This morning I took my son to school. It was just like any other day. He's 10 and I have been super protective of him his entire life. I have a habit of dropping him off at school, walking him to class and watching him get settled in.
For the last couple of weeks, I have been working on having him walk to class on his own. Give him his Independence.
So, this morning, I decided today was the day. We got out of the car, I walked with him to the gate, said goodbye and said "have a great day" and gave him a kiss.
He walked on his own and turned twice to look back to see if I was in my same place shadowing him. I wasn't and he kept going with a smile.
I realized that it wasn't him that needed me to walk him to class, but it was me that needed it. It's so hard to accept the fact that kids grow up. I actually teared up as I watched my little man on his own. It was the first moment in my life as a dad, where I realized he's his own person. My Little boy is so smart, so sweet and such an inspiration to me. He has his challenges and will never be 100% on his own, but he's on his way and I know if he gets the character and drive to succeed that is in his genetic make up, he's going to be great.
I called my wife to share the feeling and I know she also got choked up. It's an indescribable feeling when you have that moment of pride for a child and fear of their independence.
Then I came home to see the news of the tragedy in Connecticut. My joy turned to sadness. For a parent, taking your kids to school and watching them grow is such a daily milestone. School is a place to learn, to make friends and to become a person. We look to teachers and school as a place of safety. When I drop off my kids, i feel comfortable and confidant with their caregivers and educators.
A day like today, really makes you realize that nothing is ever in your control. There are crazy, disturbed monsters in the world that we can't always be around to protect them. I think there should be a word that was stronger than tragedy.
That feeling of letting my son go on his own to his classroom...the fear, the pride, the letting go of the chord that I felt so good about as taken in a moment when the reality of life and the world was put in front of my eyes by one monster and his violation and disrespect for innocence and life this morning.
I look forward to picking up Miles this afternoon, looking at his beautiful face and giving him a hug. As long as I'm around him, nobody will ever hurt him without a fight.
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label kids. Show all posts
Friday, December 14, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Chili Con Carne
Ever since I was a little kid growing up in NY... One meal that I always loved was the Chili my dad would make. I remember him getting up super early and starting it up and letting it cook for a long time. We would eat it that night and it was great as a left over. Chili actually tastes better the 2nd day. No idea why. Maybe it's just me. Oh and as I got older, the last thing you wanted to smell first thing int he morning when you had a hangover, was his chili... just a side note from my memories.
As I became a dad, I wanted to share this fine recipe and meal with my boys. Of course, they won't eat it. So much for tradition. My wife loves it and we really can have it a few times during the week and is always easy to reheat.
I wish I could say the recipe was some magical family one, handed down from generation to generation... but it's really just from the New York Times cookbook.
I actually called my dad a couple years ago to get "the secret recipe". That's when the balloon was burst. NY Times. Anyway... It's awesome.
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of Butter or Olive Oil
1 Large Onion
2 Garlic cloves, minced
1 pound chopped beef (I use turkey)
1 1/3 cups of canned or diced tomatoes with the juice (that's equal to one 14.5 oz can)
1 green pepper, minced
1 cup water
2 tablespoons of chili powder
1 teaspoon cumin seed, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon basil
1 small bay leaf
1 can of kidney beans (drain the liquid before using or else it makes it gross and sweet)
Directions:
So the most important thing I learned was to prep. Meaning get everything in order before you start. That way, you aren't cursing looking for stuff while something is cooking, etc. If you have everything ready, once you start, it's just about adding. Also makes it easy to clean after.
1. Mince the onion and garlic cloves and place in a dish. Mince the green pepper (I like to drain some of the juice so it's not too watery) and mix all your spices into a bowl and set aside.
2. Heat the butter or oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic and saute until golden brown. While this is happening and you are stirring the onions and garlic so they don't burn. In a separate pan, place your meat and brown it.
3. Once both are nice and browned, add the meat to the onion and garlic and mix them well.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for 3 hours or until the sauce is as thick as you desire it to be.
5. After 3 hours or when you are satisfied with the thickness of the chili, add the can of kidney beans and cook through (about an additional 10-15 minutes on simmer.
