Questionable Parenting...

Tonight, I would like to pose two different sets of parents to my readers to see if there is a difference. Is one justified more so than the other?

Here we go...

Parent A: Parent A is seen at 11:00 pm in Wal-Mart checking out with her two children. One child is about 6 years old, the other about 14 months (give or take). Parent A is constantly telling her children (both of whom are standing in the shopping basket) to set down and stop messing with things. The items in the shopping basket consist of bathing suits for the children and dog food. The children get upset when told something they don't want to hear..."you can't have that" or "set down, we're going to the car in a minute". Neither parent or children seem to be having very much fun.

Parent B: Parent B is seen leaving a large outdoor family event at 10:00 pm with one child in tow (about 15 months old). The child is obviously tired, but is not fussy. Parent B and the child were both seen having a good time during the event with the occasional crankiness coming from the child since it was getting late.

Here are my questions. Should both parents have put their children to bed at a reasonable time, say 8 or 9 pm? Was it okay for parent B to keep the child up for a "family friendly" event. Was parent A just being stupid for taking her kids to Wally-World for seemingly unnecessary shopping? You can probably guess my opinion, but I'm curious to hear yours.

-OD

Oda Vacation!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!

Yesterday, Oda Momma and I took Oda Mae to her Gee Gee's house for a two day and one night stay. This will be the first time Oda Mae has ever spent the night with someone. Yesterday, Oda Momma and I went to lunch "sans" baby. We had a very good time. Then we went to our rehearsal for CITG. Then we went to the library for some fun, hanging out time doing some genealogical research. (I know, we're nerds.) BUT then we went to go see SUPERMAN RETURNS at the 9:30 show. We got out after midnight and came home. Got to wake up this morning (on my own) and took the dogs out for a little run.

Now, yesterday, I sent Oda Mae to Gee Gee's house with a package of oatmeal for breakfast this morning. She likes oatmeal really well, especially with some maple syrup mixed in, but what do I find this morning on my e-mail...



Terrible, processed, fakey chocolate, sugar filled, make your kids turn into ADHD, television watching, video-game playing, hoodlums. :) Oh well, what are ya gonna do?

I think Oda Mae is having a very good time with her Gee Gee. They are having all kinds of fun. I have to admit, I miss her a little...JUST A LITTLE!

-OD

15 Month Checkup

Today, Oda Momma, Oda Mae and I went to the wee one's doctor for her checkup. She is extremely healthy and is in perfect form. She had to get three shots and a blood test today. She cried just a little bit during the second shot. The nurse said that she was very good and that she wished that all babies were that good.

While in the waiting room (for nearly an hour) we noticed a little boy just a couple of months older than Oda Mae. He sat very quietly in a little chair the whole time. Didn't get up to play. Didn't talk to anyone. Just kind of sat there checking things out. He was a very well behaved little boy. Oda Mae, while also very well behaved, was a completely different personality. She would go up to people and say "Hi". She wanted to play with the rocking horse and all of the toys in the waiting room. She never stopped. Come to think about it, if she is awake, she has got to be doing something all the time. She almost never just sits and plays. If we ever have a child that is content to play by themselves, we'll be pleasantly surprised. To the lady at the dr's office today. Your next one will be a surprise to you too. (hee, hee, hee).

See what I mean...


-OD

The Successful Breakfast

The successful breakfast for Oda Mae is the one where I do not get food in MY hair.

Are my standards too low?

-OD

Free Concert Tomorrow Afternoon

I will be playing my last concert tomorrow afternoon with The Perennial Brass Ensemble. The concert is at the Josey Ranch Lake Public Library and starts at 2:30 and will last about an hour. We are playing a concert of "Americana" music. Music by Americans of course. It'll be fun; hope to see you there.

-OD

Super-Duper Awesome Laser Firework Adventure Spectacular

Last night we went to see the Concerts in the Garden again. This time with Aunt Sis and Cousin Chris.

We got to hear music from all of our favorite super hero, space, kick-your-tail-with-a-light-saber movies. Except for E.T. and Mission Impossible, which by-the-way brings me to another subject...

Who's LAME idea was it to cancel E.T. and M.I. during the first half...
FIRST: Those are two of the coolest pieces that the orchestra was supposed to play.
SECOND: The 1st half was way too short.
THIRD: Intermission was way too long.
FOURTH: When the lasers started, it wasn't dark enough.
FIFTH: I REALLY LIKE E.T. AND M.I.!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm done.

When it did get dark enough, the lasers were really cool...

Oda Momma put the best pictures on her site.

Oda Mae also got a Super-Duper Cool Light-Saber-Laser Sphere that shoots lightning and fireworks at your interstellar galactic enemies. It also plays a cute little song. Cousin Chris got one too. They had a war and Oda Mae won.

Next Friday I'm on stage while Oda Mae is out in the crowd with Grandma "GiGi". Then we go out for the big 4th of July Concert.

-OD

Went swimming today...

