Our Own Little Earth Hour

Inspired by Saturday's Earth Hour, our family observed our own Earth Hour at dinnertime on Sunday. We tuned off all the lights, and we ate dinner together by candlelight. The kids thought it was cool, so we did it again Monday. It was another big hit, and I think we'll try to do it each weekend. With the days longer, there's plenty of light, so there's no reason to have indoor lights on anyway. While the impact may be symbolic (we'll probably spend more on candles than we'll save on electricity), the kids really buy into it. I'm all for encouraging their good ideas, and environmentalism is something parents and chidren can get into together.

Grocery Misconduct

It was supposed to be a short, simple trip to the grocery strore. Instead of getting salami and cheese, I found a whole lot of stress in my grocery basket. I'm OK now, though I had to survive the wandering Moose (with a mouthful of deli meat) and the "helpful" big brother at the U-Scan. It's small stuff, I know, and maybe kind of cute in retrospect (though that's debatable), but trips to the grocery store become a whole new adventure with kids in tow. In the end, just eat, drink and be merry, and be thankful for the little guys even if they cause a little stress every now and then.

Back on Terra Firma

Space Shuttle Discovery completed its mission and landed on Saturday. The mission helped power up the space station by delivering an array of solar panels, and they also performed a fairly gross experiment, in which they tried to recycle urine into water. I think the boys were most impressed by President Obama's call to the astronauts.

Cool stuff for Dads

This story on hydroponic gardens looks cool, and it seems like a great project to do with the kids. I like the idea of growing something inside - we can start it up now - and we don't take up space in the garden this summer. I'm ready to try growing some alfalfa sprouts.

Changing lanes

More men are conflicted about their work-life roles, according to this article in the USA Today. I think this is becoming a bigger issue, and I think it's one men don't really want to talk about because I think men are conflicted about their home duties. For me, I view some of chores as a sign of weakness while at the same time knowing it's what I need (and in some cases want) to do  to take care of my family. Though I want to help out, I feel like changing diapers, besides the unpleasant odor, is decidedly unmanly. It's hard to come to grips that I'm not John Wayne (I'm laughing as I type it) but that it is manly to help out, to do these duties such as driving the carpool to preschool. I think it's hard on fathers - we don't want to complain about it because we want to help out raising our kids, but at the same time we want to complain about it because it makes us feel uncool and unmanly. Mostly I can put those thoughts behind me because my family comes first. In the end, taking care of your family is the most manly - or perhaps more accurately, the most human - thing to do. 

UPDATE: I think this is what I'm trying to say: I still have that stupid Taylor Swift song in my head, and it's really bugging me. 

Cool Stuff for Dads

Old Wahoo loves the NCAA Tournament, even if the upsets were too few this year. Though I probably won't go to any of the games, (especially if UNC advances), I'm pretty stoked for Final Four weekend. The practices on Friday are free, and I plan on taking Alex down there - if not Matt and Rob, whom I would have to liberate from school. And I'm thinking about checking out Hoop City at Cobo.

One Good Reason

One good reason to teach your children about the environment: Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez spill. While the article notes that it was only the 53rd worst spill in terms of volume, the impact on the wildlife and coastline was immeasurable. I still remember the pictures after the accident, and it is something to remember whenever the issue of drilling for more oil comes up.

We don't need no education

Old Wahoo read this opinion piece in The New York Times today, and while I agree that the emphasis on testing needs to be changed, I think the education system needs to be overhauled more than the author suggests. There's too much emphasis on tests, which only will teach our children how to take tests, and while there actually is a little good in that (i.e. completing the mundane tasks they'll find in the real world, from doing taxes to filling out paperwork at work), we aren't really teaching our children this way. 

The No. 1 goal of education should be engaging children by igniting their imagination, curiosities and passions. If they are interested at school, then children will be more likely to want to learn. I'm afraid that if they are trained to take tests, not only will they lack for knowledge in geography, geology, etc., they also will lose any interest in school. We need to spend more money for more teachers and resources. With more teachers, class room sizes will be smaller, enabling teachers to engage each student more effectively. 

Of course, this is no magic bullet, and any improvements by going this route will be hard to evaluate. Unfortunately, that means more standardized tests, and I'm afraid an enlarging of the United States' education gap.

Walk this way

The Freakonomics blog, one of Old Wahoo's favorite places to visit on the Web, had a cool posting on walkable neighborhoods. When I went to the Walk Score site, I found that our neighborhood is somewhat walkable, which I think is pretty accurate. We like to walk/bike to school, Mr. C's, Merchants and the hardware store, and we'd like to walk more if possible. 

I also looked up the neighborhood where I grew up in Virginia, and that result - you need a car to get around - also to be right on the money. If you go to Walk Score, make sure you sign their e-mail petition to urge more funding/access for walkers and bikers.

Another Father's Thoughts

Old Wahoo asked friend and Grosse Pointe Woods neighbor Mike Ramsey his thoughts on fatherhood. Mike graduated from the University of Ohio, and he's a big Reds, Bengals and Ohio State fan.

