After a recent soccer game, Joshua and I were discussing how well he played (he scored 2 goals!!!). And in his infinite wisdom, this is what he said: "Dad, it's about the fun-ness; it's not about winning"
How great is that!
9/28/11
9/5/11
Back To School 2011
It's that time again. Joshua and Rebecca are starting their new school years tomorrow. It's been a great summer for both kids. Rebecca went away to sleep-away camp for the first time, and Joshua went to his day camp by himself and had to learn to get by without his big sister present.
To get him ready for the new school year, we've been trying to get Joshua to practice his reading, which is not easy. Rebecca loves to read, and will often choose a good book over other activities. But Joshua is very different when it comes to reading. It's a major struggle to just to get him to sit down and agree to practice with one of us. However, once he gets going, he forgets that he's doing something he is not supposed to like, and really starts to lose himself in the task. It's pretty funny to watch.
Rebecca has been practicing her math skills for the new year. For some reason she thinks she is not good at math, but she is getting all the problems right on the Summer Worksheet. Getting her to read is not a problem, but making her more confident in her math skills is the challenge.
All in a day's work....
To get him ready for the new school year, we've been trying to get Joshua to practice his reading, which is not easy. Rebecca loves to read, and will often choose a good book over other activities. But Joshua is very different when it comes to reading. It's a major struggle to just to get him to sit down and agree to practice with one of us. However, once he gets going, he forgets that he's doing something he is not supposed to like, and really starts to lose himself in the task. It's pretty funny to watch.Rebecca has been practicing her math skills for the new year. For some reason she thinks she is not good at math, but she is getting all the problems right on the Summer Worksheet. Getting her to read is not a problem, but making her more confident in her math skills is the challenge.
8/21/11
Home From Camp
Rebecca came home from camp a few weeks ago. We had mixed feelings about her coming home. Of course we were so excited and happy to have her back in our daily lives. It was great to see her every morning and appreciate her presence like we never had before.
But on the other hand, Rebecca was leaving the camp after 4 weeks, and many of her friends were staying on for the full 7 week term. So Jen and I felt bad about cutting her summer short, and we hoped she wouldn't feel like she was missing something.
We did our best to keep Rebecca busy with Dance Camp, trips to Hershey Park, and Drama camp. All in all, she did a great job of adjusting back to her regular home life, and was very happy about spending time with her old friends.
Camp was a wonderful experience for Rebecca. She came off the bus upset that she had to leave, and wanted to go back for more. That's exactly what we wanted. Success.
But on the other hand, Rebecca was leaving the camp after 4 weeks, and many of her friends were staying on for the full 7 week term. So Jen and I felt bad about cutting her summer short, and we hoped she wouldn't feel like she was missing something.
We did our best to keep Rebecca busy with Dance Camp, trips to Hershey Park, and Drama camp. All in all, she did a great job of adjusting back to her regular home life, and was very happy about spending time with her old friends.
Camp was a wonderful experience for Rebecca. She came off the bus upset that she had to leave, and wanted to go back for more. That's exactly what we wanted. Success.
7/3/11
Sleepaway Camp
Last week, Rebecca left for sleepaway camp for the first time. The whole experience was very interesting, but a lot harder than I imagined.
Buses picked up the local kids in the parking lot of a large department store about 40 minutes from our house. It was a tense scene as the older campers all ran to greet their old friends, and the younger, first-time, campers clung to their parents with much nervousness and anxiety. Fortunately, Rebecca had already been introduced a few weeks earlier to a girl in her bunk through a mutual friend. So at least one face was familiar to her.
There were many girls who were crying and had to be consoled by their parents. When it was time to board the bus, Rebecca gave us each a big hug, and got right on. No issues, no crying. I was very proud of her. She looked a little bewildered, but kept it together and did a great job. Once she got on, the bus sat there for about another 20 minutes as the counselors checked, and double-checked, their camper lists. This was difficult - we were just standing around waving at the kids, not knowing what else to do. Eventually the buses pulled out, and that was that.
About 4 hours later, we received email confirmation from the camp that Rebecca had arrived safely. At this point, I was happy to get any communication on what Rebecca was doing. The strangest part of this whole experience is that I have no idea what is going on in her life, and what she is doing at any given moment. So any insight into this is always welcome.
