Touched by Zen

misadventures in meandering

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The Three P’s of Parenting: Protection, Postulation, and Presumption

The Three P’s of Parenting: Protection, Postulation, and Presumption

I was on Facebook the other day when I saw a post from an old friend. He was on his way to the hospital with his little boy, who was suffering from appendicitis. R and I experienced this same trauma a few years ago with J, so my heart immediately went out for the little boy and his parents.

J had been complaining of slight abdominal discomfort for several days. We didn’t immediately believe him…

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Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon, Part 2

Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon, Part 2

Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon, Part 2.

via Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon, Part 2.

via Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon, Part 2.

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Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon, Part 2

The 2 by 6 inch dry erase magnets allow us to plan and stay on task throughout the day. Each one is an activity. J writes the time down when he begins one, so when time has expired, he knows I’m not cheating him (yes, a skeptic at eight). Some activities are set in stone (or at least soft cement), like meals, bedtime, doctor appointments, etc., while others are more flexible, like playing video…

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Summer Vacation, Cotton Balls, and Armageddon

J and I sat down a few weeks back to do some collaborative problem solving. The negotiations that took place were over how J would (and would not) spend his summer vacation.

“Let us assume you will wake up around 8:30 or 9:00 in the morning this summer, okay?” I said, with J nodding his approval. “Your summer bedtime is 9:30 pm, which is an hour later than normal, correct?” Again, J nodded his…

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Have Fun while Not Becoming an Ax Murderer

Okay, so summer has arrived and it’s time to take my 9 to 5 dad skills to the next level. Not only do I need to keep a toddler occupied, there is also a talented 8-year old trial lawyer that can argue the benefits of playing 11 hours of video games every day that he is not in school. How am I going to manage this?I don’t know everything just yet, but a plan is in the works. I have been on various…

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2015 Summer Fun Chart

2015 Summer Fun Chart

Came across this just this morning and thought I’d share. Some really great ideas from the Crafting Chicks!

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Scholarly Stress and the 2nd Grade Breaking Point (part 2)

As I arrived to get him after the second day of testing, I heard the melodic humming of a child. J was half-walking and half-skipping as he approached the car. To the untrained eye of anyone other than a parent, he gave one the impression of contentment.

“Hey, buddy.”

“Hey, daddy,” was his chipper response. “I got 90 today.”

Sensing disappointment rather than satisfaction, I replied, “That’s a…

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Whom, What, When, and Why?

The whole blog-thing is somewhat new to me and I’ve recently come into a quandary over it. Specifically, whom do I need to write about using an alias (for them), what details should or shouldn’t be included, and when should I end an average blog post (at 500 or 1000 words)?

For whom do I change names, just my kids or for every family member? R says that I need to be careful about publishing…

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