Musical Tastes

Today I was doing some work at the computer, and had Itunes playing random songs.  I usually just have it going for background music and don't really pay that much attention to it.

The song "Walking On The Moon" by The Police came on....and for some reason, I decided to skip it.  The next song was "We're Going To Mars" by the Backyardigans....and I left that one on.

So I skipped a song from the Greatest Hits album from one of America's classic rock bands for a song sung by a penguin, a kangaroo, and a "Uniqua."

That about sums up the state of fatherhood for me.

Math Homework and Free Fish

I was helping Allison with her math homework again tonight....and as I posted here last year, that's not always a good idea as I tend to give her the answers instead of making her work for them.  But I have actually gotten better at that...I think.

Tonight, she was working on her multiplication tables and had to do 17, 18, and 19.  I was helping her by holding a white board and writing numbers for her to add.  I would write 17+17, she would say 34.  I would write 34+17, she would say 51, etc.  Towards the end I went to write 153+17=170 and she yelled at me to stop.

"I don't want a free fish," she said.  "I want to learn how to catch fish."

I thought that was so cool.  Her teacher had given them that analogy in school today, and she really got it!

My son on the other hand is still all about getting a free fish with his homework.  I have to be very careful when I help him.  Maybe he'll get it soon too.

BoJiDaMaNaJa

The friends I had when I was a kid were awesome.  I was reminded of that fact the other day and it got me thinking (as always) about my kids.  My kids are in 5th and 4th grades.  As I recall....when I was in those grades I had great friends.  Not only did we have lots of fun (playing Star Wars at recess, having sleep overs, playing basketball on the hoop on our garage, the Saturday afternoon Dungeons and Dragons games) but they were just plain good people.  Smart, funny, and well behaved (as far as I can remember).  Of course, it's hard to tell at that age, but it turns out, my friends were awesome!  

Unfortunately, I haven't seen most of my elementary school and high school friends much since way back in the day....but through the magic of the internet, I can at least sort of keep up with them.

But what about my kids and their friends?  

I know you can't choose your kids' friends for them...but I sure hope their friends turn out to be as awesome as mine.

Minecraft

About a month ago, my son started asking me if he could get a game called Minecraft for our computer.  I had no idea what it was.  He said one of his friends had it and it was "epic."  But it was just after Christmas, so I kept telling him he didn't need any new games.  But he kept asking and kept asking and kept asking, and I eventually gave in and let him get it.

Now he plays non stop.  I'm convinced if we didn't make him stop occasionally, he would give up eating and sleeping for this game.

It seems to be a very fun, imaginative and creative game.  But we're also teetering on the line between having fun and being addicted.