6. That's it. Serve and eat with chips or plain. The total time this takes is about 3 hours and 15 minutes to 3 and a half hours. The prep itself is about 15 minutes, the rest is waiting. Your house will smell awesome and like I said, the meal is great on day two. If you have to make more, just double the ingredients. It never goes wrong.
As I became a dad, I wanted to share this fine recipe and meal with my boys. Of course, they won't eat it. So much for tradition. My wife loves it and we really can have it a few times during the week and is always easy to reheat.
I wish I could say the recipe was some magical family one, handed down from generation to generation... but it's really just from the New York Times cookbook.
I actually called my dad a couple years ago to get "the secret recipe". That's when the balloon was burst. NY Times. Anyway... It's awesome.
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of Butter or Olive Oil
1 Large Onion
2 Garlic cloves, minced
1 pound chopped beef (I use turkey)
1 1/3 cups of canned or diced tomatoes with the juice (that's equal to one 14.5 oz can)
1 green pepper, minced
1 cup water
1 teaspoon cumin seed, crushed
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon basil
1 small bay leaf
1 can of kidney beans (drain the liquid before using or else it makes it gross and sweet)
Directions:
So the most important thing I learned was to prep. Meaning get everything in order before you start. That way, you aren't cursing looking for stuff while something is cooking, etc. If you have everything ready, once you start, it's just about adding. Also makes it easy to clean after.
1. Mince the onion and garlic cloves and place in a dish. Mince the green pepper (I like to drain some of the juice so it's not too watery) and mix all your spices into a bowl and set aside.
2. Heat the butter or oil in a large pot. Add the onions and garlic and saute until golden brown. While this is happening and you are stirring the onions and garlic so they don't burn. In a separate pan, place your meat and brown it.
3. Once both are nice and browned, add the meat to the onion and garlic and mix them well.
4. Add the remaining ingredients to the pot and bring to a boil. Once it's boiling, reduce to a simmer and cook uncovered for 3 hours or until the sauce is as thick as you desire it to be.
5. After 3 hours or when you are satisfied with the thickness of the chili, add the can of kidney beans and cook through (about an additional 10-15 minutes on simmer.
6. That's it. Serve and eat with chips or plain. The total time this takes is about 3 hours and 15 minutes to 3 and a half hours. The prep itself is about 15 minutes, the rest is waiting. Your house will smell awesome and like I said, the meal is great on day two. If you have to make more, just double the ingredients. It never goes wrong.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Stand Up Chicken
This is one of the easiest things to make. It's healthy, delicious and everyone loves it... other than vegetarians, Sorry.
I will say, this is the one meal (as easy as it is) makes me squirm a little in the prep process. I like to pretend that food I eat was never alive once. So, the seasoning of this chicken, you can't escape the reality of what you are cooking.
As a chicken eater, I can't do bones. I don't like eating anything with bones. But, after this meal is cooked, for some reason (maybe it's how long I cook it), I don't mind.
This meal is a two step process and takes about an hour and a half.
Ingredients:
One Full Chicken
Any Season All - I use McCormick- (Now Morton) Season All Seasoned Salt
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Prepare the Cookie Sheet and Stand Up Chicken holder by covering with aluminum foil. This isn't necessary, but it takes no time and will save you so much time at the end (clean up).
3. Wash the chicken thoroughly and pat it dry.
4. Cover the chicken generously with the Season All to coat the entire chicken. This includes under the wing and under the drumsticks
5. Place the chicken on the standard place in oven for 90 minutes. It should be cooked through by this point. I personally like it very crispy, so leave it in for an addition 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven.
6. When cutting the chicken, make sure to leave it on the stand. Your first cut will release a lot of juice. That's good. From there, Slice as desired and serve.
7. For a side, I live to just make some rice and corn. The kids really dig that. You can make anything really. It's chicken.
Whatever you don't use, you can just slice up and use later in a salad or as another meal later. Enjoy.
I will say, this is the one meal (as easy as it is) makes me squirm a little in the prep process. I like to pretend that food I eat was never alive once. So, the seasoning of this chicken, you can't escape the reality of what you are cooking.
