I wish I had the enthusiasm and optimism of my daughter.

As you've seen here before, I've written some short stories based on things I've done with my children.  I've also written a few other children's stories that they like.  Last night, my daughter drew more pictures for the Raindrops story that I posted a couple of weeks ago.  (If you want to check those out, go here: Raindrops)  My favorite picture is of Dewey, the smaller, timid raindrop, sitting on the cloud listening to Walter explain how fun it will be when they leave the cloud.  I just love how she drew the scene.

Also last night she asked me about another story we worked on together last spring.  She and her friends play a game at recess they call "Mystical Creatures."  They pretend to be unicorns, dragons, fairies, etc. and have adventures.  The same group of her friends has been playing together for several years now.  And last spring, she asked me to right a story about it.  So with her help and guidance, I wrote a story about the twin sister queens (one good and one evil) fighting to control the newly born baby dragon that they have foreseen has the power to destroy the evil queen once and for all.  (sounds awesome, right?!?!?!)

Last night, my daughter asked me if I had sent it in to any publishers yet.  She said, "And then they'll make it into a movie!"

I immediately wanted to tell her that our little story has no chance of being a movie, or even a book.  We can enjoy it ourselves, but that is about it.  But why should I rain on her parade?  Why should I dash the optimistic spirit of an 11 year old that loves unicorns and fairies and dragons?

So I think we're going to edit it a bit and send it in to some publishers.  Maybe we'll even get a nice polite rejection letter for her to put in a scrapbook.   :)

Or maybe she'll draw the pictures for that story too...and self publish it....and someday make it into a movie on her own.

New workout video series?

My wife (who is AWESOME) has a series of workout DVDs.  I don't claim to do them everyday, or in any way to be in any kind of good shape....but I do occasionally pop one in the DVD player and follow along as best I can.  Today's video was "Shoulders and Back" and it got me thinking....what might the at-home-parent work out series look like?

from the good old fashioned: "Walking The Dog"
to classics such as "Laundry and Groceries" and "Vacuuming and Mowing"
or even "Rearranging the Living Room"
and my favorite, working on balance and agility - "Changing The Sheets On The Top Bunk"

Raindrops

The idea was to have my daughter illustrate this story.....but when school started, the project got pushed behind homework, and ballet, and soccer, and "Wizards Of Waverly Place" episodes.  So there are only a couple drawings to go with the story.

UPDATE:  Allison cranked out several more drawings last night.   :)

RAINDROPS

“Are you ready to go, Dewey?”  Walter, a large raindrop leaned over to the smaller raindrop waiting next to him.

On a late spring afternoon, rain clouds were beginning to gather while the raindrops nervously waited.

“I don’t think I am ready,” the tiny raindrop answered.  “How do we know when to go?”

“I think we’ll just know,” Walter encouraged.  

“Do you think it will be much longer?” Dewey asked.

A low rumble of thunder shook the cloud.

“I’m not sure,” Walter said.  “But I think it will be soon.”  He could tell that Dewey was not very excited about the upcoming events.

“I hope we fall in a forest,” Walter described hopefully.  “With lots of tall trees and a stream.  Squirrels, birds, and maybe some chipmunks.  I’d like to glisten on a leaf after we’re down.”

“Why can’t we just stay up here?” Dewey closed his eyes as if he was wishing he could make it all stop.  “I like it here in our cloud.”

“I’ve also been thinking about falling in a city,” Walter said.  “With lots of people and cars.  Maybe on a bus or train.  Or we could make a puddle on the street for kids to jump in and for cars to splash through as they pass.”

“Can we come back if we don’t like it down there?” Dewey asked.  “Will we be able to come back?”

Walter smiled and gently shook his head.  He continued with a longing sigh, “Maybe our cloud will be over a garden.  We could be watering some flowers or vegetables.  Wouldn’t that be great?  Soft dirt with some worms crawling around sounds fun to me.”

“What will it be like down there?” Dewey looked at Walter for more encouragement.  “Will we be all right?”

“I think it will be wonderful.  It’s what we are meant to do,”  Walter reassured Dewey.  “Have you ever wondered what it would be like to land in a lake or maybe even the ocean.” 

Walter looked down to see if he could tell where they were.  “Or I might try to land on an umbrella,” Walter laughed as he spoke.  “Maybe someone waiting at a bus stop or walking to school.”

