When I was a boy, I had the greatest dog a boy could have — B.D. His initials stood for “Big Dog,” which is probably why you shouldn’t let a 9 year old name a dog. B.D. was fiercely loyal and protective of me. I couldn’t even play pick-up football with my buddies in the neighborhood if B.D. was with us, as he saw any attempt to tackle me as a declaration of war, something my childhood friend Jason can attest to, probably with a still-evident scar on his head.
As a parent, I never thought I would get to the point where I would say these three simple words: I love bedtime.
It took a while to get here. A long while. My kids are 14 and 12, so some might say it took 14 years to get here. Of course, figure that both kids account for their own years, I think it’s only fair to count both of their years, and thus it has been 26 years of bedtime. But no longer. My wife and I are free.
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Decision time
Sometimes, you find yourself at a crossroads: You must dig deep into your hardwired soul and decide — is it time for fight or flight?
Do you dig your heels in and wage a to-the-death battle, or do you slink away and hope to disappear into permanent anonymity?
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You mow, girl!
There are plenty of fantastic milestones in your children’s lives.
First day of kindergarten. Getting a driver’s license. Prom. Wedding. Rebounding from that corporate wide-layoff.
I have experienced plenty of wonderful milestones for both of my kids, and I am sure the upcoming achievements will be equally awesome.
The other day, my wife and I celebrated our 17th anniversary. I have written plenty of anniversary columns over the years, so this won’t be one of them. I think the fact that we hit 17 years can be summed up with this one sentence: My wife is very patient.
I recently read an article about a restaurant that was under fire for posting on Facebook that it would no longer allow “small screaming children,” adding that the establishment is “an adult themed restaurant that caters to those who enjoy food and are out to enjoy themselves.”
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Eel before me
Few things in life bring you joy like a headless eel.
Well, I guess I should clarify. If you are my son, few things in life bring you joy like a headless eel.
Readers of my column have gotten to know Parker and his many nature exploits. He loves nothing more than spending time outdoors, catching critters and observing nature. When I was his age, I was much like him. With one small difference.
I was recently asked to speak at a resume workshop for college students. I have been hiring folks for nearly 20 years, and I’ve seen some resumes in my time. And the reality is, most resumes alone won’t get you the job. But plenty will NOT get you the job.
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The (temporary) bachelor
Recently, I spent four days as a bachelor. Now, while many of you would assume that my wife finally came to her senses, I can assure you that this was mutually agreed upon. My kids had spring break, and because the grown-up world is cruel and without reason, I do not get spring break. My wife decided to take the kids to Atlanta to visit her folks, leaving me to fend for myself for a few days.
Like most of you, my idea of a perfect day includes finding a snake that regurgitates a toad.
I see you are all nodding in agreement, so I’ll share the details.
Our day began recently out at our family land. The start of spring is one of our favorite times out there, as that is when nature wakes up from winter, and many of the critters begin making appearances.