Everyone Knows Me...

I have to admit, I have travelled a bit and know quite a few people. It also seems like I have a face that everyone recognizes, whether they actually know me or not. My wife is resigned to the fact that whenever we go out, I always run into someone I know. It doesn't matter if it's the shopping mall, the theatre, the dog park, the dump, anywhere, I will end up talking to somebody. My kids are convinced that I know everyone in the world. Okay, maybe not everyone, but at least someone on every continent. They complain that it always takes twice as long to do anything when we go out because I always end up meeting someone and chatting for a few minutes.

Here's a for instance.

Commiserating with my wife...

Many people are commiserating with my wife these days. We have three teenagers in the house now. Lots of people are giving her hugs and offering to help her cope with her four children. Three teens and me apparently, seeing how our dog is 42 in dog years. To all those that know me, I prefer to think of myself as young at heart, so there! Pbbbt!

It’s strange, I don’t remember being quite as deaf as my kids are these days.  Or the fact that they don’t seem to understand English OR French, especially when they have chores to do.  This is troublesome, as they've been in French Immersion since kindergarten. I'd hate to think that all that time in class was wasted.

Feeding and Growing Children - The Hazards

There's a saying out there - "If you feed them, they will grow". Okay, maybe it's "if you build it they will come" but the sentiment is the same. Put food into the mouths of babes and they will grow. Overnight. Right out of their diapers in the middle of the night. Actually, that's another story for another time.

If you have kids you will understand. Actually, even if you don't have kids, you'll probably understand. Everyone has seen a neighbour's toddler or a co-worker's baby sprout like a bamboo plant. You see them one week and the pants are too long or they are swimming in a sweater. Next week, the long pants are now shorts and the sweater is up to the elbows and the buttons won't do up.

A Response from my dear Daughter...

It’s all about maintaining the facade.

Your parents have to believe that they are all knowing, all powerful, and that there is no possible way that you can sneak anything past them.

Ever.

It’s the whole masquerade that makes them believe that they’ve still got ‘it’, whatever ‘it’ may be.

After careful research and observation,

The All-knowing Parent

It's all about maintaining the façade. Your kids have to believe that you are all knowing, all powerful and they won't get away with anything - ever. It is the mask you present to them that says "Nothing you do will surprise me".

Even when it does.

As a kid, I always thought that I was being sneaky and getting away with staying out late. Then I would get home and Mom would be there, supposedly just getting a drink of water or reading a good book.

I know Everyone...or they know me

I have to admit, I have travelled a bit and know quite a few people. It also seems like I have a face that everyone recognizes, whether they actually know me or not. My wife is resigned to the fact that whenever we go out, I always run into someone I know. It doesn't matter if it's the shopping mall, the theatre, the dog park, the dump, anywhere, I will end up talking to somebody. My kids are convinced that I know everyone in the world. Okay, maybe not everyone, but at least someone on every continent. They complain that it always takes twice as long to do anything when we go out because I always end up meeting someone and chatting for a few minutes.

Here's a for instance. During our first week in Cochrane, I had to run up to the store to get more milk and I threw the kids in the car to keep them out of my darling wife's hair.

Believe Strangers

Why is it we believe complete strangers and not our family?

It is a question that has been plaguing me for a long time. We give our honest and admittedly, sometimes brutal opinions to the people closest to us, expecting them to take it to heart. Why? Because we always, most of the time, regularly, usually try to give the correct guidance to the ones we love. That's why it's so frustrating to have that sage advice rejected almost out of hand. You know that you're right, yet your spouse/child/parent can't see it. I can almost see the foot stomping happening right now.

Take that same advice and give it to someone you meet on the bus. Then get that stranger to casually meet your family member on another bus or in a park.