Year 5, Day 359

I found a good solution for the "we're out at dinner but Miles is getting punchy" dilemma: have him sit on the side of the booth where the television showing silly animal videos is in full view. As an added bonus, it also works on spouses. Of course, eventually the food came out and the … Continue reading Year 5, Day 359 →

Year 5, Day 325

As Miles was falling asleep last night, we engaged in some of our usual, light bedtime banter. "I don't want to die," he said without pretext. "And I don't want you to die and I don't want Mommy to die. Just stay every day forever." "Well," I started, wanting to make things a bit less … Continue reading Year 5, Day 325 →

Year 5, Day 267: The Fourth Dipsgiving

Today heralded the return of what has become one of the premier events of the holiday season -- Dipsgiving, the friendsgiving that eliminates pesky things like silverware and most solids. GAZE UPON IT. GRAZE UPON IT. Looking back over the years, there has been a lot of child supervision that has had to go into … Continue reading Year 5, Day 267: The Fourth Dipsgiving →

Year 5, Day 248: Miles’s House of Horror V!

Our tale begins, dear reader, with a familiar scene. Familiar...and yet BONE-CHILLING for five-year-olds everywhere. Imagine, if you will, a child...left to his own devices for the better part of the afternoon. As the sun begins to set and the ghouls begin to emerge and wander the streets of a suburban hellscape, this child -- … Continue reading Year 5, Day 248: Miles’s House of Horror V! →

Year 5, Day 214

Miles and I were laying on the bed together, quietly gazing up at the ceiling. Each of us was surely lost in our own thoughts, and while I'm not sure what he was thinking about, I was marveling at the moment. It's always amazing to think about the not-so-little human in the bed next to … Continue reading Year 5, Day 214 →

Year 5, Day 212

When Miles decorates Halloween cookies, it's always punctuated by taking bites out of his canvas.

Year 5, Day 176

I took Miles to his music class today and I was hoping that, afterward, he would be amenable to going out for lunch. Unfortunately, everything I suggested was met with rejection. He just wanted to go home and eat there. "We have so much food at home," he said, sounding way too much like his … Continue reading Year 5, Day 176 →

Year 5, Day 165

For Miles's latest strategy in his ongoing quest to avoid eating his dinner, having determined that whining and screaming aren't means to his preferred end, he's opting for a surplus of enthusiasm and kindness. "Oh this so yummy you gotta try it," he'll say, sans punctuation and with no room to breathe, much less for … Continue reading Year 5, Day 165 →

Year 5, Day 156

One evening recently, when I was trying anything to find something Miles would agree to eat, I introduced him to the concept of the peanut butter and honey sandwich. He now requests the combination regularly. In fact, after finishing one I made for him today, Miles asked for a second. "You know," I told him, … Continue reading Year 5, Day 156 →