Age? 35
Number of children and their ages? two, Cate -5 and Wes -2

Occupation? Automotive Journalist

What is the best part about being a father? My kids are hilarious. They make me laugh, and keep me from being selfish. They also make me appreciate my wife more.

What is the toughest challenge you face as a father? Trying to be a disciplinarian when I don't see them as much as I'd like. It's tough to be the heavy when you miss seeing your kids.

How does your job affect your responsibilities and desires as a father?
It can be a big impediment. I work a lot of late nights and can be out of town for several days at a time. In some ways though, it makes the time with them better.

How do you balance your career and your family life?
I make a real effort to say no when I have to the things that would make me stay late at work. I try to warn my bosses that I need to leave to do certain things. I also realize that sometimes that isn't possible.

How has fatherhood changed since you were a child? How are you a different father than your father? I suppose that in a lot of ways things aren't all that different. I'm a different person than my dad, but our styles are pretty similar. He is a lot more quiet than I am, and maybe not as openly affectionate as I am with my kids. But he was/is a very good dad.

How has being a father affected your relationship with your father? We were already close, so I guess it's only changed my understanding of him. He was a younger father than me, and I often try to imagine his life in the same period I am living. He did a good job and I hope I do as well as he did.

Let the games begin

Of course, Old Wahoo spent as much time as possible watching the NCAA Tourament yesterday, and I hope to continue my couch-potato ways through the weekend. I even got Alex involved, though he rooted for LSU in the first game while I pulled for Butler. I guess I better get used to that. Alex and I even played basketball a little in the backyard, in the "USA tournament" as Alex called it. He was the USA team, and he told me I was the Buffalo Wild Wings team. Alex won, though he was the one keeping score.

A good day

Thanks to the sunny, spring weather, Old Wahoo has enjoyed the day. Alex and I already have played baseaball, continuing our game from yesterday. "I like all of the sports," Alex said after he played basketball and soccer yesterday in the back yard.

The funniest/grossest thing of the day came from Matthew, who proved again that he will eat anything, everything and any combination. At lunch, he dined on bananas, which he dipped liberally in his ketchup. Delicious. Of course, it didn't stop me from eating.

Projects that work for both

Here's a great link to a story about a project Rob would love to do. As for Old Wahoo, I'm not sure if I have the patience, skill and technical accumen to accomplish (heck, even try) something like this. That said, this article makes a great point about father-son projects: finding a task that both the parent and the child enjoy.

Blaming the refs

Old Wahoo heard an awful lot of complaining, not to mention screaming and yelling, about the referees at high school basketball games last week, and all of that whining angered me. People moaned about calls if their team was ahead by 20 points or down by 20 points. It didn’t matter. Can’t these people see, Old Wahoo wondered, that the refs are doing the best they can? It’s a high school basketball game. It’s not life and death. Besides, the best team won each time, and the officials’ calls had little, if anything to do with the outcome.
Unfortunately, Old Wahoo caught himself complaining about the referees’ calls in a college basketball game between Virginia Tech and North Carolina. To the chagrin and sometime embarrassment of others, I’ve long believed that officials had a UNC bias. While I should a college basketball game may (or may not) have higher stakes than a high school playoff matchup, I’m worried about my actions on a larger level. When my sons participate in athletics on a more competitive level, will I become one of those parents who embarrasses his kids with his yelling and screaming? Will I become one who berates officials?
I know I have in the past, and it’s something I must be vigilant on in the future. I know that my job has forced me to settle down somewhat - there is no cheering in the press box, after all. Maybe I’ll have to keep stats, or somehow keep myself occupied to be less focused on the outcome and the calls and more focused on the purpose of athletics - to grow physically and mentally to become a more complete person.

Liftoff, if a little late

Finally, the space shuttle Discovery launched, nearly a month behind schedule. This was the launch that the boys were supposed to see when they went to Florida. Hopefully, all goes well with the solar panels for the space station. I'm sure it's hard for people to be excited about space exploration right now, especially with the economy suffering, but we can never stop the pursuit of knowledge. Space is still an untapped frontier, and I hope our kids can discover more about it.

The first kids

Old Wahoo knows this story will warm Mrs. Wahoo's heart: The first kids - next to Old Wahoo's, of course - have a bed time. Mrs. Wahoo is big on this, and we agree: when the kids go to sleep on time, they have a much better chance at having a good tomorrow. They act, perform, behave, etc. much better when they have a full night's rest. The Obamas have this one right. This is a stimulus plan all parents should support.

Ohm ...

It's been an especially hectic week, and now that things are calming down, I've realized I've missed my yoga class. Even a couple of minutes to take time to do a pose or two really can help. Getting any exercise helps. It sounds silly, but yoga is good exercise for the mind and body. I'm not sure I buy into everything about yoga, but it does bring piece of mind.

Now, everyone focus on their breathing ...

Upon further review ...

