Man there is always something else you could do, when you hear that little voice. “Dad can you play/throw/sit with me?” God dammit. My baby pats the ground next to her and says “Sit”. I’m like a dog. And now I’m building duplos or magnetic tiles for the forseeable future. While I am doing it I am trying my best to not think about email or dinner or how my body is going to turn into goo if I don’t work out more. I just sit and play. We can always say in a minute and sometimes you have to - but unless it is a safety risk and you really can’t stop, please sit, please play. It will haunt you later on if you don’t.

Try this: Figure out what is fun for you at this age you old bastard. You can’t count sleeping or going #2 either. What is really fun? Bring that fun to your kids Play a board game, do a puzzle with an audio book playing. Really go nuts. Or cook a snack together, check a book out of the library to get some ideas or just google healthy toddler/kid snacks. Check out these snacks. Oatballs of any kind are a great place to start.

Even though winter is winding down in my neck of the woods it doesn’t mean I will forget that it will be back soon. When it does I will be ready. Check out ski stores or Lands End and get it on sale right now.

Cook This: Anything with Chick Peas

Chickpeas are the king of the beans. I have shared the cookie recipe with them, please make them this week if you haven’t. Also get a Cuisinart food processor, it is not cheap but built like a tank. I process everything and it makes my life so much easier. Roast them, put them in a soup or curry or eat them out of a can over the sink.

Try this recipe: Crispy Chick Peas

You all know one person in your life who writes letters and if you don’t you know someone who would. Ask them to write your kids a note, tell them a story, and send it to them. Kids love to get mail. Maybe you can do a pen pal with a cousin in Rhode Island or wherever they are. It is SOOO much more satisfying than FaceTime I promise.

Have you seen Danny Go? Or put on Dancing in the Dark or Hey Ya? Do something small like either of these things with your kids to take a break or when you need something new in your day. Remember sitting is the new smoking and none of us move enough.

Check this out: Danny Go!

This newsletter is not professional in nature but intended to be real things to try. They won’t all work but this is a process and I’d love for you to join me on the way. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you next week.

Send me a note or your best dad joke @ [email protected]