Keep Telling Yourself...

You think it's all smiles, dimples, laughs and fun
You read all the books, you read every one

You think and you plan, you scrimp and you save
She's seven months now, you try to behave

Gone are the days of women and wine
You tell yourself it will all be fine

Her days are getting long now, she needs her rest
You don't know what she wants, but you do your best

The day has come! You drive like hell
Your friends and family wish you well

A Boy or a girl? You say you don't mind
You secretly hope he's the masculine kind

The time has finally come, the moment of truth
The end of your innocence, release of your youth

You come down the hall, you hold high your son
Back slaps and high fives from everyone

You buckle the car seat, you know just what to do, this is it
A year goes by, she's pregnant, you realize... you don't know shit

--

I had lunch the other day next to this doe eyed couple who were clearly very proud of themselves for taking their brand new baby out of the house for the first time.  Just made me think of how naive I was at that time too.

How much TV should kids watch?

One thing I've learned as a father of two toddlers is that the TV can be a great babysitter!  I'm assuming video games will follow in a few years but for now I'm concerned about how much TV is "appropriate" for a toddler.

According to the internet, which never lies, two thirds of infants and toddlers watch TV for an average of 2 hours per day.  The number of hours rises to 4 per day for kids aged 8-18.

Between movies and TV, my kids, both under 3, watch at least 4-5 hours.  What's your opinion?

Related Article

Twins?!

Before our first son was born I always thought how great it would be to have twins (a boy and a girl) and then be done with baby making.  I'd have my boy and my girl and be able to go through the whole thing at once.  Now I have two boys but they're 15 months apart.  When I think back to my earlier thoughts of wanting twins I just shake my head and laugh about how little I knew of the challenges of raising one, let alone two at the same time!  It's funny, now I hear my friends with no kids making the same argument I had at that time and I just sort of laugh.

Do you have twins?  Is it as impossible as I imagine or do you think it's easier having them progress through the Stages of Life simultaneously?

Two Toddlers: Wife has no interest in sex

I love my wife.  But it's gotten harder every day since we had our first son.  Now that we've had our second, I feel like a second class citizen in my own home.  She doesn't communicate with me, seems resentful of me, and sex has become a major inconvenience that she only tolerates from time to time.  I have no doubt that being a stay at home mom is incredibly hard and must be exhausting, but there comes a point where I can't get my head past certain things.

I'm a male in my late 20's and sex is not something that's ever far from my mind.  She keeps telling me how I wouldn't want to have sex with her because her body isn't what it was before the kids were born (true).  I keep telling her I still think she's beautiful and she's all I've got!  What should we do, wait until she decides she's in perfect shape again?  Our youngest is over a year old.

Every time I proposition her, or even touch her in passing, she wriggles away, pushes me away, or flat out tells me to stop.  When that happens I get blind with anger and either leave to sleep in the basement, or start a days long silent treatment war.  I'm tired of it and want it to end, but I'm getting to where I don't want to put in the effort anymore.  Does it get better?