As a chicken eater, I can't do bones. I don't like eating anything with bones. But, after this meal is cooked, for some reason (maybe it's how long I cook it), I don't mind.
This meal is a two step process and takes about an hour and a half.
Ingredients:
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Prepare the Cookie Sheet and Stand Up Chicken holder by covering with aluminum foil. This isn't necessary, but it takes no time and will save you so much time at the end (clean up).
3. Wash the chicken thoroughly and pat it dry.
4. Cover the chicken generously with the Season All to coat the entire chicken. This includes under the wing and under the drumsticks
5. Place the chicken on the standard place in oven for 90 minutes. It should be cooked through by this point. I personally like it very crispy, so leave it in for an addition 10-15 minutes. Remove from oven.
6. When cutting the chicken, make sure to leave it on the stand. Your first cut will release a lot of juice. That's good. From there, Slice as desired and serve.
7. For a side, I live to just make some rice and corn. The kids really dig that. You can make anything really. It's chicken.
Whatever you don't use, you can just slice up and use later in a salad or as another meal later. Enjoy.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
And almost everything you'll see is eatable, edible. I mean, you can eat almost everything.
When you have two kids and are in charge of all things homemaking. After you put on your dress and apron and really feel manly, you spend a lot of time doing laundry. Lots of dirty clothes, dirty sheets and dirty towels, these are 3 things I can assure you if you don;t take care of, the boss will stick it to you when she gets home.
I was raised by a mom who wouldn't stand for any of these things, so I've already been trained to take care of these issues, even if I was working full time. Laundry is a nuisance but the reality is that it really takes no time. Other than the folding, the time to put it ion the washing machine and transfer it tot he dryer is about 90 seconds. The washing is automatic. Sure, folding and putting away could take a whole 5 minutes, but I'll sacrifice 5 minutes out of my very busy day to do it.
I recently discovered the Tide Pod. This colorful pod is a miracle. It really makes washing clothes real easy. No measuring, so mess. Just throw it in and that's it. You are done.
Of course... and there is always a catch, this pod is very dangerous around kids. It really looks like an Everlasting Gobstopper candy made by Wonka. I experienced the danger first hand. I was sitting in my kitchen goofing off, I mean folding laundry, when I heard a "pop". This "pop" was my 9 year old holding a pod and squeezing it. Luckily, It just shot across the kitchen (just missing his eye by an inch). I wanted to yell at him for playing with it, but when you see it, it looks like a balloon of some sort. It cleaned my floors real nice, but made me realize that these babies need to be hidden. I'm just glad he popped it and didn't try to eat it. Like I said, It looks like something Wonka would make.
A few days later, my cousin Cindy came over and saw them. She asked me if I had read about the dangers of the pods. i hadn't. Well, I'm just glad I'm not the only idiot parent not thinking.
Take this as my warning to you, so you don't have a bad experience. Put these suckers up high and away from kids. But enjoy their adult convenience.
I was raised by a mom who wouldn't stand for any of these things, so I've already been trained to take care of these issues, even if I was working full time. Laundry is a nuisance but the reality is that it really takes no time. Other than the folding, the time to put it ion the washing machine and transfer it tot he dryer is about 90 seconds. The washing is automatic. Sure, folding and putting away could take a whole 5 minutes, but I'll sacrifice 5 minutes out of my very busy day to do it.
I recently discovered the Tide Pod. This colorful pod is a miracle. It really makes washing clothes real easy. No measuring, so mess. Just throw it in and that's it. You are done.
 |
| Tide Pods |
Of course... and there is always a catch, this pod is very dangerous around kids. It really looks like an Everlasting Gobstopper candy made by Wonka. I experienced the danger first hand. I was sitting in my kitchen goofing off, I mean folding laundry, when I heard a "pop". This "pop" was my 9 year old holding a pod and squeezing it. Luckily, It just shot across the kitchen (just missing his eye by an inch). I wanted to yell at him for playing with it, but when you see it, it looks like a balloon of some sort. It cleaned my floors real nice, but made me realize that these babies need to be hidden. I'm just glad he popped it and didn't try to eat it. Like I said, It looks like something Wonka would make.
 |
| Wonka Everlasting Gobstopper |
A few days later, my cousin Cindy came over and saw them. She asked me if I had read about the dangers of the pods. i hadn't. Well, I'm just glad I'm not the only idiot parent not thinking.
