Category Archives: parenthood

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Slideshow: Imagination Station

Connor and I went to Imagination Station (formerly COSI) on Saturday morning. He had a fantastic time, and tired himself out good and proper — once he can do something super fun in the morning without being an exhausted little ass in the afternoon, we might buy a membership. 🙂

Imagination Station: September 2016

This was his second visit to Imagination Station, and we managed to hit up more than just the Little Kidspace (for kindergarteners and younger) this time. We even had lunch at the Atomic Cafe: Connor’s first time eating cafeteria-style.

Even if we don’t buy a membership, I can definitely see us going back sometime in the near future — especially since they’ll have a Lego exhibit come October.

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Pokemon

Connor with Pokemon plushies

Last night, Connor asked if we could go to the toy store today and buy Pokémon plushies.

Why not?

Today, we used a long-ago-gifted Toys R Us gift card to buy Connor a pokeball — and we already had a Pikachu at home that we hadn’t given him yet. Connor was SUPER well-behaved at the toy store, didn’t beg for anything we didn’t plan on buying, and asked the cashier if she could please remove the tags.

When we got home, we made up a star chart for bedtimes, so that Connor can get a toy reward for behaving at bedtime. He decided on his own that twelve stars equals a trip to the toy store. He’ll get a silver star each night if he doesn’t yell or throw anything (yes, it’s a bedtime problem lately), and a gold star if he decides not to use his “Golden Button” to call me back upstairs after lights out.

Here’s hoping this works out…

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Dear Connor: Year Five

Dear Connor,

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I usually try to post these missives closer to your birthday… but, to be honest, I really haven’t been feeling like writing lately. My prime writing time (not counting breaks at work) is generally after you go to bed, but bedtimes have been so unpleasant lately that I don’t want to do anything after that but curl up in a ball and watch TV or play on my phone.

Sometimes I wonder if your Dad and I have erred somehow in our discipline strategy. Your defiant and willful attitude has escalated over the past few months, and bedtimes especially have become exercises in patience and punishment.  Continue reading →