I Peed On My Kid!

thank you for capturing one of the more amazing pa...

2012-01-25T18:46:04.196-08:00

thank you for capturing one of the more amazing parenting moments - and with that trademark combination of poignancy and smartass wit. seriously, rick - reading your blog amazingly makes me cherish parenting moments w.out feeling like you are glossing over the crappy stuff!

The baby turned out all right. She's 3 now and...

2011-12-27T20:53:11.819-08:00

The baby turned out all right. She's 3 now and she's one of the happiest kids I know. As the post points out we didn't let her cry for more than ten minutes without attending to her. Ferber isn't about letting your kid cry through the night. On the contrary, you check on them every few minutes. But in the process you teach them how to self sooth. And there's actually no concrete research that Ferbering a child can harm them. And for every article that "claims" it does, there's two more that "claims" it doesn't. It was a choice I made and I stand by it. I'm not going to judge someone for their parenting techniques. I won't unfriend them if they're still breastfeeding their child when their old enough to grab a carton of milk out of the fridge themselves. Well, maybe I'll privately judge them. :) But I do get upset when someone thinks that my love for my children isn't pure. And you've made me equally upset by saying for feel sorry for my child because that implies that you are judging me as a parent and I think if you read this whole blog, you'll see that I'm a pretty good dad. Sure I've got flaws, sure I mess up, but everything I do for my children is out of love.

I would unfriend you also. Their is so much resear...

2011-12-27T19:13:52.141-08:00

I would unfriend you also. Their is so much research showing the negative effects of the Ferber method. I personally find it disturbing that parents can treat their child without pure love. I'm sorry you lost a friend, but I'm more sorry for your baby.

I love this blog so much. Love Arden's observ...

2011-12-06T12:18:00.489-08:00

I love this blog so much. Love Arden's observations.

Julie

AHHH- I've been waiting to hear from you, agai...

2010-12-31T20:41:14.194-08:00

AHHH- I've been waiting to hear from you, again! I've really missed the blog! And WHERE did you ever get such a clever idea for a Christmas card???(oh sorry eh-hem.."Holiday" card- wouldn't want to offend anyone :) ) Imitation is the best form of flattery- Which is why we will steal this idea from you next year- ;) Happy New Year- Glad you're back Ricky!

It's good to know that reality and fantasy are...

2010-06-21T22:16:16.116-07:00

It's good to know that reality and fantasy aren't that far apart some times. You've been to the Staples Center (Ringling Brothers Circus); you probably watched game 7, albeit on TV (but rooted for the losers); you've seen Harrison Ford (in The Fugitive); and recently flew in a jet (crammed into coach seating).

So...

You are living the dream, Rick Suvalle. It just needs a slight rewrite (at scale +10% if we're lucky).

And you're a great Father. With mild heartburn.

Thanks for the kind words PartlySunny. My grandfat...

2010-06-17T13:36:00.711-07:00

Thanks for the kind words PartlySunny. My grandfather was there for the surrender as well. I'll be paying homage to the ship in November with my girls and my father. Good excuse for a trip to Hawaii. :)

Okay, I came here from parentsask.com (I write the...

2010-06-17T10:09:57.291-07:00

Okay, I came here from parentsask.com (I write there, too), expecting to laugh some more, and now I'm sitting here crying. Thanks a lot:).

My grandfather was on the Missouri as well -- for the surrender. He was a journalist. Died about 40 years ago, probably from cancer due to radiation poisoning after watching the first nuclear test off Bikini Atoll. Anyway, sorry to hear about your loss. It sounds like he made you into a better man.

Wonderful post Rick. We will all miss him terribl...

2010-06-17T07:28:33.659-07:00

Wonderful post Rick. We will all miss him terribly.

glad to hear of the hugging factor, too. to now pa...

2010-06-13T10:21:16.171-07:00

glad to hear of the hugging factor, too. to now pass that along to future generations, might lessen the general social fears of closeness regarding us humans in general. every generation learns from and should be better than the previous on numerous fronts. and oops, correction, my grandad passed at 82.

Wow, Rick. Talk about planning... jeez. Your Grand...

2010-06-13T09:45:29.595-07:00

Wow, Rick. Talk about planning... jeez. Your Grandpa had style (and balls) in the eyes of the inevitable! I love it. Something to learn from... and well written.

I remember being the last one to hold my grandfather's hand when he died at age 92 as well. He squeezed it twice... and then seconds later the machines all went berserk, redlining... and then left.

rick - that was beautifully written. your grandfa...

2010-06-10T19:04:09.818-07:00

rick - that was beautifully written. your grandfather sounds like he was a remarkable man. my condolences to you and your family. i'm so happy you have wonderful memories of your time with him

Just beautiful, Rick. And it reminds me so much o...

