Tag: parenting

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Shreddin’ it.

Bill Morris

Aside from their allowances, I don’t like giving my kids money. This isn’t to say I don’t think they should have all they want; what I mean is, I want the money to come from having done something. Pride of accomplishment, reward for a job well done, all that shit my dad used to tell me that I swore I’d never tell my kids if I had any. And I haven’t. I haven’t told them that. I just put it into practice as often as possible. (They don’t like it much either, poor things. ) My son and I were … Continue reading Shreddin’ it.

Daily Life, Diary, PersonalLeave a comment

The hard side of parenting

Bill Morris

I write a lot about the positives. I love amusing anecdotes. But it’s not always easy. If it was, everybody would do it. It’s harder with special needs and gifted children. Oh, so much harder. We (and by “we” I mean any of us in a parental role to a child) often come into conflict with our children. We have the dicey task of weighing what they want versus what they need or what is safe or what is moral or (just as often) what we can afford, and children don’t often listen to logic when they hear the word … Continue reading The hard side of parenting

Daily Life, Gardening1 Comment

Mowing the lawn

Bill Morris

My dad was one of those “throw him in and see if he swims” kind of dads. If you sank, well, you could damn well hold your breath and walk back to shore, then. My siblings may have different memories of him, but by the time he and mom got around to me – and I wasn’t planned, it should be noted – he was different. The stories I heard of him from years before didn’t match the dad I knew.That unpleasant dichotomy is a story for another time.

Anyway, I try not to be that kind of dad. Oh, I’ll throw the kids in, but I’ll make sure they’ve got a rope tied on. Metaphorically speaking. Continue reading “Mowing the lawn”

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Lessons in Parenting, April Edition

Bill Morris

Jami took a chunk out of his big toe walking down the driveway today. Blood, flesh, tears, screaming, etc. Michelle got him all band-aided up and we went on to our afternoon activities, which included a lot of outdoor play (and a Mentos+Diet Coke experiment, video’d at 300fps, very fun). Naturally, he’s filthy by day’s end and must take a shower. He’s standing naked before the open shower curtain, water running, all but refusing to climb in because of the hurt on his toe. “But it’ll sting, dad!” is the loud, indignant refrain, and no amount of cajoling or threats … Continue reading Lessons in Parenting, April Edition

Aspergers, Home & Family3 Comments

Trying it on for size

Bill Morris

I was in the garage working on Katie’s bedroom door, cutting a new one to size. She was down there with me, sweeping up the sawdust as fast as I could create it, serving as an outfeed table for the table saw, holding the door steady for marking/cutting/sanding, etc. In short, providing a much appreciated second set of hands.

I don’t remember precisely what I said but I was  looking at the hinge edge of the door and said something along the lines of , “I hope I didn’t break the router because having to cut the hinge mortices by hand with a chisel would be a pain in the butt.”

There was a short pause, then her voice, very small, said, “Ass.”

I looked at her. She was looking back at me under her eyelashes, something she does when she isn’t sure if she’s in trouble or not. (Uncertainty is a powerful parental tool. I recommend it.)

“Beg pardon?” I said, putting my hammer back in it’s ring on my belt. I wanted to see if she’d commit to it. She did.

Continue reading “Trying it on for size”