2005-09-11

BUT YOU'RE ONLY ELEVEN

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? MY OLDEST DAUGHTER IS ONLY 11 AND THINGS ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN TOO FAST AROUND HERE. I KNOW SHE HAS THINGS SHE NEEDS TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I UNDERSTAND SHE WOULD FEEL MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE TALKING TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHY HER BODY IS GOING THROUGH SO MANY CHANGES RIGHT NOW. SHE NEEDS A MOTHER FIGURE IN HER LIFE AND SHE KNOWS THAT I REALIZE THAT AS WELL.

I GOT A CALL FROM THE SCHOOL NURSE LAST WEEK, AND SHE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT I NEEDED TO GO TO THE DRUG STORE, BUY THIS, AND WHEN SHE CAME HOME FROM SCHOOL THAT DAY SHE EMPHASIZED THE DELICACY OF THIS MATTER.

WHEN FAITH CAME HOME THAT AFTERNOON, I HANDED HER A BAG FROM THE DRUG STORE, GAVE HER A KISS ON HER FOREHEAD, AND TOLD HER THAT SHE COULD TALK TO ME ABOUT ANYTHING AND REMINDED HER THAT I GREW UP WITH FOUR YOUNGER SISTERS.

SHE SEEMED SO RELIEVED FROM MY ATTITUDE AND ACTUALLY CAME TO ME AND WE SPOKE ABOUT IT CANDIDLY. I REMINDED HER THAT IF SHE HAD ANY QUESTIONS SHE FELT UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT ASKING ME, SHE COULD ALWAYS SPEAK TO MY MOM OR ONE OF HER AUNTS.

I MUST ADMIT, I WAS SHOCKED THAT WE WERE ALREADY FACING THESE CHALLENGING SITUATIONS, WHERE I HAD TO CAREFULLY THINK BEFORE I SPOKE, DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF OUR CONVERSATIONS, AND TO THE TRUST I WAS TRYING SO HARD TO BUILD WITH HER, IN ORDER TO SET A FOUNDATION FOR THE YEARS TO COME. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL THING WHEN SHE REALIZED SHE COULD COME TO ME ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING. ALL IN ALL, I FEEL THAT WE'VE BEGUN TO CREATE A WONDERFUL BOND AND I LOVE HER SO.

2005-09-05

TEACHING YOUR KIDS TO LIKE FOOTBALL

THIS NEXT TRICK ISN'T AN EASY ONE, BUT BOY IF YOU CAN PULL IT OFF YOU GET THE FAMILY GUY AWARD FOR SPORTS RECRUITING. THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL TO USE IS YOUR KID'S NATURAL INSTINCTS TO BE COMPETITIVE WITH EACHOTHER. GET THEM TO PICK THE TEAM THEY LIKE AND ASK THEM TO CHOOSE THEIR FAVORITE PLAYER. NOW WE'VE GIVEN THEM THEIR OWN TEAM TO ROOT FOR.

    KEEP PLENTY OF SPORTS CAPS AND JERSEYS AROUND THE HOUSE, SO WHEN YOUR FAVORITE TEAM IS PLAYING, THEY CAN BE SPORTING YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS GEAR.

    IN FACT, RIGHT NOW MY PLAN IS GOING INTO ACTION. MY DAUGHTERS ARE PICKING OUT THEIR FAVORITE MIAMI HURICANE CAPS, AS WELL AS ADORNING THEMSELVES WITH THEIR FAVORITE U.M SHIRT. I'M IN GOOD SHAPE AND THERE'S ONLY 20 MIUTES TO KICKOFF. I REMIND THE KIDS ONE MORE TIME ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS GAME, AND THEY SEEM FIRED UP. I'M DOING IT. MY PLAN IS IN ACTION.

    WHEN YOUR TEAM SCORES, START HIGH-FIVING THE KIDS. GET THEM SCREAMING RIGHT ALONG WITH YOU. EXPLAIN TO THRM WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND BE MAKE SURE THEY WATCH THE INSTANT REPLAY A COUPLE OF TIMES SO THEY CAN ACTUALLY GRASP THE MAGNITUDE OF THAT LAST GREAT PLAY.

GRANT IT, THEY WON'T SIT THROUGH A WHOLE GAME WITH YOU, BUT THEY'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE FOR FEAR YOU MAY TRY TO LURE THEM BACK ON THE SOFA, AND THEN AGAIN BE FORCED TO PARTICIPATE. WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T LET THEM TAKE OFF THE CAPS OR JERSEYS DURING THE GAME. THEY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THEY ARE THE TEAMS GOOD LUCK CHARM AND WE NEED THEM TO HELP US WIN. SHOULD YOUR TEAM LOSE, THEY MUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU DIDN'T HAVE YOUR LUCKY SHIRT ON AND THEY ARE NOT AT ALL RESPONSIBLE.

SO THERE YOU HAVE IT. A SMART FAMILY GUY KNOWS HE MUST HAVE HIS CHILDREN ON HIS SIDE. YOUR KIDS NOW LOVE FOOTBALL, WHETHER THEY LIKE IT OR NOT. BEST OF LUCK! THE FAMILY GUY

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