Year 5, Day 188

For a long time, Miles has pleaded and bargained with me not to leave his room at bedtime. "You can sleep here!" he'll say, or "I have a bed!" and "I'll make room for you!" or sometimes, simply, "Stay!" Only recently, however, has his bargaining become a bit more shrewd. I'll almost always lie next … Continue reading Year 5, Day 188 →

Year 5, Day 157

Miles's love of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is well documented. I get it, I love them too. I've got a big soft spot tracing back to my younger days for those storied heroes in a half-shell. But there are different degrees of fandom. Some people buy toys, posters, games, and other products adorned with … Continue reading Year 5, Day 157 →

Year 5, Day 66

I don't know what Jaclyn implied Miles was going eat for dinner, but he was fast with his counter proposal. "NO," he declared. "I want chicken and waffles!" "Hey, he's the one who said it!"

Year 5, Day 62

One of Miles's favorite times of day (and mine too) is during that brief window between lying down and falling asleep. Miles often wants his back, cheek, or head rubbed while I cuddle close with him, and I'll typically oblige until he finally drifts off (which I do sometimes too). Tonight, once I was pretty … Continue reading Year 5, Day 62 →

Year 4, Day 295

With Mommy gone for a night out this evening, Miles got a little...threatening...when asking for juice. https://videopress.com/v/pVv4sSI6?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&autoPlay=true&loop=true&preloadContent=metadata

Year 4, Day 282

Bedtime was quite a production this evening, as Miles requested both Jaclyn and me accompany him upstairs. As we started up the staircase, Miles turned to us and made clear what he expected of us. "I'm the line leader!" he said, demanding that we follow behind him. Then, as an afterthought, "And DON'T touch my … Continue reading Year 4, Day 282 →

Year 4, Day 271

"Go get me juice or I'm gonna put you in time out. Those are your options." - Miles Martin

Year 4, Day 160

I'll be waiting forever for the "easy" part of parenting a toddler to show up, but nothing on any given day is harder than getting out of the house on a weekday. Miles never wants to wake up (that makes two of us, buddy), never wants to get dressed, never wants to brush his teeth...he … Continue reading Year 4, Day 160 →

Year 4, Day 158

Most of today's morning commute was conducted in silence following a brief altercation in which Miles requested juice immediately and I told him his request would be impossible to fulfill. Several minutes of silent grievance (his, not mine) later, he finally spoke up again. "Mommy is a good mommy," he said. "She is," I agreed. … Continue reading Year 4, Day 158 →

Year 4, Day 147

When we left the house for Miles's dentist appointment today, my son had a simple request. "I want to see the dentist not put something in my mouth," he said. I shrugged. "Well, the dentist is going to have to put something in your mouth, buddy." Miles grappled with this for a moment. "No!" he … Continue reading Year 4, Day 147 →