We had access to a "friends" pool today with Grandma Gigi. So we went went in for a dip...

We all had a very good time. And Oda Mae got to skip her afternoon nap. Maybe she'll sleep 'til noon tomorrow?

-OD

Happy Father's Day!

This post was supposed to go up yesterday, but I was having some networking problems. Those problems are now smashed into little bits.

A year ago, Oda Momma and I made the decision that I would be a stay at home dad. I can say that it has been quite the experience. I wouldn't want to trade it for anything. Whoever said that being a stay-at-home person was the most difficult job in the world was wrong. They must have had a terrible other half, out there working and making their life miserable. I've had the best time. I don't always get the housework done, dinner isn't always made, but I give it a go anyway. But the most difficult job? I don't think so. Trying at times, frustrating every once in a while, yes. Maybe it's just me, but the rewards of staying home with Allison are worth it. I'm thankful as a father today because I have a very good little girl and an incredibly supporting wife. Thank you!

After seeing this post on NCS's website Oda Mae wanted to learn how to dance.
As a very special Oda post today, I made a little movie of her dancing. She's really good now.

CLICK HERE

-OD

Mentos and Diet Coke Experiment

So, apparently this little experiment is all the rage these days. There was even an article in yesterdays local newspaper.





I can't help but wonder what would happen.....no, no.........................

Well, maybe. What would happen if someone swallowed a couple of Mentos (whole), and (chuckles) then (LOL) drank a Diet Coke? If you closed your mouth, would it make Diet Coke squirt out your nose? (Hee, hee)

Now, if I were still in college, that's something I might actually try. But now that I'm a civilized stay-at-home-dad, I feel that maybe I shouldn't teach my daughter these types of things. BUT, I would be willing to pay a certain nephew who is going to college next semester, $20.00 if he'd be willing to do it and let me video tape it. :)

-OD

Hmmmm

I just found these....



Oda Mae is just starting to wake up. I'll let her have lunch first.

-OD

June 15, 2006

So I was a little disapointed in the whole Pop Rocks experiment. Her eyes didn't bug out at all. I think she liked them pretty well (After the initial shock). What's not to like about carbonated sugar? Also, most of my pics came out blurry. Darn blurry pics!

Has summer started already?

Finally got all those Christmas lights put away today. I feel productive.

-OD

Elvis Lives!!!

Oda Mae and I went to see "Elvis" last night with Gran. We had been gearing up for this event for a week. Oda Mae was so excited. When we got there, there were no seats left in front of the stage so we had to back up a bit. We found a very little spot on the ground next to this nice grandparenty couple. We were kind of in the middle of a lot of people so I wasn't too sure how Oda Mae would do. Last week, Oda Mae wanted to run around a lot. If that happened last night I was going to annoy a lot of people around us. But alas...Oda Mae was the perfect little lady ALL NIGHT LONG! We got to the concert about 7:15 and she played with her Gran until the concert started. When the concert started, she started dancing and clapping her hands along with everyone else. She didn't stop until she got into bed at about 11:00. She had such a good time. She played football with the little boy who was sitting behind us, she clapped with the couple next to us, and she was amazed again by the fireworks. Mom told me last night that because she was such a good baby that our next one might be completely the opposite. I don't think so. Anyway, a good time was had by all. Next week...The Beatles

Concerts in the Garden

Last night was Oda Mae's first trip out to see the Concerts in the Garden. We got there just as the concert was starting (Oda Mae's normal bedtime 8:00). She had a very good time. She never really got fussy, but she did want to run around a lot. She kept me and Oda Momma pretty busy. But, we all had a pretty good time. Oda Mae got to stay up until 10:30 when we got home. She was very tired, but she really wanted to see the fireworks. She liked them (I think). By the time they started them, she had finally run out of steam.

Here she is going on ahead...

Lookin' cool....
Watching the sky with Mommy
Oda Mae's first (live) fireworks show...
This is how she was during all of the fireworks...

Next weekend Oda Mae and I are going out on Sunday to see ELVIS!!!!!!!!!!!

Anybody want to come?

-OD

Very Sad...

A seven year old boy was at the center of a Chicago courtroom drama yesterday when he challenged a court ruling over who should have custody of him.

The boy has a history of being beaten by his parents and the judge initially awarded custody to his aunt, in keeping with the child custody law and regulations requiring that family unity be maintained to the degree possible.

The boy surprised the court when he proclaimed that his aunt beat him more than his parents and he adamantly refused to live with her. When the judge suggested that he live with his grandparents, the boy cried out that they also beat him.

After considering the remainder of the immediate family and learning that domestic violence was apparently a way of life among them, the Judge took the unprecedented step of allowing the boy to propose who should have custody of him.

After two recesses to check legal references and to confer with child welfare officials, the judge granted temporary custody to the Chicago Cubs, who the boy firmly believes are not capable of beating anyone.
_______________________________

I'm generally not a sports fan, but this was just too funny!

-OD