Defeated by a Dandelion

We started a new routine for dropping off Sempi at his pre-school. We walk to the school and on the way we find flowers to pick. This morning we found a dried dandelion and Yoshi taught him how to blow the florets. She blew half of it and gave it to Sempi. Sempi wasn’t all too interested but he wanted me to blow the rest. His stipulation was I have to blow the rest with my nose and not with my mouth....

April 12, 2016 · 1 min

Conversations with a 3yo

Sempi and I are playing with a marble run game. I just built a pretty complex structure. I was quite proud of my creation. Me: Sempi, look at this run that I built. Is it pretty cool or is it pretty cool? Sempi: Appa, pretty cool and pretty cool are the same thing. Tread carefully when fishing for compliments from a toddler.

April 10, 2016 · 1 min

Dinosaur Story by a little Dr. Suess

Sempi and I are at the swap n' play (an indoor play area). He’s playing with a crane toy and I’m sitting on a chair staring at my phone. He deicides to rescue me from my boredom and brings three dinosaur toys to me and says “Appa, here, play with me”. So I join him at the table with three dinosaurs. Here’s the ensuing conversation: Me: Here’s a Triceratops, it says, “Woof, Woof”....

March 26, 2016 · 1 min

Jurassic Park with a twist

This is a continuation of our previous story. Sempi and I are still at the Swap n Play. He’s still playing with his cranes and trucks and I’m still playing with three dinosaurs. Sempi: Appa my crane is going to help build a fence around the dinosaurs. Me: Oh yeah? Sempi: Yeah people can come and milk the dinosaurs. Me: Milk the dinosaurs? Sempi: Yeah, like milking a cow, they can milk a dinosaur and drink it....

March 26, 2016 · 1 min

Raising a Rebel

A good friend of mine sent me this article after reading my previous ramble. Here are some choice snippets from that article that resonated with me. Values not Rules: Focus on teaching values than rules. Instead of, “Here’s the list of things that you’re allowed to do and not to do,” say, “Here are the principles that are important in this family, and let’s talk about how you want to express them....

March 13, 2016 · 3 min