Tag Archives: Children

Christmas Eve 2024

My grandson has a job he takes very seriously. During Advent, every time he has visited us he has made a beeline for the Christmas tree and turned on the lights. That there are presents under the tree with his name on them hasn’t sunk in. For him, Christmas isn’t about what he will get […]

Order From Chaos

What a lovely job title. One I am sure is very appropriate. I saw this sign when I was visiting a church in the Toronto area last week, a larger one with a whole wing for children’s ministries. It was sitting on the reception counter, where I presume parents sign their children in on Sundays […]

The Prescription

Was I that bad a kid? Or did my doctor give the same instructions to all families in his care? I found this prescription for disciplining a child when I was going through some of my mother’s things, part of the ongoing decluttering effort at our house. Most of the eight points are still good […]

Envying The Children

When I was a child my favorite play structure was near the model homes in the housing development  my family moved in. No swings, no slides – but there were tunnels. Somewhere back in Canada I have a black and white photo I took with my first camera in 1964. It was basically a couple […]

Snake In The Square

I noticed the snake when walking through the market square. Turns out my wife knew all about it. The snake is a COVID-19 project, though I can’t remember now if she said it was city or school authorities who instigated it. Something for children to do, during the lockdown, a joint project that respected social […]

Changing Times

Saw this card in a bookstore attached to a church in suburb of Freiburg. Since you probably don’t read German, allow me to translate: “All the best for your wedding and the baptism of your child.” I would think I had gotten that wrong, except for the wedding rings on the baby’s toe. Apparently having […]

The Kids On The Bus (Cultural Differences X)

When I was a child there were no school buses in our neighborhood; we had to walk to school. My mother tells me I was insistent on walking alone on my first day of kindergarten. I had not yet turned five. Supposedly she trailed me at a distance to ensure my safe arrival. Unnecessary really […]

The Pet Debate

When my children were younger I wrote a weekly column, “Modern Parenting” for The Pembroke Observer newspaper. Being a stay-at-home dad was rare in our small town in 1991; people wanted to hear about my adventures. When I started this blog I promised to republish some of those old pieces, then I got sidetracked.   Today […]

When my children were younger I wrote a weekly column, “Modern Parenting” for The Pembroke Observer newspaper. Being a stay-at-home dad was rare in our small town in 1991; people wanted to hear about my adventures. When I started this blog I promised to republish some of those old pieces, then I got sidetracked.   Today […]

Early Arrival

When my children were younger I wrote a weekly column, “Modern Parenting” for The Pembroke Observer newspaper. Being a stay-at-home dad was rare in our small town in 1991; people wanted to hear about my adventures. When I started this blog I promised to republish some of those old pieces, then I got sidetracked.   Today […]