Category: Dear Son

What will be the key take-aways?

Grand Classroom sample agenda
A jam-packed four-day agenda for 58 high school freshman.

 

i never went on an overnight school trip.

A three-week cross Country Boy Scout bus and camping trip as a 12-year old that changed my life.

But at school, never anything more than a day trip.

Last year as an 8th grader his small class went to San Francisco and surrounding areas. Same class went to Manhattan the year before that.

Traveling expands our horizons figuratively and literally. The next three years will be the prime time to travel with a developing teen.

But will i be organized enough to fit it in when the world is trying to convince me otherwise?

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our home health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my mental attitude website, click here.

 

The two big goals of parenting

WPS on Twitter
Hoping there will be decent social media coverage.

 

Need to be at Orlando Airport by 6:30am tomorrow. Six faculty and 54 ninth graders (out of approx 130) are heading to Washington DC for their annual school trip.

Give them roots.

Give them wings.

Interesting to ponder why well under half the students will not be traveling.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our home health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my mental attitude website, click here.

 

In a world where you can be anything

 

 

In a world where you can be anything…

Be organized.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our home health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my mental attitude website, click here.

 

Replacement post today

The original post that went live at 12:05am this morning has been taken down.

Why?

It was deeply personal.

Maybe too personal.

The key insight today is that passion and compromise sometimes must find a way to coexist.

 

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our home health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my mental attitude website, click here.

 

Organize your thoughts jeff, or get buried

Seat Sushi store front photo
The group goes out to dinner every Wednesday at 6pm. i arrived at 8pm, after not hearing anything.

 

Organize your thoughts jeff, or get buried.

Three nights ago, i had a parental meltdown.

Long story short.

Our 15-year old didn’t communicate and didn’t respond to my communications.

Compound this by a ripple effect of four other reliable communication options leading to dead ends.

i did not know where my son was and drove to the place they were supposed to be.

Nothing.

Rather than be cool, calm, and collected, i choose to reveal my anger and disappointment. i raised my voice, used profanity, got in his face.

When a parent doesn’t know where their child is and has no way of finding out, it’s the worst feeling in the world.

In no uncertain terms, this can never happen again.

Ever.

To make this point stick his options were:

Smash your iPhone 5 with this hammer, or no YuGiOh tournaments for a month.

The goal was to create a memory he will never forget.

And reinforce that no matter which consequence he picks, it would be a drop in the bucket compared to the consequences if it ever happens again.

i am not mad at him.

i’m embarrassed by my actions, but ok with them because i was intentional.

i take responsibility for never being more clear.

And i take solace now that there is no longer any lack of clarity.

__________

 

On April Fool’s Day 2009, jeff noel began writing five daily, differently-themed blogs (on five different sites). It was to be a 100-day self-imposed “writer’s bootcamp”, in preparation for writing his first book. He hasn’t missed a single day since.

This website is about our home health. To leave this site to read today’s post on my mental attitude website, click here.