anymore.  I am going to have a kid in elementary school!!!  Yikes.  

As I am writing I just had our first meltdown/ fight of the day.  Ayla and Elanor were fighting over their water cups.  Ayla picked them out, but Elanor thought one was hers, yet Ayla wanted that cup.  For the love of God!!!  It's a freaking cup of water!!  I can't win. 

I wish I could provide a picture of all the stuff in our yard we are selling.  Clothers, toys, stuffed animals, etc.  So far we have made about 20 bucks in an hour and a half.  Some serious gas money right there. 

Maybe we can take some of this money we make today and go out on a date.  Stephanie and I have not had a real date in a very long time. 

FYI it is also Ayla's birthday!!!  She turns 5 today.  I still remember my niece, Maddy, for years saying that she wanted a girl cousin.  When Ayla was born, she lit up.  Careful what you wish for Mads.  You now have 3. 

Parents give me your opinion on yard sales.  Is it a time of joy, or are ou saddened.  Let me know.  Brian

Harry Potter Day

Today Ayla and Stephanie are going to see Harry Potter at 4 this afternoon (insert my wife is a dork joke here).   So it is just going to be Elanor, Sofia, and me.   It is a little damp outside today, so we are going to have to find something to do.

In the meantime, we are watching Babar and finishing breakfast.  Ayla just got a timeout for hitting me...Ayla hitting me? 

What happened was she came over to me half whiny and said "Daddy I poked myself in the eye."  My response was:

A.  "Are you ok sweetie?  Let's take a look at it."
B.  "You need to be more careful dear.  Poking yourself in the eye really hurts."
C.  I chuckled and said "how did you do that?"

After answering C. of course, she decided to smack me on the arm.  Not good for Ayla. 

Beyond that, Sofia has more snot then any kid I have ever seen.  And she really hates when I wipe her nose, so then it gets all over her cheek and forehead (most of you parents know what I mean). 

Lastly, Elanor has been pretty good today.  She is putting her penguin from Aunt Susie (God Bless her Soul) in her stroller and carting her around the room.  All in all a good morning!!!

Things I failed to mention yesterday:
-The color purple.
-Asking Ayla who wears what article of clothing because I don't bother to figure out which size my kids are.
-Not matching the articles of clothing correctly, I am not color coordinated
-Mixing up pajama shorts with non-pajama shirts and vice versa.
-Ayla telling me the reason I spend so much time at football is because we need to win more than 3 games this year.
-Ayla telling me we need to run "bubble/slant" more this year.
-Calling Elanor Sofia's name, and calling Sofia Elanor's name

That's all for now!!!  I will get back to you later, Brian

My Life as a Stay at Home Dad

My name is Brian, and I happen to be a stay at home dad.  How did I get here?  Well that is too long of a story to write about, and even more boring.  Let's just say after getting my teaching degree in a subject I don't love (not smart), I wasn't very motivated.  So after a few job searches and substitute teaching throughout the years my beautiful wife, Stephanie, and I decided it was not worthing paying for daycare.  So stay at home right?  How hard can it be?  Even if I had a teaching job my net salary after paying for daycare expenses would be about what it is now.  So let's just have me stay at home and take care of the kids.  I forget to introduce my kids.  There are 3 of them.  And the craziest part of all?  Well let me show you:

 Meet Sofia.  She is the youngest of the bunch.  She just had her first birthday.  She is just now starting to get the walking thing down, which makes things around the house very interesting.  She likes to tail her sisters around the house for fun, and follow dad everywhere he goes.




Next we have Elanor, our middle child who turns 3 in October.  She was the crankiest of all our kids when she was younger, so I had a really difficult time with her.  Now she is non-stop fun.  She loves Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus music. 

And lastly, we have the oldest girl, Ayla.  She just turned 5.  She has to be the smartest kid I know (yes I am biased) .  Very observant. She also enjoys talking football with me!!!

So you may have noticed that I have 3 girls.  Very ironic considering I coach high school football.  What did God do to me?

Well, anyway, the purpose of me creating this blog is to inform my friends and colleagues of what I deal with everyday.  One of my friends (I mean you Pete Niglio) tells me that I live off my wife.  That I should get a job.  He tells me he is joking, but it surely gets old.  So let me tell you the things I go through each and every day:

-The color pink.

-Ponytails: I still suck at them.

-Things being put in their mouths.  Today it was batteries for Sofia.

-Injuries: the slightest scratch or site of blood and I might as well ask God to cancel the day. I am not very sympathetic either, and I am sure that doesn't help.

-Bugs: In their defense I can't stand them either, but running in the house because they saw an ant is pretty extreme.

-The girls hate it when I do bath time. Ayla especially.  She can't stand getting water in her eyes.  Well, I am not about to slow down and make sure she is ok.  Close your eyes and mouth and let's finish washing your hair. 

-Daily diapers for me are old hat.  My buddies couldn't handle it though.  Especially you Christian.

-The color pink.

-Getting the girls dressed, fed, making sure they use the bathroom, doing their hair, getting their school bag ready, putting coats on, hats, gloves, and boots on in the winter and then packing them one at a time into the minivan in December to go to preschool. Repeat tomorrow.   And this year, I will have one in kindergarten and one in preschool.  Can't wait.

-Pulling Elanor on her bike because she hasn't gotten pedaling down.  She thinks applying the brakes is pedaling.

-Trying to clean the playroom, only to have it destroyed an hour later.

-Never having a monent to myself.  Like right now.  Typing, and Sofia is hanging on me.

-Trying to explain to Ayla why I have to shave my face.  And no, I can't teach you how to shave your legs.

 

-Wiping snot all day (today).

-Having at least one of the girls cry on a day that ends in "y."

-Not being able to watch sports programs until either Barney, Word World, Super Y, Word Girl, Team Umizoomi, Martha Speaks, Spongebob, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sid the Science Kid, Phineas and Ferb, Good Luck Charlie, I!Carly, Wild Krats, or Sesame Street are over.

-Hilarious knock knock jokes that don't make sense.

-The color pink.

I am going to try and update this blog daily to help me get through the day.  I hope you find it enjoyable and informative.  I also hope if you are a guy like me with 3 girls, hang in there.  We can get through it!!!  Brian