10 Reasons Why You Should Have Kids

Posted onCategoriesfamily

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I have to restrain myself when I observe people talking about someone else’s or treating their own children as an unwelcome burden. These days children are treated like noisy little pets, neglected, or spoiled so much that they’re controlling the whole family. It’s obvious (at least to me) which parents don’t care about their children.

My family is more important than my career and my entertainment. I honestly can’t remember feeling the need to escape from my children. That being said, I certainly could do less of “my thing” and spend more quality time with my children.

One of the best decisions my wife and I have ever made was for her to stay home with our kids. It wasn’t easy and there were times we didn’t know what the heck we were doing. Ultimately there were no good reasons to let anyone else raise our children.

I don’t buy a lot of excuses that people make about parenthood.

What is it really?

Not enough money in the bank? Career not in the right place? Kids scare you? Dirty diapers not for you? Like your 8 hours of sleep every night? Cramps your style too much? Kids are way too gross? Feel inadequate?

Here’s my 10 reasons why you should have kids:

  1. You get to choose what values you pass along to your children.
    Don’t like that your parents forced you to eat Brussel sprouts? Here’s your chance.
  2. Kids are fun and it only gets better as they get older
    Yes, my son did say: “Superman wears a cape with Velcro on it so that when he goes the bathroom he doesn’t get poop on it.”
  3. Children bring joy into your life that you can’t measure.
    The first cry. The first steps. The first words. The first “I love you, dad”, etc. Good times…no, really good times.
  4. It is very satisfying when they understand something you’ve been trying to teach them.
    It’s priceless when they do or say something that you taught them without any prompting — especially in front of someone who’s not part of your family.
  5. Responsibility brings maturity
    Life takes on a new seriousness when you are responsible for children.
  6. You’ll never have enough money or be totally prepared
    Stop kidding yourself.
  7. Your parents love grandchildren.
    Why not nip those questions in the bud?
  8. Your kids may just be interested in something you’re doing or something you know…
    And be convinced that you know everything there is to know about it.
  9. At some point, your children will actually help you.
    Personally, I’m looking forward to my son being old enough to mow the yard.
  10. Your parents did.
    Nuclear families are what makes society work.

Have anything to add, Faithful Reader?

Wenger Giant Swiss Army Knife

Posted onCategoriesreviews

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Wenger Giant Swiss Army Knife

Sorry…call me a purist, but if it doesn’t say Victorinox on it, it’s not a real Swiss Army Knife.   Apparently Wenger and Victorinox were competitors until Victorinox acquired Wenger in 2005. Guess that’s the end of my rant, huh? Good thing I check, check and re-check my facts.

I’m a little nostalgic about Swiss Army Knives. I got a really nice one when I was a kid. My grandpa engraved my name on it. Still have it.

Hidden Google Labels

Posted onCategoriestechnology & science

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I’m up to 240 MB of e-mails stored in my Gmail account.    I’m feeling the urge to clean stuff out.  There’s no sense in keeping my eBay “You’ve been outbid” e-mails, you know?

I posted earlier about some Google filter tricks.  Well, here’s a nice write-up from last year on some hidden labels that you can use.

“Label:sent has:attachment” has been particularly helpful.

Lessons from 1st & 2nd Grade Church Camp

Posted onCategorieschurch, commentary

Well, I survived three days of 1st and 2nd grade church camp in Bethany, MO (June 7-9).

Being with my son as his counselor was pretty sweet. I was a proud dad — the whole time.

Here’s a few things I learned.

  • If you sleep in the air-conditioning with a wet beach towel instead of your sleeping bag, you will get cold at night.
  • I don’t care if it’s uncool to do all of the crazy actions to the camp songs. You should have seen me getting down on the “Drive the Bus” song. Some of the actions are in the Evolution of Dance video I posted earlier.
  • Yes, 1st and 2nd graders can have a serious discussion about where God came from. However, they may not want your input or like your answers.
  • Kids can actually have too much sugar.
  • Some kids are under too much pressure and responsibility at home. It was really sad hearing about the burdens some of the kids were carrying around.
  • The kids with the biggest mouths are sometimes the biggest wusses.
  • If the boys only knew that someday they might actually like girls, they wouldn’t be so dead-set on getting them back based on some rumor. It was boggling how rumors spread like wildfire and how many clandestine plots were hatched to exact revenge on the girls.