Triple The Dad

Is raising your kid as easy as playing Mario Bros.?  Or Contra? I know there are days when it would be nice if a little Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right B, A, Select, Start action could summon 99 extra parents to assist me. On second thought, no, that sounds awful.  But it would be nice, wouldn't it, if parenting were as simple as repeatedly mashing the A button? Parenting, perfected This guy at the Art of Manliness says it is. Before you scoff, read the article.  He has a point and its a good one.  Also, what follows is perhaps just a bit of confirmation bias. As he says, the real trick to parenting is getting kids to do what you want them to do and cut out the annoying stuff.  Face it: as much as you'd like to think you have some role to play in when they learn to spell, or talk or walk, those things are mostly as programmed as when they get teeth.  There just isn't a lot you can do about it. So what do you do in the face of 25...

I really wanted to post this article on picky eaters for three reasons: First: There is some good advice for introducing foods (I’ll get to them at the end). Second: because food seems to be a difficult issue for many families.  Based on the amount of stories written about it dinner alone must be a terror for many. Third: I think we get it right and I’d like to brag a little. The advice is so straight forward and logical it frightens me that it parents apparently suffer “lot of worry and mealtime strife.”  The story specifically mentions a harried mother “racing” home (what, no father rushing home?) to cook pasta that her kids hates.  Ignore for a minute that “making” pasta involves the tiring task of boiling water.  Why is Mom doing all this racing?  Pasta can easily be cooked ahead the night before, reheated and jazzed up with sauce or butter and a sprinkle of cheese.  Throw some canned chicken into the mix.  Microwave a si...

I have to admit, I’m kind of proud of the parenting job my wife and I have done thus far. For first time parents I feel like we are doing OK navigating very new and scary waters. For first time parents of triplets, I feel like we hit it out of the park. Something I like to keep in mind is that we are raising little adults.  Sure we have a broad idea of who we would like our kids to become, but in essence, what we parents are really doing is shepparding kids to adulthood.  As much as we'd like to think otherwise, genetic study after genetic study of multiples demonstrates that nothing but the very extremes of parenting conduct will affect your child.  Essentially, a child is born with genetic limits on athletic skill and intelligence.  Nothing you can do short of raising them in a closet will prevent them from reaching their "set point."  Try as you might, by second grade your kid will likely know X number of words.  Sure, you might be able to get him to X...

I wish I could cloak the post in black; or more appropriately, chocolate brown. King-sized Snicker's bars, a one-time favorite of mine, have become a victim of King-sized guilt about obesity. Mars LLC will now only sell candy bars coming in at sub-250 calories, making the 510-calorie King-sized version a big no no. Which is all fine and good - except for the intrusion into my life and purchasing habits and proclivities - minus the fact that now to treat my triplets, I will have to buy 3 candy bars at 250 calories a piece, rather than a single 510 calorie. Lets see: a 250 calorie treat (1 candy bar per child at 250 calories) or a 170 calorie treat (1 at 510 calories split 3 ways (510 / 3 = 170) with an added side of sharing and negotiating. I guess I'll be spending more to buy additonal, smaller treats and giving my kids more calories. Thanks.