Personalities...

Remember a few years ago when all the Child Psychologists were pontificating about girls? It was right around the time the movie Mean Girls came out. Everyone was so worried about their daughters being manipulative little brats. The CPs eventually came up with an alternative to the Alpha/Beta girls debate; the Gamma girl. Remember all that?

I wish I knew what my girls were going to be. Where's that darn future seeing crystal ball?

Where the hell did 6 months go????

This prolonged break started off as time helping Jen with Claire, like any good dad would (should) do. Now all of a sudden my girls are grown ups! Well, ok, I exagerate a little. However there are new devolpments since I last bored you with our familial details.

Claire now has 2 bottom teeth; Audrey has lost her two front teeth, but has managed to get two earrings as replacements; Claire was 90th percentile everything at her last check up (Audrey was never 90th percentile anything, so having a big baby is kind of weird); and Audrey is out of first grade.

There is of course much more going on, but you'll read more later.

What a woman needs...

According to Audrey, these are the things needed to be "a woman":

1) A purse

2) Sunglasses

3) Make-up

4) A man to boss around

5) A credit card (gotta pay for the purse and the sunglasses you know!)

I'm sure the list will only get longer as she gets older. I can't wait!!!!!

The Princess' new clothes...

When I was a kid, every time I had to wear clothes other than jeans and a shirt I always felt "dumb". I can't really describe the feeling any better. It wasn't because I looked dumb, it just didn't feel normal. That may have something to do with the fact that I grew up and a five acre rock farm with a healthy crop of Sunflowers and some horses (the leisure suits at the age for 4 might have been a contributing factor as well).

A few weeks ago, I was with Audrey while Jen and Claire were out doing something, and I said to Audrey lets get dressed. As we were contemplating the "comfy" outfit for the day, I suggested a pair of jeans and an orange Polo shirt. Audrey refused. I asked her why, wondering if it was the color. Sobbing, Audrey replied, "I look like a BOY!!!"

When I was your age...

I'm allowed a serious post every now and then, right? Good. This is going to be one.

Maybe it's because I'm a guy who was a boy; maybe it's because I was raised as a small child in the '70's; maybe it was the way my parents raised me in general; or, maybe I'm just a complete pushover, but Audrey is almost as codependent as Claire is. It really bothers me. 

When did we start letting our children be so helpless? Is it because we're expected to coddle our kids, or is it because we want to, because we weren't? I don't know either. Its getting to the point where I'm starting to sound like every one's crazy old uncle from the 1920's. You know the one, the uncle who reminds just how terrible life was for him growing up. He uses that familiar, "When I was your age..."

Yep, that's me, Crazy Uncle Rick who needs his Depends changed!

Corporate America, now appearing in a home near you...

Last night, as we were preparing for our New Year's Eve celebration, Audrey was in the shower. As she was getting herself all wet and getting the soap all "bubbly" on the poofy-ball, she chimed out the following; "Look, Diddy! I'm MULTI-TASKING!" Maybe working from home is not such a good idea after all.