FamilyMatters

I Know You're Watching Me

 While we were on Madeline Island with the six boys, 3 big boys and 3 wise women -- we had a great time.

One rule was that while Mike, Joey and Keane could cross the street alone, Liam, Bran and Elliot could not.  Every time they left the house or the beach one of us would remind the boy leaving to "look both ways" before you cross the street -- it didn't matter which kid was going up, we all got in on the reminders.

One day, Kristi, Julie and I were sitting in the house having lunch -- Mike was sitting with us for a while -- and Keane left for the beach. All three moms watched as Keane got to the road.

Kristi said, "do you think he'll look both ways?"

Sure enough Keane looked left and right and crossed the road.

Later Mike left for the beach. We all watched as he got to the road.

He looked left.

He looked right.

And he looked back at us and grinned.

We burst into laughter!!!

Randy Pausch: Letting your kids write on the walls

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon computer science professor whose last lecture impacted so many died today.  Read the New York Times story on his lecture here http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/last-lecture-professor-randy-pausch-dies-at-47/?hp

What an incredible man.  I remember reading the WSJ story about his last lecture (where he announced his retirement and his incurable pancreatic cancer) in my office last fall and just being overwhelmed -- the tears wouldn't stop -- they won't stop now.

Most good parents I know (yes the subjective!) focus on their kids -- how to help them, how to encourage, how to inspire, how not to get in there way. This is tempered by the realities of getting to school on time, brushing teeth, finishing homework and keeping the peace in a normal life.

Randy Pausch -- in sharing his own story -- has, I hope, dramatically improved the lot of countless children.  Let your kids draw on walls. Let your kids win crappy stuffed animals at carnivals. Don't stifle, encourage -- even when it's hard. Randy' Book At Amazon

Our two kids are so different, so passionate.

Michael -- passionate about the organ and singing and drama and horses. Liam passionate about life in general and connecting with other people. Both easily distracted by the regular beat of the day - both in search of fulfillment in what's in their hearts.

I hope we always remember to let them write on the walls even when it would be so much easier if they were just like other kids.