A Better Catholic Dad, life lessons for every parent

Stresses in life...

Ever have those days where you have that pain in the back of your neck?  Seriously... those days where lifes stresses get you wound up so tightly that it hurts?  Today is one of those days.  Its a stressful day at work and I feel like I could run for miles in hopes of relieving the tension.  But I'm not a runner so thats marked off the list.

The day started with my oldest daughter coming down with what her brother had the other day and this morning she was puking nicely... even once on me.  Ah, it's good to be a dad.  Someone has to catch the puke!  Then I get to work and there is gossip and near conspiracy happening and days like this I'd much rather be home and getting puked on.  Of course I could run for miles and I might feel better but I think tomorrow I just need to schedule an hour for me and go to confession.  It's been a while and I've missed mass and etc. etc., we all have our reasons and excuses but after days like this I need to feel some sort of peace.  Have some sort of knowledge that there is still right in the world and not everyone is just down right horrible.  I've had my fair share of backstabbing for the day and as a result I'm feeling resentment towards others.  I think it's time to change that feeling.  Time to.... time to get back to what matters most. 

Posted by Catholic Dad at 5/7/2009 2:24 PM | Add Comment

Weird way to get some R&R....

Talk about a relaxing day around these parts!  I actually took the day of from work.  I honestly can not remember the last time I took Wednesday off from work. Perhaps never is the answer.  Its been nice, got up and got my son out the door to go to school, cooked my wife a sunny side up egg for breakfast (aka snot) and cleaned the girls room.  It's noon and I already have dinner planned and the girls are napping.  Talk about productive!  Of course I am sitting on my ass staring at a HUGE pile of laundry that needs attention but for once I'm sitting still, typing and watching a movie on TV.  As I've said before I'm playing a little larger role in being Mr. Mom.

I feel as though I should get up and clean the garage..... or something...perhaps wash a car (oh wait, we're in a drought so nope, saved by that one!)  I'm not a person who ever sits still, I always have to be doing something, cleaning something, cooking something... anything but sit still.  I can never ever watch a movie during the day because I typically feel like if it's daylight there are chores to be done.  But today, I think I will enjoy the R&R while the girls are napping.  These days, I completely understand what my wife means by the "down time" when they are napping.  It's a feeling of "WOOHOO", I can sit still for five minutes!  Now I completely understand why the laundry was not always done or the bathrooms were never spotless.

In case you were wondering what's for dinner... it's Tater Tot Casserole.  Having the better of both worlds in one dish.  Tots and ground beef.  What more could anyone ask for! 

Posted by Catholic Dad at 5/6/2009 9:03 PM | Add Comment

Sick Kids!

I am now a card holding member of the "I've had my name called over the store PA system" club!  Last  night after I clipped the coupons and got the kids to bed (even the wife since she was heading to work in a few hours) I headed out the grocery store.

Backing up, earlier in the evening at dinnertime my son who is my oldest was complaining of a stomachache and  soon went to vomit, puke, hurl… whichever name you choose to call it by  he was sick.  He opted to stay up and watch TV while I was out at the grocery store. 

Long story short and back  to the checkout line… I was just starting to put the items on the belt  when I heard my name called from the lady standing 15 feet in front of me.  First thought was OH NO…  got on the line and it was some other lady looking for someone else… wrong  line.  I walked away and called the  wife back who was hysterically saying that I needed to take my son to the doctor and to get home right now.   Needless to say I quickly checked out of the line and packed the food in the car.  I came home and brought in the  perishables and grabbed my son and whisked him to the doctors.  I left the house at 8:40 with  NO GAS in my truck and had to be there by 9:00 before they closed.  AND it’s about a  20-minute drive.  The entire way I watched that  gas needle teasing me as it was below E and then going up a hill above E…. yeesh.

Finally we made it and the doctor ran tests for influenza  and strep and determined it was just a tummy bug.  Poor kid, he puked some more at their office.  Funny how a kid who looks  reasonably well when you get to the doctors office and you feel crazy for bringing  him, when the puke comes on, you feel so much better~

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Posted by Catholic Dad at 5/5/2009 3:20 PM | Add Comment

Let the Adventure Begin!

