To Raise a Child

I was trying to guide Maddie through a goal-setting process for the new year. I figured I would find something easy; something on her level. I asked her if she wanted to paint. Not so much. Collect Barbies? Apparently that's for younger girls, not six-year-olds.

Finally she interrupts my torrent of suggestions: "Dad, I just want to collect money."

I assure you Mr. and Mrs. Retton were never as proud of Mary Lou as I was of Maddie at that moment. I have raised a capitalist! Are there happier words?

So I explained to her about bank accounts.

"You mean I give the bank money and they pay me for doing nothing?"

"Well, not nothing. They pay you to provide capital which they package together into big enough pieces to pursue profit- and value-generating projects with tangible social benefits such as building homes and starting businesses."

She had the slack-jawed look she gets just before falling asleep. "I mean, yeah, they pay you for doing nothing."

New Years 10/11

Christmas 2010

Must Be True Love

The kids have a tradition of saying "cheers" and touching sippy cups before drinking Nestle Qwik chocolate milk.

Today, however, Caleb refused the toast. "Now I only say cheers with Edaline," he explained.

"How do know you're in love," I asked.

"Dad," he said with a duh tone of voice, "because she's a girl and we talk a lot."

Buddy, I don't want to complicate this for you.

"That's it, Caleb. You got it. You're in love."

Caleb's Big Day

Once upon a time, I arrived home from work to a hero's welcome every day. Daddy! Daddy! Leaping. Bouncing. Running. Hugging.

This bucolic scene slowly gave way to me walking through the door to silence. "Hey, guys! I'm home." Cricket. Cricket. "I'm ho-ome!" Silence. "I'm home?"

Then, from the basement, just loud enough to hear over the "dum-be-dum-dum-be-dum" of Mario Kart: "Hi, dad."

Replaced by the Wii.

Tonight, however, the magic was back. Maddie and Caleb were in the front yard when I came around the corner from the bus stop."Daddy!" Screaming. Running.

Maddie ran into my arms. Caleb ran almost into my arms but stopped short. "Dad, today is the best day ever," he said. His face was radiant.

"Why, buddy?"

"Because I have my first love and it's Edaline."

Good work, little man.