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June 7, 2003 It seems like my kids and I grew up together. They number four, ranging in ages from 30 to 17. When they were little, I worked evening so I was sort of the orginal Mr. Mom! That's right, they didn't go to day care, I was a stay at home dad. Well, nearly! Only I did work, I just didn't start until 4 pm but was finished by 9. Ah, the Life of Riley! As the primary caregiver, I had to learn fast how to survive instant catastrophies. Nothing like gum in your 2 year olds hair or on the new outfit grandma sent. Use ice, was the cry from the advice givers. It almost worked but only almost. Then a 95 year old man told me to try peanut butter. Ok, he had lost it, but I was desperate! Walla, it worked like it was invented to remove gum. It broke that gum down and from there it was history. Gum is one thing, a sunburn another. We had spent the day at the lake and the kids were over exposed to the sun. They were misrable. I tried cool water and asprin. Nothing helped. Then I remembered when I was a child burning my finger and my grand mother putting vinegar on it. I tried it with the sun burns. Instant relief and the pain didn't return. If you have kids, sooner or later you'll have a dog. Housebreaking is simple but only after you learn the lesson yourself. No hitting or yelling and train them in three days. At night, lease them close to your bed. When they have to go, they'll wake you up rather than soil their bed. Take them out, praise them and put them back on the short lease next to your bed. Naturally, sooner or later they will make a mistake. When they do get a bar of Lava soap and scrup the soiled area, pat dry and forget it. The spot, smell and any memory of that spot will soon gone too. I'm an American, I expect the best from my childrn and my country. ------------ Email Jeff Davis Riley: Tango6000@hotmail.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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