Sophia Stories

Which is Best For You? Stay-at-Home Parent vs Working Parent

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Sophia more than two years ago, while I was a stay-at-home dad

Sophia more than three years ago, while I was a stay-at-home dad.

Jan 14th, 2011: The day I lost my previous job.

February 24th, 2011: The day Sophia was born. Also the day I became a stay-at-home dad.

The topic of stay-at-home parenting can be a hot-button issue. I realize that. Frankly, I don’t understand why it’s really anybody else’s business if you decide to stay at home and raise your kids or if you decide to work. I’ve seen this more between moms than between dads, but it can be downright brutal. Really, I just want discussion, respectful, of course, about the topic. Continue reading →

Toon Town

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Cartoons. When you’re a kid they are literally the best thing ever. When I was a kid I had to wait until Saturday morning cartoons came on to get my fix of my favorite shows. And I’ll tell you what, kiddos, being a kid in the 80s, we had some seriously awesome cartoons to watch. G.I. Joe? Hell yes. He-Man? Oh you didn’t know that was the greatest show on TV? Get out now. Transformers? For the win, my friends. FOR THE WIN. And, my personal favorite: M.A.S.K. Funny story about M.A.S.K., I have a scar on my face from the toy truck they made for series. Word to the wise: Never run across a rock driveway with a toy truck unless you wanna fall and face plant on said truck.

I know what you’re probably thinking: “Here he goes with a ‘BACK IN MY DAY…’ rant”. Nope. Not what I’m doing. Really, I just want to talk about the cartoons that I’m bombarded with in my house. There are many, MANY parents out there with strong feelings about a lot of the cartoons that pop up on our TVs these days. What’s funny is the transition that comes from when your kids first start watching cartoons and see shows on Sprout, like Caillou, aka the worst effing show on the planet, and then quicklyish move onto shows on Disney Junior. If you wanna read the greatest take ever on Caillou, head over to HowToBeADad to be enlightened.  Continue reading →

My Daughter Is Just Like Me As A Kid–And It’s Driving Me Nuts

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When I was a kid, my mom used to say “I can’t wait until you have a kid and they are JUST LIKE YOU. Paybacks.” That’s a true story. You know what else is a true story? The fact that she got her wish. From the day Sophia started being mobile, she has been non-stop. I mean NON-STOP. Talking all the time? Check. Running around non-stop? Check. Never wanting to sleep? Double-check.

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The Nickname Game

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A show of hands for those of you who have at least one nickname. Ok, by my count it looks like it’s almost the entire class. Good, good. Me? Throughout my life I’ve had approximately 1,674 nicknames. I can’t think of a time I haven’t told a friend, co-worker, family member, or total stranger a story of how I got one of my many nicknames. The longest running ones: Brownie–a play on my name; Duck–a nickname I earned in seventh grade; and Tittles–my nickname since college, that many, MANY people only knew me by. But, what about our kids? I’m sure if you have older kids, they’ve already earned plenty of nicknames in their lives. Chances are you’ve given them at least four. And, their friends have probably given them even more.

Soapbox and Mad Dog

Soapbox and Mad Dog

We’ve already given Sophia and Maddie their fair share of nicknames at this early stage of their lives. Sophia has been known at different times as the following: Soapbox, Sopha-rope, Boo Boo, Tornado, Sophia the First, and Miss Sophia B. Maddie, at the ripe-old age of 11-months already has earned a fair amount herself: Mad Dog, Maddie Moo, Moo Moo, Mo Mo, Magoo, and someone once called her Fatty Maddie (I’m lookin’ in your direction, Zach-O). Continue reading →

Back to School Season! AKA Nothing Changes Here

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For some reason, we’ve been seeing a ton of back-to-school ads, commercials, and sales already. It’s not even August yet. But, with those commercials, it is clearly a sign that the summer will be winding down in a month. The kids will go back to school, buses will again block me from getting to work on time, and everyone will get a year older. It also means, that outside of the buses stopping every 10-feet to pick up kids for school, my life will not change one bit. Nope, not even a little bit.

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As June started up and hit mid-month, many people started talking about school letting out, taking their kids to camp, and heading out for vacation. Some complained about having to find stuff to do with their kids. It’s an outside view of what our life will be like in a few years when Sophia starts school. But, again, currently, the end of summer brings no changes to our lives.

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What Do You Mean My Kids Won’t Be The Same?!

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No dad, we aren't the same.

No dad, we aren’t the same.

You have one kid, go through all the ups and downs in their time as a baby, into toddler-hood, and beyond. They learn at their own pace, as do you. You become accustom to how you did things with them. How they slept. How they ate. How they reacted to being sick. How they interacted. Their general disposition. And in your mind, you think “when we have a second kid, it will be just like this all over again”. Totally logical line of thinking. Wait, what?! Continue reading →

What Time Is It? Tantrum Time

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hair pull out“Oh, you think the twos are bad?! Just wait until they hit three! They’re even worse!” Just wait, they said. It’ll be bad, they said. Who are “they”? Try every parent I ever encountered in the last three years. And ya know what? THEY WERE RIGHT. I feel like I’m walking on eggshells, or through a mine field, at all times. It’s a matter of when not if a tantrum is coming. Because OH IT’S COMING and it’s coming STRONG. You see Al Bundy over there on the right? That’s how I look pretty much at all times when at home. With less hair, because, ya know, balding. Continue reading →

Oh You’re Single Without Kids? Tell Me About How Tired You Are

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As a parent, I have developed many pet-peeves in the last three-plus years. People cursing around my kids, unsolicited parenting advice, and most recently: people with no kids complaining to me about just how tired they are…

I get it, you lead a busy life, you have an active social life. That’s cool. I used to do the same thing as you. Random nights during the week, I would be out at the bars with friends. Or going out to dinner and staying out late. Staying up until 4 am just because I didn’t feel like going to sleep. I made my own sleep schedule and if I was tired, it was typically my own fault. Now? If I get no sleep, which I never do, it isn’t caused by my body not wanting to sleep, or me staying up for no reason. The reason is because I have kids that like to wake up randomly throughout the night, wake up early every morning, sleep in my bed, and a myriad other reasons.
sleepy Continue reading →

No, I Don’t Need To Have A Son

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These girls make me more than happy every day.

These girls make me more than happy every day.

The question comes often. I’ve learned to expect it. I don’t believe we’ll ever stop being asked it and that’s okay. But, I want to throw this answer out there for all future inquiries. What is the question I’m talking about? Simple.

“Are you going to keep trying until you have a boy???”

I can honestly say that my answer is no. Yes, there was a time that I hoped I’d have a son. Most men will tell you that they would love to have a son. I was one of them for quite some time. Who was I going to pass my useless knowledge of sports on to? Who was I going to teach to throw a football, play baseball, and do all the silly and stupid things I’ve learned and done throughout my life?

I’ll tell you who. Sophia and Maddie. Continue reading →

A Weekend of Firsts

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Our first game together as a family.

Our first game together as a family.

As a dad to two little girls, I love experiencing the firsts in their lives. I’ll never forget the day Sophia took her first steps or the day she said her first words. There is just something about the firsts that are unforgettable and amazing. This past weekend, we had a few firsts for both the girls. And they were both fantastic, in their own right.

Maddie, at nine-months, finally started crawling. Of course, I wasn’t in the room when it happened. I was in the shower. Go figure, right? I walk downstairs to Sarah sitting on the floor with Maddie and she tells me to watch the video she sent me. What was it? Maddie crying, then crawling!  Continue reading →