Reflecting on Change: Holidays, Co-Parenting, and New Beginnings

As the new year begins, I find myself reflecting on the past few weeks, which have been a mix of festive celebrations and poignant realizations. The absence of my kids during Christmas was more challenging than anticipated. Despite understanding that holidays are just days and can be celebrated anytime, their absence left a void that was unexpected.

Our delayed celebration, when the boys returned the day after Christmas, was filled with the warmth of opening presents and enjoying each other's company. It was a reminder that joy can be found in new traditions and that moving forward is essential for growth.

Our road trip to Columbus, Nebraska, to visit family was a highlight. Traveling with just the boys and Goat has brought a newfound ease to our journeys. While the long drive is still a challenge, the experience is now more tolerable and even enjoyable. It's moments like these that reinforce my belief that we're on a path to something better.

Reflecting on the past, I realize that enduring a difficult situation for years, under the guise of shielding the kids, might not have been the best approach. The exposure to toxicity was unavoidable, but I lacked the resources and understanding to navigate it then. Now, armed with knowledge and a determination to improve, I'm committed to being a better father and role model.

The ongoing co-parenting counseling is a mixed bag. While it adds to my trauma, it's hard to see its direct benefits for the kids. However, the establishment of a routine schedule has brought some stability, which is a positive development.

As I think about the New Year, I recognize the cultural significance of resolutions and turning points. While I view New Year's as an arbitrary date, I appreciate the value of embracing a renewed spirit periodically. Going forward, I want to focus more on gratitude, especially during challenging times. Finding things to be thankful for in every moment, particularly the darker ones, is a practice I aim to cultivate.

Tsunami Warning for Lincoln Nebraska

Tsunami Dawkins Augustine was born at 13:05 on September 26, 2011 at Bryan Hospital in Lincoln, NE. He weighed 8 lbs 5 ounces and measured 20 inches. Mother and baby are doing great!

Kid on a Leash

Has anyone seen these kid leash products around? Sometimes I see them at the zoo, farmers market, or other crowded areas. If a company can make a product that will make a parent feel a little bit safer, there will always be people out there to buy it. When I see one, it reminds me of that scene in Rise of the Planet of the Apes when a leashed Caesar sees a dog on a leash and turns to Will and signs, "Am I a pet?" The idea of the product is that it will keep the child safe and nearby. It is designed to subside the fear that a child will run off or get abducted. I think that if someone is out to abduct a child during the few seconds when a parent is looking away, a leash is a very small deterrent, and likely, not effective. All the abductor would need is a nice pair of scissors or simply their fingers. The latch cannot be that hard to work. If anything, having a leash might give a parent a false sense of security causing them to pay less attention to the child. In that case it

The Poky Little Puppy

Sometimes Jupiter likes to read the classic Golden Book tale, The Poky Little Puppy before bed or nap time. This is another of many children's stories where the intended moral of the story seems to have been surpassed by a message that, I think, conveys the nearly the opposite message. The Poky Little Puppy is a story about five little puppies who dig a hole under the fence to go out for a walk in the wide, wide world. The fifth, poky, puppy is always behind the others. Eventually the poky little puppy smells the dessert that is prepared for the puppies each night. The four other puppies smell it too and hurry home while the poky puppy takes his time. The four puppies then eat their dinner and are scolded by their mother for digging a hole under the fence with the punishment being that they do not get dessert. Then along comes the poky puppy after everyone is asleep. He is met with no dinner but left over dessert, since the four puppies were not able to eat it. This scenario takes

Kirk blAug

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