Parenting | Table for Five

October 19, 2010 By Elizabeth

This past week has given me a whole new appreciation for single Moms and Dads. I do not know how you work, either in an office or at home, plus take care of kids, plus keep up with grocery shopping, meal prep, dishes, laundry, housework, doctor's appointments, checking the homework, getting everyone to bed on time - it's exhausting. Mentally and physically. I am a terrible housekeeper, that's no secret. I can't prioritize the work and so I just let it go as long as possible. I'm trying to delegate chores to the kids, but yesterday Ryan was standing next to me rinsing a dish at the sink and I noticed he looked really sad. I asked him what was wrong and he of course said "nothing". I said "honey, you know you can talk to me any time about any thing. Is everything okay at school?" "Yes." "Everything okay with your friends?" "Yes." "Okay, then what is it?" He heaved a sigh and said "it's just so stressful here at home." Oh. OH. Now, this is a kid who is more than … [Read more...]

Dad plus daughter plus public restroom equals chat with police

May 21, 2010 By Elizabeth

Last Monday, Chris worked from home. In the afternoon, he took Kaitlyn to a nearby park to play. This park has two play structures, a newer one near the front and an older one near the back, and a bathroom building. When Kaitlyn needed to go potty, they were at the front playground, so he put her in the car and drove her to the back of the park to go to the bathroom. Chris has a policy of never taking Kaitlyn into a men's bathroom, because they are always filthy. He doesn't even like the boys going into them. So, Chris took Kaitlyn into the women's bathroom just long enough to help her up onto the potty, then he stood outside the building waiting for her to finish. When she called to him that she was done, he went back in to help her wash her hands, then they got back in the car and drove back to the front of the park. Kaitlyn ran off to play and Chris started chatting with another Dad that was there with his daughter, and as they were sitting there, a police car pulled up. … [Read more...]