Take this as my warning to you, so you don't have a bad experience. Put these suckers up high and away from kids. But enjoy their adult convenience.
Friday, May 25, 2012
It's a Smilin' Saturday Morning
In the 70's (and the 80's), Saturday Morning Cartoons were a special block of time dedicated to kids.
These days, I think it's mostly crappy news shows and you can hardly find a cartoon. Not that kids should be plopped in front of the TV, but there was nothing wrong with having "our time" on Saturdays.
The shows were a lot more fun and were geared to age groups. Today, you need to watch Nick Jr for preschool programming, Nick for grammar school and TeenNick for more mature kids...of course there is Nick at Nite for us old folks.
If it wasn't for Nickelodeon, there would be very little for kids to watch. I'm not just saying that because I almost got a job there. Missed it by that much. I would still love to work there at some point in my career, it's true. I love their shows. As a dad, they are a relief.
But, back to the 70's and 80's. All the networks focused on Saturday Morning TV. You would see ads in comic books, their would be previews and the shows would be featured in scholastic magazines like Bananas. There were shows like Battle of the Network Stars, Happy Days, Wonderama and School House Rock...
Every year on the eve of the debut of the the new Saturday Morning line up, there would be a sneak preview on prime time. I remember how much I couldn't wait for this. I was looking for a particular show I loved that very few recall called Kids from C.A.P.E.R. and came upon the 1976 preview. I wonder how high Freddie Prinze was.
I had just moved back with my family from 2 years living in Pakistan. This was amazing to me. For the last two years, I had no TV and my only connection to the US was comic books (that were 6 months behind) and the Sunday comics we would get from the US newspaper. I have no idea what paper or if this is true...i might be making that part up, but it sounds right.
Watching these clips, took me back to the excitement of being able to watch these shows for the first time and only time. No VCR, no Tivo... You watched it and it was over. You would then spend the rest of the week at school talking about what you saw with your friends.
These days, I hate to wait for anything, but I wish the anticipation and excitement still could be achieved. It was a special feeling.
These days, I think it's mostly crappy news shows and you can hardly find a cartoon. Not that kids should be plopped in front of the TV, but there was nothing wrong with having "our time" on Saturdays.
The shows were a lot more fun and were geared to age groups. Today, you need to watch Nick Jr for preschool programming, Nick for grammar school and TeenNick for more mature kids...of course there is Nick at Nite for us old folks.
If it wasn't for Nickelodeon, there would be very little for kids to watch. I'm not just saying that because I almost got a job there. Missed it by that much. I would still love to work there at some point in my career, it's true. I love their shows. As a dad, they are a relief.
But, back to the 70's and 80's. All the networks focused on Saturday Morning TV. You would see ads in comic books, their would be previews and the shows would be featured in scholastic magazines like Bananas. There were shows like Battle of the Network Stars, Happy Days, Wonderama and School House Rock...
Every year on the eve of the debut of the the new Saturday Morning line up, there would be a sneak preview on prime time. I remember how much I couldn't wait for this. I was looking for a particular show I loved that very few recall called Kids from C.A.P.E.R. and came upon the 1976 preview. I wonder how high Freddie Prinze was.
I had just moved back with my family from 2 years living in Pakistan. This was amazing to me. For the last two years, I had no TV and my only connection to the US was comic books (that were 6 months behind) and the Sunday comics we would get from the US newspaper. I have no idea what paper or if this is true...i might be making that part up, but it sounds right.
Watching these clips, took me back to the excitement of being able to watch these shows for the first time and only time. No VCR, no Tivo... You watched it and it was over. You would then spend the rest of the week at school talking about what you saw with your friends.
These days, I hate to wait for anything, but I wish the anticipation and excitement still could be achieved. It was a special feeling.
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