I think it's time to try something new here.  I really enjoy writing here, unfortunately I sometimes run outta ideas.  Who me?  Not possible!  Fortunately it's true.  From here on out, I want to turn this blog into "The Adventures of A Better Catholic Dad".  All about day to day stuff that goes on in the suburban life of a Catholic Dad trying his damnedest to try to do right by his kiddos.  I have a small heard of three children ages 6, 3 and 1-1/2.  Currently the trouble maker is my youngest!  She's also the loudest and moodiest of the bunch too.  Day to day they create some of the most amazing stresses I could imagine.  They are funny as well as a pain in the butt (only joking... or am I).  Seriously, I love them more than life.
 
These days I am more involved in their life than I have ever been before.  I am playing a larger role as Mr. Mom these days.  Mostly because work has slowed up and my wife had to go find work to make up the difference.  Her night job means plenty of the roles that she took care of are now on my shoulders.  You mean I have to make lunches, read bedtime stories, prepare the clothes for the next day and find that lost shoe!  With her working hard and with so much less sleep, I do not mind one bit.  Its the least I could do.  This is where "The Adventures" comes into play.  It's a learning curve for me in so many ways.
 
Let the adventure begin!

Posted by Catholic Dad at 5/5/2009 11:45 AM | Add Comment

I love...

I love my wife.
I love my children.
I love my family.
I love my life.

-ABetterCatholicDad.

Posted by Catholic Dad at 4/7/2009 9:13 PM | Add Comment

Priceless....

Last night was one of those nights where no matter how bad the news in the world may be, it made up for all of the wrong in the world.  It was an evening I will forever remember.  I spent the evening out with my nearly 3 year old daughter.  My son had a birthday party to attend that my wife took him to along with my youngest.  My middle daughter put on a pretty dress and went out with daddy.  We went to the mall where she got a new book at the bookstore, we walked through several stores where she was allowed to drop a "bath bomb" in a bowl of water and see it fizz, she got to play with a few gadgets in Brookstone and she got to ride the carousel.  She was beaming with joy and kept saying it was awesome.  After we left the mall I took her for ice cream at Carvel and we finally got home around 8:30.  It was such an amazing evening, spending such quality one on one time with her and seeing her personality in full force.  Instead of the hectic errands we run as a family, we took our time and went at a leisurely pace. 
 
Spending that one on one time with my children means so much to them.  Where they are told to share their toys, share a snack if they are eating something, take turns watching TV shows, take turns hearing their favorite story for them to have attention directly on them for a few hours where you can listen to every word they say uninterrupted will have them beaming from ear to ear.  Next on the agenda is taking my son fishing early one weekend morning.  He recently got a new fishing pole for his birthday and he is dying to try it out. 
 
I hope to make it a regular occurrence in taking them out for one on one time because not only will it mean so much to them, it means the world to me.

Posted by Catholic Dad at 3/7/2009 10:23 AM | Add Comment

Lent, what did you give up?

It's always interesting how non Catholics always to seem to have an interest in what us Catholics are giving up.  On Ash Wednesday I had three or four people ask me that question.  One part of me thinks that's a personal choice but the other part of me thinks that if I tell then there are that many more people keeping me in line.  It's hard to give something up for 40 days especially when you really enjoy it.  For example, my sister in law gave up eating meat, not just on Fridays but every day of the week for 40 days.... and no, she's not a vegetarian... not even close.  My wife on the other hand gave up a handful of things in case one failed she would have backups.  He choices were soda and ice cream, two of her biggest vices.  (I might want to move into the garage for the remainder of Lent).  For me, it was fast food... I crave it.  I don't always eat it, only on days when I forget my lunch and I have to eat.  Other times, I simply think of fast food fries or a burger and that's all it takes to make me want to hit the nearest drive through.  Will I make it, I hope so.  Will I eat a burger on Easter... most likely.
 
