Category: Parenting

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Parasol Days

“These are parasol days, when young ladies learn to be young ladies and young gentlemen are afraid to tip their hats for fear of engagement.” ~Anonymous “They grow up so fast, don’t they?” I hear that from just about everyone I come in contact with who asks about my daughters. And I know they’re right … Continue reading Parasol Days

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Chatting With Lexi: Big Sister

Yesterday Lexi, Maddie and I took a walk down to the park to meet one of Lexi’s friends for a play date. It was beautiful weather and she even wore shorts, but I was conservatively dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Maddie decided she wanted to just wear sweat pants and a long-sleeved shirt, so I’m sure she was hot, but she never complained. Of course because it was Lexi’s play date she had to make sure she was little miss bossy when we ended up starting out late in order to get to the park.

Lexi: Daddy, how come we always have to wait for Maddie? It’s MY play date.

Me: Because there’s only one of me, and we can’t leave Maddie here by herself.

Lexi: What if she was asleep? Could we leave her alone then?

Me: [stunned silence]

Lexi: I’m just kidding. I know we can’t leave Maddie alone!

Me: Good, because I thought we were going to have to have a serious talk.

Lexi: More serious than this one?

Me: Definitely. She’s your little sister, and she has to go along on play dates like this one because I’m going along.

Lexi: I know. I went on one of her play dates before too.

Me: Do you get upset when Maddie has to come along?

Lexi: No. I just play with my friends anyway.

Me: You don’t try to include your sister?

Lexi: Well, she comes over and stuff, but she does her own thing.

Me: Maybe you should try to include your sister? After all, you know she loves to play with you. Continue reading “Chatting With Lexi: Big Sister”

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Divide and Conquer

Tonight was officially “Parents Night” at our local elementary school, and for the first time we had two classrooms to visit at the same time, so we decided to divide and conquer, with one of us heading to third grade and the other off to kindergarten. My wife gave Alexa the choice of who she … Continue reading Divide and Conquer

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Chatting With Lexi: New York

new-york-skyline-in-ink-lee-ann-adendorffWe’re taking the girls to New York this fall, and from the moment my wife told Lexi that it was happening all we’ve heard around here is how much fun she’s going to have, how many sights she’s going to see, and how amazing it’s all going to be. Now, if you knew Lexi, you would know that she’s like a dog with a bone, especially when it’s something she wants, and somehow New York — the big city of dreams — has blazed like fire inside of her ever since she first heard of it.

This week we had another conversation about what she feels the trip will entail…

Lexi: I want to see the Statue of Liberty first. Do you think we’ll be able to get inside the crown?

Me: I don’t see why not, but it’s been a long time since I visited the Statue.

Lexi: Maybe you can get on your computer and find out.

Me: Now?

Lexi: Well, yeah. Oh, but I have my iPad and it’s got Safari so maybe I can find out myself.

Me: I’ll look for you.

Lexi: Great. And we have to go to the Empire State Building.

Me: You know I’m afraid of heights, right?

Lexi [with an incredulous look on her face]: What?

Me: I’m scared of heights. I don’t think I’m going to the top with you.

Lexi: YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE TOP!

Me: Okay, but I just won’t look down.

Lexi: That’s just silly, daddy.

Me: No sillier than you freaking out over an ant on the windowsill.

Lexi [laughing]: That’s not the same thing, daddy! Continue reading “Chatting With Lexi: New York”