Wired.com points out that today is the 23rd anniversary of the NFL adopting instant replay. While instant replay in theory is a good idea, the NFL version is flawed and should follow the college system where there is another official upstairs to look at the video. Also, I think instant replay is still subjective. Some many decisions are open to interpretation, and what may be indisputable evidence to one official may not be to another.

Finally, the shuttle will launch

Discovery is set to blast off tonight, according to this article in The New York Times. Originally, the shuttle was scheduled to lift off on Feb. 12, and Rob and Alex headed to Florida with their Grammy and Papa for the launch. Unfortunately, the launch was delayed (more than once), and the boys missed it, though they still had a great time on vacation.

UPDATE: The launch was postponed again, this time until Sunday, which puts a crunch on the mission.

Another Father's Thoughts

I asked my friend Ron Bernas for his views on fatherhood and the joys and challenges he faces. Ron lives with his family in the Detroit area.

Age: 45.

Four children: Patrick, 11; Charlie, 9; Daniel, 7; Eleanor, 5

Occupation: I am in marketing and public relations.

What is the best part about being a father?
The best part of being a father is watching your kids grow and seeing them become people. It's also a good excuse to revisit things you loved as a child -- books, movies, etc. -- in the guise of "introducing them to the kids."

What is the toughest challenge you face as a father?
The toughest part of being a father is finding the patience.

How has fatherhood changed since you were a child?
When I grew up, fathers weren't really around much. They'd go off to work in the morning and we'd see them around dinnertime. The fathers I knew weren't all that engaged in their children's lives unless it was as a coach on a sports team. They were the bad guys, the ones we hid things from and were in charge of the discipline. I often wonder if they felt stifled in that role or if that was the one they were comfortable with. Fathers today seem much more aware of what's going on in their kids' lives. They volunteer at school, they know their kids' friends, etc.

What’s the best advice that you've received about fatherhood?
I don't know that I ever really got any advice on fatherhood. Too often, tips on how to be a father come in corny little books with stock art of dads who seem impossibly into their kids. My dad died before I was a father, but he was, for all intents and purposes, one of those nonengaged fathers and other dads don't sit around sharing advice on parenting. One piece of advice that always stuck with me came from the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?" Sidney Poitier and his father are having a fight and the father says "You owe me respect." Sidney yells back "I owe you nothing! ... You brought me into this world. And from that day you owed me everything you could ever do for me like I will owe my son." It's not warm and fuzzy, but it's true. And I don't mean owing in terms of things. I mean owing in terms of love and support to help them grow into a productive member of society.

Also, there's this advice: Don't do something once you don't want to do forever. This is applicable only for older kids: For instance, if your kid gets up in the middle of the night and you get up and snuggle her and sing to her until she falls back asleep, expect to do it from that day on. Give into a kid's tantrum? Expect to do it forever. Make a different meal because they don't like what you're serving? You'll do it forever.

Get well soon

Best wishes to Papa for a quick, speedy recovery. We're glad you're already feeling better, and we hope you're feeling even better soon.

Happy Birthday

Old Wahoo sends out happy birthday wishes to the fairest of them all, Laura Hetzler. Hope you have a great day, and thanks for all that you do.

Manners matter

Good manners, or unfortunately bad manners, can leave a lasting impression as this article in The New York Times makes clear. This is one of my biggest challenges: raising kids who respect themselves, and more importantly, others.

Splish Splash

The Moose really likes to take a bath, and he proved that point last night when he jumped in the tub - while he was wearing his pajamas. Rob and Alex thought it was hilarious, and I wish I had taken a picture of the scene.

Another Father's Thoughts

From time to time, I hope to talk to other fathers and get their thoughts on parenthood. My first guest is someone pretty close to me, my father, Steve Hetzler.

Age:  62
Number of Children:  Two, ages 35 and 33, 34 on Friday.
Occupation:    Controller of small commercial carpet sales and installation contractor.
What is the best part of being a father?  
Watching each phase in the development of your child, living in that moment.
What is the toughest challenge? 
I thought about this for a long time.  I'm not sure that any one thing really stuck out.  There is the one about maintaining ones composure when your child makes a scene in public (I'm sure I was not too successful at that) and the trying of ones patience, but perhaps the biggest challenge would be not to worry too much about funding college educations or lasting stigmas I may leave with an impressionable 3, 4, or 5 year old.
How has fatherhood changed since you were a child? 
I don't think fatherhood has changed from when I was a child.  I think fathers get stretched in the same directions now as they did then.  Making a living and making a life.  There are countless demands made upon ones time. 
How were you different father than your father? 
When I was growing up, I had, on more than one occasion, the thought how I would do things differently with my children.  Yet, looking back, I think I was a lot like my father in many ways.  After all, we draw clues from our fathers and don't even realize it.  The one thing I hope I wasn't was not being quite as aloof as my father.
How did fatherhood affect your relationship with your father? 
I felt as though I was now an equal, that there was an acceptance in our relationship of the persons we had become.  Rereading that I don't want to suggest that I wasn't accepted as a child, just that as a child I was a child.