Since last weekend, we've seen Rebecca in many pictures posted on the camp website, and have received three letters (2 she wrote on her own accord, and one she wrote because the campers were bribed with candy to write home). We even had a quick phone conversation with her yesterday. The phone call was concerning because often kids will break down and cry when they hear their parents' voice. But it went well.
So far, all signs are good. The letters say she is having the "best time", "the food is great", and she got the "highest" score on her swim test. In all of the pictures, she is smiling, and often has her arms around her friends and bunkmates. And our phone call went very well. Rebecca sounded great, and totally together, and in a calm voice told us about her activities (she doesn't like swim team but likes everything else, she did the trapeze, rock-climbing wall, wood-working, etc.)
Jen and I were very relieved by all this, and we are both extremely proud of our little girl. We always wanted sleepaway camp to be a wonderful experience for her.
Buses picked up the local kids in the parking lot of a large department store about 40 minutes from our house. It was a tense scene as the older campers all ran to greet their old friends, and the younger, first-time, campers clung to their parents with much nervousness and anxiety. Fortunately, Rebecca had already been introduced a few weeks earlier to a girl in her bunk through a mutual friend. So at least one face was familiar to her.
There were many girls who were crying and had to be consoled by their parents. When it was time to board the bus, Rebecca gave us each a big hug, and got right on. No issues, no crying. I was very proud of her. She looked a little bewildered, but kept it together and did a great job. Once she got on, the bus sat there for about another 20 minutes as the counselors checked, and double-checked, their camper lists. This was difficult - we were just standing around waving at the kids, not knowing what else to do. Eventually the buses pulled out, and that was that.
About 4 hours later, we received email confirmation from the camp that Rebecca had arrived safely. At this point, I was happy to get any communication on what Rebecca was doing. The strangest part of this whole experience is that I have no idea what is going on in her life, and what she is doing at any given moment. So any insight into this is always welcome.
Since last weekend, we've seen Rebecca in many pictures posted on the camp website, and have received three letters (2 she wrote on her own accord, and one she wrote because the campers were bribed with candy to write home). We even had a quick phone conversation with her yesterday. The phone call was concerning because often kids will break down and cry when they hear their parents' voice. But it went well.
So far, all signs are good. The letters say she is having the "best time", "the food is great", and she got the "highest" score on her swim test. In all of the pictures, she is smiling, and often has her arms around her friends and bunkmates. And our phone call went very well. Rebecca sounded great, and totally together, and in a calm voice told us about her activities (she doesn't like swim team but likes everything else, she did the trapeze, rock-climbing wall, wood-working, etc.)
Jen and I were very relieved by all this, and we are both extremely proud of our little girl. We always wanted sleepaway camp to be a wonderful experience for her.
6/20/11
Fatherhood.gov
Check out the latest Dad updates on Fatherhood.gov, and sign up for the President's Fatherhood Pledge: http://fatherhood.gov/home
Lots of good Dad resources and information.
Make sure you are present for your kids, and encourage other Dads to be present as well. There is nothing more important.
Lots of good Dad resources and information.
Make sure you are present for your kids, and encourage other Dads to be present as well. There is nothing more important.
6/18/11
Happy Father's Day 2011
The Dad World Blog would like to wish all Dads out there a wonderful and happy Father's Day. Make sure you take full advantage of this day, and spend quality time with your family. No stress, no worries, no problems - just relax and enjoy...as much as possible.
6/14/11
T-Ball
I've been coaching Joshua's T-Ball team since early April, and I have to say it's been a lot of fun. At first it seemed like a lot of work (which it still is), but as the season has gone on, it's been very rewarding. In just a short couple of months, we've seen some really good progress being made. The kids are getting a better understanding of the game, and are learning the subtle nuances that will become instinctive to them as they get older. You don't really appreciate how complicated a sport Baseball can be until you have to teach it to 5 and 6 year olds.
Not to say that the kids are throwing, catching and hitting like champs (The biggest challenge is getting them stop making sand castles in the infield during the game). But they are learning the difference between a force play at 2nd base, and tagging a runner with the ball.
And Joshua is coming along nicely as well. He is hitting the ball solidly, and already knows to step into the swing to maximize his power. He can throw better now, but still has a tough time catching (might have something to do with me hitting him in the face with the ball when we were having a catch in the backyard).