Why do we give up something for Lent?  You know by tradition that your supposed to but ever wonder why?  One search tells us that it is a return to simplicity and purity and another search expands on it to say that we are to identify with the sufferings of Christ. 
 
I've always though Lent was about giving something up, but I have read that it is also about adding something to our lives.  I know there are many MANY things I can add to my own life to make it better and it's all free.  Two things that come to mind are for me to read at least a passage a day from the bible.  All I have to do is open it and read, read a line or even a paragraph.  Another is to strengthen the bond with my wife.  Now is a perfect time to devote 40 days to "The Love Dare". 
 
What are you giving up?  Feel free to respond!

Posted by Catholic Dad at 3/2/2009 2:09 PM | Add Comment

Carpe Diem

Something that may seem like nothing to you can mean the whole world to your child......I started the weekend on Friday by being a chaperone for my sons field trip.  I took time out of my busy day to be there for him.  I got to see him run around with his friends and go from one exhibit at the aquarium to the next.  He was beaming with pride and joy all morning long.  He was proud to have me there and be a part of his day.  I sat next to him at lunch and watched him talk with his friends and it was amazing to see how he has grown into such a little man (despite the fact that he is still my baby).  In his early years I worked plenty and have always felt that I missed so much.  Well this day at the aquarium made up for it.  There was a bond that was made that day that can not be described.  When we got home that night all he wanted to do was sit next to me while we watched TV.  That night when he got up in the middle of the night he specifically said he wanted "daddy" to walk him back to bed. 
 
I continued this effort throughout the weekend with my children.  We made it to the beach (despite the chill in the air) and hunted for sea shells.  Originally our plan was to go looking for sharks teeth for a class project but instead we have plenty of shells that he can use.  That day at the beach I took home more than just sea shells, I took home memories that will last a lifetime.  I took plenty of pictures this weekend trying to capture my children in the moment.  Wanting to forever capture their laughter and smiles.
 
In my opinion the camera was the greatest invention ever created.....with its help, my children, no matter how old they get they will always be my babies.  One day when I am old and forgetful I can know I will never forget how great this time of my life was.  Capture the moment.  Carpe Diem.

Posted by Catholic Dad at 1/26/2009 3:07 PM | Add Comment

My New Year Resolutions...

How time flies.  It seems like just yesterday we were cutting up the Thanksgiving turkey and here we are nearly ready to take down the Christmas tree.  Despite how rocky the year has been, it still has been a great year.  I don't want to look at 2008 as being a bad year.  I have no control over the stock market, the price of gas or even the layoffs the company I work for has gone through. I do have control of remembering the good times and all of the wonderful memories that were made and the many laughs that were heard. 
 
I want to remember 2008 as the year  my youngest took her first steps, my oldest started kindergarten and my middle.... well, my middle she's still my little angle (with a little more attitude).  2008 is the year I started this blog as a way to try and make myself a better Catholic dad.  Despite my best efforts at time to maintain this, time just seemed to get away and I let it fall by the wayside.  My new years resolution is to continue to TRY to be a better Catholic dad, to be a better Catholic husband and to be a better Catholic friend.  My resolution is to let God handle my worries, I want to let him take care of the things I have no control over.  I think I did pretty good for starting some "resolutions" as you may call them mid year, well I want to take this new years resolution and make it official.  My New Years Resolution is to be A Better Catholic Dad. 
 
If I thought life was good this year, I cant wait for next year when I open myself to God even that much more.
 
Have a happy and safe New Year and may God bless everyone!
 
-Catholic Dad

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Posted by Catholic Dad at 12/31/2008 9:26 AM | Add Comment

Inspirational Videos..

Who doesn't love anything with an inspirational message especially when its spoken through a child's voice.  When watching this clip, think of your son or daughter talking directly to you.  Think of your actions throughout the day, do you want your child to really learn some of the "bad" habits you are teaching? 

Just watch and prepare to be inspired to be a better dad...

Posted by Catholic Dad at 12/5/2008 12:19 PM | Add Comment
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