My kid is crying because...

-I wouldn't let him watch me pee
-her ponytail is too high
-the cheese is sliding out of his sandwich
-there's grass on her feet
-the apple isn't red enough
-she broke her own crayon
-I wouldn't let him get up from the dinner table to watch a car back out of the driveway
-the book won't stay open on a specific page
-I'm not sharing my spicy food even though the spice would just make them cry and freak out
-the strawberries are too cold
-I'm making him wear underwear
-I made her go potty when she didn't feel like she had to
-I gave him the blue cup
-the sun is setting
-I wouldn't let him hand me a booger
-dinner isn't ready yet, even though he caused the delay by putting his shorts in the toilet
-his sister is in his room
-he has to use his inside voice inside
-the balloon isn't floating anymore
-I wouldn't paint his toenails
-he insisted on opening his own granola bar and promptly broke the bar in half
-the string cheese had the wrong number on the wrapper
-I wouldn't let her do headstands on the couch
-there are wrinkles in his car rug
-she needs TWO blankets around her ears at bedtime, not just one
-the chalk is too dusty
-I wouldn't let the 3-year old drink my espresso
-I cut his sandwich

What Daddy taught me

The farther I get in this parenting journey, the more I realize most of it is doing the best you can, with what you have. In direct correlation to that, the older I get the more I realize just what kind of hurdles my own parents had to face to get us where we needed to go. And the older my children get, the more I want to apologize to my parents for the "strong-willed child" (yes, they had that Dr. Dobson book) that they had to raise.
I learned many things from my Dad, who is one of those guys that knows many things about many things. The proper way to cut down a tree with a chainsaw? Check. How to play bass guitar? Check. How to crack a bullwhip like Indiana Jones? Check.
Below is a very short list of some of the things my dad has taught me, all of which I am very grateful for. I love you, Dad. Happy Father's Day!

What Daddy Taught Me:
* Righty-tighty, lefty-loosy
* The Oldies ARE the goodies
* I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.
* Does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?
* Spicy mustard mixed with honey makes an excellent dipping sauce for meats and cheeses
* A keen wit and a solid grasp of logic will take you very far in life
* The bass player can make or break the song/concert/album
* Mowing paths through the lawn instead of mowing the complete lawn can make for an epic hours-long game of tag
* Good coffee takes some effort, but is always worth it
* Sometimes people are overwhelming and it's okay to take a step back from the chaos of social interaction
* The names of a vast majority of tools and how to use them properly
* You always want dad on your softball team (but only if you're willing to hoof it around the bases after he hits it into the unmowed grass)
* Gaffer's tape fixes anything
* A good pipe is not just for Wizards
* Sometimes tossing random ingredients together will result in the best dishes
* John Wayne movies deserve repeated viewings
* The best sound at a concert will be wherever the sound board is, sit there if you can!

Favorite Things Friday.

(Not our countertop.)

*Reese's candy
I am so indebted to this candy right now! Reese's Pieces helped us potty train our daughter several years ago, and now (after a spectacular false start with Pez candy) mini Reese's peanut butter cups are helping us potty train our son! He's doing an amazing job!

*Hardwood floors
See above.

*Smoothies
In between grocery shopping trips, I ran out of our kids' usual baby carrots and sugar snap peas and was at a loss for a veggie. Luckily for me, it was hot out and we had plenty of spinach and frozen fruit! Zaza was a little turned off by the light green color from the spinach, but she quickly changed her mind when I had her taste it. The peaches, pineapple, bananas, and mango disguised any spinach taste, and they loved it! I'm already stocked up on more spinach and frozen fruit for the next hot spell.

*My guitar
15-ish years ago my dad bought a Yamaha acoustic guitar, and eventually bequeathed it to me because I was teaching myself to play. He lowered the bridge and filed down the frets to make it play easier, and I've had it ever since. It's had some bumps and chips, and I've had to glue both the nut and the strap button back on (at different times) but he's still going strong! Yes, my guitar is a he, and yes, he has a name. His case is even adorned with a "Hello, my name is" sticker.

*A 4-level house
If I start in the basement and go up to Zaza's room, I climb 3 flights of stairs. I may not be happy at the time (especially if I have to sprint because someone's screaming bloody murder, which almost always turns out to be a false alarm) but I'm grateful for the free exercise!