2010-06-10T16:58:11.048-07:00

Just beautiful, Rick. And it reminds me so much of the thoughts that my son Nicholas shared at the memorial for his grandfather - my father - and Ben and Sam's great-grandfather - at his memorial almost 1 year ago - June 13th, 2009. And he was 93. The same wonderful generation.
Please send my condolences to your mom and dad and the rest of the family.
Norma

I read one of Adele Faber's books in my Early ...

2010-04-26T19:32:22.367-07:00

I read one of Adele Faber's books in my Early Childhood Ed classes. Might be something to look into. I don't envy the jealousy thing at all. My sister & I fought until we were in middle school. Then we learned how to cut each other down with words when we wanted to hurt one another. Good luck!

I will still bring food for my 2.5 year old if we ...

2010-04-20T14:20:29.764-07:00

I will still bring food for my 2.5 year old if we want to eat at a restaurant where she won't eat anything. Otherwise we could never have Indian food or sushi again. I figure most restaurants would rather have the business of two adults and skip the kid's meal rather than not get our business at all. I do order her food at restaurants that have stuff she'll eat, but then again she will finish her macaroni and cheese and a side of broccoli, so I don't feel like I've wasted my money.

I wonder what that snooty waitress would have said if I had tried to breastfeed my newborn at that restaurant. Does that count as an outside beverage?

I know you've written about this au contrare, ...

2010-04-19T19:39:13.521-07:00

I know you've written about this au contrare, but your grownup restaurant frequenting may become as frequent as a babysitter. Some places may be more accommodating by allowing a half portion or a shared plate fee with a parent. But in all honesty, my family restaurant nights are limited to pizza joints, mexican and chinese food. For my kid who is the "two bites and I'm done" one, I get side orders of his faves. A side of cavitappi at Carrabbas. Sides of rice and beans at any mex place. And I always offer them a taste of my meal so they can start to learn their own tastes. About the only easy parenting "thing" I have is that at any given time, I have one kid who is willing to try just about anything without a bribe. Kudos... I was not so easy!

What's the name of that restaurant so I can NE...

2010-04-19T07:16:55.540-07:00

What's the name of that restaurant so I can NEVER go there?
I've been ordering for Tulsa for almost a year now ,usually pasta or chicken or a side order and taking the rest home for her to eat later (hopefully). I have to say that it has made her a more adventurous eater, Indian food and sushi are now one of her requests.

Faber = Ferber? Any remote connection?...shudder.....

2010-04-14T10:39:31.460-07:00

Faber = Ferber? Any remote connection?...shudder... :-)

"Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your K...

2010-04-12T19:57:33.644-07:00

"Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Kids Live Together, So You Can Live Too," by Adele Faber is one of the most significant, if not THE most, parenting book I have read. My boys are like those two dorks in Sixteen Candles who can't be separated, but they do have their moments. That book gave me endless non-intuitive skills on how to get through it.

Get down! Love this. And ... 'what about THA...

2010-04-08T06:26:14.696-07:00

Get down! Love this. And ... 'what about THAT guy' who tiptoed into the action... ?

I do find that most people who hate Dr. Ferber'...

2010-03-30T21:45:33.341-07:00

I do find that most people who hate Dr. Ferber's methods have not read the book nor done the very basic research to find out what it's really all about. Enter visions of babies crying for 36 out of 24 hours, puking in bed on a regular basis, etc.

I wonder if the AAP recommended practice known as "tummy time" would be considered wrong/abusive if it were re-labeled something like "lay it out", with images of leaving babies laying around on the floor until they started crawling. The concepts have many parallels; give a child opportunities to learn a little earlier some skills which will probably eventually come naturally anyway.

I love my son; what I've learned from reading Dr. Ferber's book has certainly improved his life in the 5 days I've been using it, not to mention helping me and my wife be more patient, energetic, and engaged parents!

It isn't for everyone, but it's helpful. We don't throw out penicilin because some people are allergic to it, now do we?

She is too cool.

2010-03-17T07:41:30.124-07:00

She is too cool.

Okay- Laughed good and hard at this one- Good job!...

2010-03-01T15:30:14.986-08:00

Okay- Laughed good and hard at this one- Good job!!

The tub!!!! Julia is Constantly trying to jump in...

2010-02-19T11:52:04.335-08:00

The tub!!!! Julia is Constantly trying to jump in with the big kids ...... You are multi-tasking, Rick- You're doing it !!!

I'm surprised you didn't post the photo of...

2010-02-15T07:42:15.963-08:00

I'm surprised you didn't post the photo of the green plastic chair. (I actually went looking for it in my old files). I still smile when you first sent out that joke. - Nice of you to recycle it for everyone else.