My almost-hip diaper bag...

My first-born and I spent a lot of time at The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In addition to the endless colors and shapes, the miles of smooth floors were  perfect for my fledgling walker. Of course, going anywhere in public with a toddler always presented the possibility of  a dirty diaper...

My diaper kit was a variation on my brother's idea. He used to simply stuff a diaper in his back pocket before taking his child out on the town. When I asked what he planned to do if there was more than pee to deal with, he said that he would simply ask any parent around for a wipe.

This seemed a bit too casual and unpredictable to me, so I came up with a neat little trick. Before leaving with my son on an outing, I opened a single diaper, put a few wipes in it, folded it back up, compressed it and put it in a sandwhich bad. I carried this in my back pocket. I also made it a point to carry a pair of latex gloves on me, just in case.

In addition to being light, this "emergency preparedness kit" did not interfere with my mobility and I got the peace of mind of not having to carry around a lot of "stuff."

It's alway fun until someone loses an eye...

One day, I set out to the playground with my 8-year old son. He asks if he can take two of his telescoping lightsabers with him. My knee-jerk reaction is: "No way, you are going to have a sword fight and someone will get poked in the eye!"

But at this particular moment, I remember how much I have been over-supervising my son. I think about how I have been telling him to put down sticks, whenever his friends are playing with them, when, as a child of his age,  I used to actively throw sticks at my friends.*

So, I make an exception:"You can take your lightsabers with you, if you agree to play safely  and bring them home when you are done."

Fast forward...

I am sitting on a bench watching my son on a swing, lightsaber in hand. As I am telling him to put the lightsaber down, he and his friend (standing on the ground) start to have a swordfight.Within seconds, my son is screaming, after his friends lightsaber apparently hits him directly in the eye! Aghast, I run over to my son... 

I am in disbelief and, truth be told, annoyed with my son. I chastise myself for "being so stupid." Immediately, I put my arm around my son and try to simultaneously calm him down and distract him so that I can ascertain if there is any damage to his eye: the lid can operate, no signs of discoloration, yet there is a bruise just outside of the eyeball (on the socket).

A near miss, Thank God!


* While playing in the woods unsupervised...

How to clean a bathroom quickly...

I can't count the number of times I have had ten minutes or less to prepare for unexpected visitors. Here is a very quick way to clean the bathroom...

Cleaning Supplies: 

• Toilet paper from unused roll or an unscented baby wipe (both have mild abrasive qualities and can be thrown out after a single use)

• Pump-liquid hand sanitizer (Purell or similar)
• Pump-liquid hand soap

The Big Idea:

Move from least to most dirty areas so that, as you clean, you don't have to stop and wash your hands.

Sink First:

Take a "cleaning cloth" (a piece  of clean toilet paper, with a generous dab of liquid hand sanitizer on it)  and wipe the handles, spigot and area around the faucet base. Discard cleaning cloth.

Make a new cleaning cloth, wipe the sink vanity and then the bowl of sink from top to bottom. 
Throw out cleaning cloth.

Toilet Second:

Make a new cleaning cloth, wipe the top of toilet tank (gets dusty) and closed lid of toilet seat. Discard cleaning cloth. Open lid of toilet seat.

Make a new cleaning cloth and wipe the top of the toilet seat. Lift seat and wipe the  bottom of it. Discard cleaning cloth.

Make a new cleaning cloth and wipe the area of the toilet where the seat hinges join the bowl  (especially if you have boys). Discard cleaning cloth.

Make a new cleaning cloth and wipe toilet bowl outsides and base. Discard cleaning cloth.

One pump of hand soap in bowl, scrub with brush and  let sit.
Make a new cleaning cloth, wipe down floor around toilet.

Important: Do not use hand sanitizer on finished wood floors, it might remove finish.

Wash  Hands, Fold Towel on Bar as You Leave...

Bonus Points...

The devil is in the details. Wipe off debris on the pump of hand soap and hand-sanitizing gel.

For a subtle and non-toxic air freshener, hide a peppermint teabag or two in the bathroom.

After the scream..

 

As a stay at home dad, it is probable that, sooner or later, you will  lose your patience and yell at your kids. The important thing to consider is what to do after the smoke has cleared. I personally make it a point to come back after I have cooled off and explain why I got mad. Then, most importantly, I offer a sincere apology that is not followed by the word "but."

It's worth trying...

Helping kids get through shots without a tear...

There is an awesome trick I use to distract my six-year-old while he is getting a flu shot.
I simply give him an extra firm bear hug during the shot. The pressure of the hug distracts him and the hug also allows me to keep him from moving his arms around.
Just be sure to ask permission from the doctor.


 

How I became a stay at home dad...

There are many different ways of becoming a stay at home dad. I have experienced one. The day my wife discovered that she was pregnant, she was earning more at office her job than I was as a letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. Even though I had reached the top  letter carrier pay-grade, my annual earnings were close to what it would have cost for 9-5 daycare.

Prior to discovering that I was going to be a father,  I had been gradually growing tired of delivering the mail. My work friends were awesome, but after ten years of slogging it out in the rain, sleet, snow and hail, and working in an antagonistic  "us-versus-them" (labor/mangement) atmosphere, I was burned out.

As an aspiring professional visual artist, I had a lot to potentially lose by leaving this job:

• It paid a decent union wage
• It had cost of living adjustments and opportunities for overtime
• You could, for the most part, leave your job at work at the end of the day. 

Yet, I still wanted out;  I felt that if I stayed on for much longer, I would never be able to leave, as my professional skill set was not developing. So,  my son's arrival , my wife's understanding and generosity and our economic situation ushered me into a new career that I was qualified for simply by being loving, trustworthy and available...

Another creative local doing neat stuff...Steve McGinn

 

Steve and I met while walking our kids to school one day. Steve, who lives in Nonantum,  publishes brilliantly funny, off-kilter comics through his Facebook account. I think of Steve as a more surreal and sinister embodiment of Gary Larson. The quality of his drawing and humor is exceptional. Check out Steve's work, especially if you are in need of a good laugh!

 
Click here to see more of Steve's hilarious work!