A cold gust of wind blew through the cloud and shook the drops as they huddled closer together.

“If it’s cold enough, we might turn to snow,” Walter said.  We’ll float gently down and might even end up as part of a snowman.”  

Dewey just shrugged.  “Will it hurt when we land?” he asked softly.

“Not at all,” Walter said confidently.  “I imagine it might tickle just a bit.”  He could see Dewey start to relax.

“We might fall on a playground full of children.  Maybe at a school during recess time.  With kids jumping rope and kicking balls.”

For a second Dewey almost forgot how nervous he was.  He smiled at the thought of laughing kids running and splashing around him.

“I wonder if it will just be a few of us.  Maybe just a small passing shower.”  Walter wondered.  “Or will it be all of us at once.  With lightning, thunder, and wind blowing us everywhere.”

“Can I stay beside you, Walter?”  Dewey moved in close beside the bigger raindrop.

Another rumble of thunder and the cloud shook again.

“It’s time!”  Walter said excitedly.  “Are you ready?”

Dewey nodded. 

“Let’s go!”

Eleven Years Ago Today.....

I had no idea what I was getting in to.

When you are expecting your first child, all anyone ever talks about is the baby stuff.  For me, the baby stuff was fun.  I was good at the baby stuff (ok, maybe not right away.....that first night in the hospital I had to hit the nurse call button to help change a diaper....but soon after that).

Nobody ever talks about all the stuff that comes later....handling homework tears....or pet frogs dying....or getting them to clean their rooms...or any of the other millions of things I have no clue about today.  But somehow we're getting through it.

Today is my daughter's 11th birthday....and I have her fooled.  Somehow, she thinks I'm a good dad.   :)

Seven Year Itch?

Wow,  I'm into my 7th school year as a stay-at-home-dad.  That's weird.  I had my "real" job for 11 years, and it seems like I did that forever and I just started doing this.  But the calendar doesn't  lie.

This school year feels different from the others though.  Let's review:

05-06 - Allison was in Pre-K four afternoons a week, so I had Andrew home all the time and both kids every morning and all day on Fridays.  Lots of nap time, mostly for me....some for Andrew.

06-07 - Allison in Kindergarten, Andrew in Pre-K.  Andrew was home every morning and all day on Mondays (or Fridays....I forget....I'm getting old.)  Lots more nap time while Andrew was at pre-K.

07-08 - Allison 1st Grade, Andrew Kindergarten.  Both kids in school all day.  I volunteered in Andrew's class regularly and also in the school lunch room two days a week.  Morning naps become very common this year.

08-09 - Allison 2nd Grade, Andrew 1st Grade.  I started working at Target part-time.  Was hoping to just work during the days when they were both in school.  And for the most part, I did....with a bunch of weekend nights mixed in.  Still napping on my off days from Target.

09-10 - Allison 3rd, Andrew 2nd.  Part-time some days at Target.  Napping the other days.

10-11 - Allison 4th, Andrew 3rd.  Regular volunteering in Allison's class.  Still working at Target, still napping.

11-12 - Allison 5th, Andrew 4th.  So far, no volunteering at school...but that could still come, it's early in the year.  Also, so far only two days of working at Target while they are in school.  The part-time day hours are just not what they used to be.  So for the most part, I'm home with the dog all day...napping.

So maybe it's just the extra time at home, or maybe the fact that the kids don't need me as much even when they are home, but I've been looking a lot more at the classified ads.

Do I want a new job with more hours?
What if I'm not home as much with my kids?
Does that mean I'm not a SAHD anymore?
Does that mean I have to go back to being a computer programmer?  (I'll be honest, I REALLY miss that paycheck).
Do I have to start napping less?

Maybe a publisher will see the stories I put out here way back when, or the few I have that I plan on putting out here soon and I'll make my millions that way and I can continue my current nap schedule.

Here, use a pen.

Me:  Andrew, you should use a pen to write your name on that poster for school.
Andrew:  I want to use pencil.
Me:  No, a pen will show up better.
Andrew:  I want to use pencil.
Me:  No, here's a pen for you to use.
(5 seconds later)
Andrew (crying):  Why did you make me use pen?  I spelled my name wrong!


Sometimes, I really don't have a clue.