My 4-year-old daughter “Sydney” is a great many things to me. First and foremost, I hope she becomes a valuable member of society. Secondly, I hope that she can teach you a few things that she has already taught me:
Currently we are a three-feline family: two Siamese brothers named Ricky and Bobby, and a ragdoll/shorthair mix named Niko. I've also had a tabby and a polydactyl American shorthair. What does this mean, other than all my furniture is scratched, and I can't walk out of the house wearing a suit without meticulously using a military-grade lint roller?
I guess I should not be surprised that [real] life-changing things are happening to people I consider to be real extended family. Just like your parents telling you "wow, we have friends passing away" you don't hold hands with mortality in the same ways that they do from generation-to-generation. While I'm sure I will just not at this point yet. But many things have transpired, and are transpiring in my life that are reminding me how fragile life really is and how much my loved ones and friends mean. In fair-weather times we naturally take these moments for granted, but in times like these I'm beginning to see one door close and another open. It's not good or bad (dependent upon situation) it's simply being confronted with unknowing, and often times uncontrollable change. I see more and more that humanities real survival is not just adpating and evolving but the acceptance of this change. No, this post doesn't end with some witty takeaway just know that beyond this holiday season take the gift that is change and do your best to accept it and apply it. Learn from your past as it's trully all you have as reference at any given moment and work to make your life better for yourself, your family and those around you. One final thought, log off and log back into your childs eyes. Hold them, be happy with them and cherish your significant others.
Sydney and I were playing with barrettes for her hair and after I had received and placed one securely to what little hair I have left on my bangs I was informed:
Syd: "Ok Daddy, now I get three."
Me: "Ok."
Syd: "I get whatever I want, cause I'm a Princess!"
Me: "You're Daddy's Princess but you DO NOT get whatever you want."
Syd: "Yes I do, or I do not?"
Me: "No you do not."
Syd: "Yes, or No? Am I your best friend Daddy?"
Me: "Of course you are sweetheart. Forever and ever."
Syd: "So why can't I have everything Daddy?"
Me: "Sydney we all get the things we want and need over time if we work hard for them, do as we are told and help others get the things that they want and need too."
Syd: "That's SILLY! Let's watch Dora."
Me: "No."
Syd: "Ok, we'll talk about this later. I want some Goldfish."
Few things truly terrify me anymore. I was loner in my youth with a small circle of tight-knit friends, but was plagued by bullies and self-imposed stress. And because of said past I will never be bullied again, not in life, not in work. If you know me you'll also know a few things to be true and if you don't here goes:
With all that narcissism out of the way let me take you to a period of my life that truly terrifies me: My daughter (who is three at the time of this post) dating. Currently, the only thing that makes the idea only mildly pallettable is this video clip from the movie Bad Boys II. N-Joy.
Having ample eLearning in my portfolio I'm always intrigued with how the modern day education companies are taking their products to the next level. Recently, my wife Shannon read and purchased a product from Leap Frog called the "Tag Junior". This amazing little batch of technology was not only reasonably priced but had my 21 month old daughter Sydney playing in less than a day.
For you tech geeks you'll be amazed with the toy 'reader' that it comes with. It is a small laser/infrared (#AREA 51) scanner that references differentiation in the printing on each book. Then when you roll over and depress on a particular section of the page, say for instance an animal, noises and associated story elements come to life in audio. Mind you, you will need a computer (and internet connection) to download the book into the hand-held reading toy. It's no wonder it's been winning toy awards left and right. The key to learning toys is usability, and with the Tag Junior being aimed at the 2 - 4 year market and it passed my test – Sydney loves it!
God, this sounds like I got paid for this article – I wish.
Article Addendum:
Upon telling my wife that I posted this article she brought to my attention that the product also allows you to track your child's progress. It provides metrics based on activity, including but not limited to: favorite pages, and specific locations on pages most engaged with. You can even program the device to say your childs name – creepy.
For the price (approximately $35, plus additional books are about $10) these are a great tool for learning and tracking the progress of your child.
Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 10:00AM