Shooting From the Hip

As some of you have noticed (I hope?), I'm putting a renewed effort into this blog because I love it, and it's a creative outlet that I enjoy and need. I began the blog with a sort of happy-go-lucky, middle of the road kind of approach, but over time, I've learned that the most interesting, and perhaps touching, things simply can't always be full of sunshine and roses.

Don't get me wrong, I do love sharing funny stories, pictures and videos of Anna, which I will always do because I never run out of material!  But I have decided to allow myself to shake things up a bit when I feel the need. I'm not only going to be all warm and fuzzy because, while I do sometimes enjoy that, it's not what drives me or makes for my most compelling writing. So, I'm also going to be more edgy and raw and honest.

Anna's view of me, which she captured on my phone (along with her finger)

A Mom + A Keyboard + The Internet = Power??

No, I'm not talking about myself. I just find it interesting that there are so many great parenting blogs today and am also surprised at the ways in which they can be influential.

My favorite blog, Single Dad Laughing, seems to make its mark more in the domain of advice and encouragement than anything else. The blogger shares stories, mostly about his son and family, that are funny, or thought-provoking, or really meaningful. Readers can really relate to his posts and take something from them.

Of course, there are a lot of "mommy blogs" too. Many of them also generate advice or relate anecdotes that I enjoy reading. One of my new favorite blogs is The Woven Moments, which you should really check out.

I also find that a number of mom blogs provide really creative ideas for entertaining your kid with fun projects or activities (see, for example, the melted snowmen) - very useful for those of us with toddlers who, with time on their hands, will quickly detour into mischief. Which is pretty much everyone with a toddler.

The Season of Giving

Here we are again, that magical time every year when many of us spend extra time with our loved ones and buy each other gifts in the spirit of giving, of making each other happy however we can.

Sometimes, though, it's hard to keep a "giving" perspective when the holiday season also brings with it various stresses. So if you're having a hard time getting into the holiday spirit, as I am right now, please read this post from Single Dad Laughing, called "Paying It Forward This Christmas." 

It's all about giving back, helping others, and remembering that our dramas and stresses pale in comparison to those that others may be facing - others who would trade anything to have our dramas and stresses.  It's a healthy dose of perspective and a touching story.

Check it out. Consider giving - to these people, to other people, to people in your community. Remember what this wonderful season is supposed to be about.

Photo from www.qt.com.au

A Dialogue

Here's the deal. I'm having a bit of writer's block this week. Frankly, I'm amazed it hasn't happened before, given that I've been posting something almost every day since the beginning of June. It's a feeling I hate.

So, if you'll indulge me, I'll open myself up for a minute. I want this blog to be a success. I want to write something that matters, something that entertains, something that educates, something that resonates with you. When I get that feeling that I don't know what to write about, almost every time, it comes to me. Somehow, magically, it just works. Most of the time.

Photo from infobarrel.com

Seeing Is Believing?

I came across something yesterday about imparting religious or spiritual beliefs to our kids that really resonated with me.  As many of you know, I follow the blog "Single Dad Laughing" (SDL).  Well, yesterday, he posted an excerpt from his book, The Real Dad Rules, about how to share our beliefs with our kids. His thesis is that you shouldn't teach your kids what to believe - you should teach them how to believe.

I discussed this issue when we were examining Robert Epstein's article about what makes a good parent, and his top 10 areas of parental competency, which included religion. I discussed why I disagreed with that in the post, "Losing My Religion," but I also shared a viewpoint similar to SDL's. If you haven't had a chance to check out that post, please do.

Imperfectly

“I'm okay, if you get me at a good angle
and you're okay, in the right sort of light
and we don't look like pages from a magazine
but that's all right - that's all right.”

--“Imperfectly,” Ani DiFranco

Single Dad Laughing (SDL) has done it again: he has shared a blog post that really challenged me and forced me to take a good hard look at things. I think you should too.

I have LOTS of imperfections!

He recently commemorated the one-year anniversary of one of his most important and most widely read posts, “The Disease Called Perfection.”  I had read it a long time ago but decided to do so again. I’m glad I did. And I recommend that you do the same. You can read the original post here, and then check out his anniversary follow-up here.

What Makes a Parent?

Okay, today I’m going to do something a little unusual – I’m going to use my own blog to write about another blog.

The first parenting blog I ever read, before I started My Life With Pie, was Single Dad Laughing. I found it to be an amazing mix of humor, advice, and warmth, with a little justified ranting thrown in.  The really awesome thing about this site created by a single dad is that it’s only been in existence a little over a year, yet it has already attracted a huge number of followers and spawned a few books.

Yes, I can admit it…..I’m a little jealous.