All in all, coaching has been a lot of fun.
Not to say that the kids are throwing, catching and hitting like champs (The biggest challenge is getting them stop making sand castles in the infield during the game). But they are learning the difference between a force play at 2nd base, and tagging a runner with the ball.
And Joshua is coming along nicely as well. He is hitting the ball solidly, and already knows to step into the swing to maximize his power. He can throw better now, but still has a tough time catching (might have something to do with me hitting him in the face with the ball when we were having a catch in the backyard).
All in all, coaching has been a lot of fun.
5/29/11
Dance School Promotion
Rebecca was recently moved up to a higher level class at her dance school. She has been working really hard all year, and has put a lot of effort and energy into this class.
Earlier in the year, she tried out for the Spring Ballet and earned a prominent role in one of the dances. She was in the front row, in the center spot, and did a great job of "owning" th
e dance, and performed with reckless abandon. She looked like she belonged there. There were many, many trips to the dance school for weekend practices (it was a big PIA), but it all became worth it when we saw how happy she was doing this dance.
As a result of her hard work, and wonderful performance, the head of the dance school decided Rebecca was ready for the next level (and he is a very serious man who doesn't hand out compliments easily). She is now more excited than ever to go to dance lessons, and is already talking about the Winter Ballet, and how she's going to try out for a big role.
Jen and I are very proud of Rebecca's perseverance and her follow-through. She's come a long way since her bumble-bee dance when she was 4....but she's still our little Lamb Chop.
Earlier in the year, she tried out for the Spring Ballet and earned a prominent role in one of the dances. She was in the front row, in the center spot, and did a great job of "owning" th
e dance, and performed with reckless abandon. She looked like she belonged there. There were many, many trips to the dance school for weekend practices (it was a big PIA), but it all became worth it when we saw how happy she was doing this dance.As a result of her hard work, and wonderful performance, the head of the dance school decided Rebecca was ready for the next level (and he is a very serious man who doesn't hand out compliments easily). She is now more excited than ever to go to dance lessons, and is already talking about the Winter Ballet, and how she's going to try out for a big role.
Jen and I are very proud of Rebecca's perseverance and her follow-through. She's come a long way since her bumble-bee dance when she was 4....but she's still our little Lamb Chop.
5/10/11
Parent-Teacher Conferences
We recently had Parent-Teacher conferences with both Joshua's and Rebecca's teachers. We are happy to say that both kids got very good reports.
Joshua, apparently, is a leader in his Kindergarten class, and many of the other kids want to play with him and sit near him at lunch. Joshua is completely clueless to this fact, which i
s probably a good thing. He just goes about his business, not realizing that the other kids are watching him and trying to emulate him. Some of the kids with special needs often select Joshua as their "buddy" when they go for additional services with the school specialists. And in fact, Joshua's teacher encourages this, as she feels he is a good influence on these kids. Who would have thought?
Rebecca is excelling in reading and writing. Her reading comprehension skills have gotten excellent, and she is better able to describe events taking place in the books she reads. She is also doing great in her writing exercises. This is something she thoroughly enjoys, and even writes stories in her free time for enjoyment. Jen and I were worried about her math skills, but her teacher says she is doing great, and is improving nicely. One thing she needs to work on is penmanship, but I'll give her a pass on that.
Very proud of our two little pups.
Joshua, apparently, is a leader in his Kindergarten class, and many of the other kids want to play with him and sit near him at lunch. Joshua is completely clueless to this fact, which i
s probably a good thing. He just goes about his business, not realizing that the other kids are watching him and trying to emulate him. Some of the kids with special needs often select Joshua as their "buddy" when they go for additional services with the school specialists. And in fact, Joshua's teacher encourages this, as she feels he is a good influence on these kids. Who would have thought?Rebecca is excelling in reading and writing. Her reading comprehension skills have gotten excellent, and she is better able to describe events taking place in the books she reads. She is also doing great in her writing exercises. This is something she thoroughly enjoys, and even writes stories in her free time for enjoyment. Jen and I were worried about her math skills, but her teacher says she is doing great, and is improving nicely. One thing she needs to work on is penmanship, but I'll give her a pass on that.
Very proud of our two little pups.
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