Kids Archives - Mark Leiker

Everything you need to know about parenting you can find online!

Just kidding! I have been a parent for a little over five years now, so you would think that I’m an expert! You would be wrong. I have looked all over to find tips & tricks to make sure my kids have a great childhood, however, you will see a lot of conflicting advice. One such example is sleep training.

Raising kids is the most wonderfully frustrating thing you can ever choose to do. I did say choose, as anyone can go and make a kid, but you have to make a commitment to become an actual parent. There is no half- ass way to do this stuff.

I am far from the best dad any kid could ever wish for, but I wanted to share some things that I learned over the last five years.

#1. You get to write your own instruction manual…

I don’t care how many books or blogs you read about parenting. Nothing is going to prepare you for how much your life is going to change when that first child comes home! Everyone has their own way of doing things, and will happily tell you what works for them.

You will realize while watching YouTube videos on swaddling at 3 AM that you have to try a few things out to find a solution that works for you. Sure, all these resources will help, but in the end, it is all trial and error. You have to decide what works and what doesn’t. Eventually, you will find your own style.

Don’t worry, you will get to a point where you look at new parents and chuckle. Just as more experienced parents are most likely having a giggle while watching you right now.

#2. The first child experience…

The first kid will get all the cool stuff. All the accessories that you can find at Buy Buy Baby. The snot sucker, binkie whips, awesome diaper bag, etc. Make sure to get refills for the Diaper Genie!

This kid will get all of your attention. They won’t be allowed to eat off the floor, play in the dirt, and everyone gets to wash their hands before they are allowed to touch the baby.

You will worry about this little one constantly. Rush to pick them up every time they fall, and call the doctor about every fever.

#3. You will never sleep again…

Truth. Forget sleeping through the night, at least in the beginning. If you’re lucky you might get to sleep in when the kids a teenager. My son is a rooster and makes sure we know exactly when the sun begins to ever so slightly crest the horizon.

#4. Get ready for all the photo opts…

Your child’s early years will also be very well documented in baby books. You are going to take so many pictures of this kid it is crazy. Make sure you come up with a good way to view them all. My wife will use Shutter Fly to make hardcover books for each year that are truly awesome!

I love that FaceBook shows me memories each day. When I was growing up we never really dug out the photo albums. Having these memories shown to you automatically is great. You will be surprised how fast that kid is going to grow.

#5. You will spend way too much money…

All that cool stuff you got. All those cool accessories. You won’t use them after six months. Pretty sure that we have never used the snot sucker. You will also realize that you have been carting around a ton of stuff that you really don’t need.

You know what the best changing pad on the market is? The floor. Yep, that wiggle worm can’t fall off the floor. Once you have some experience, you can move from the floor to the couch.

Also, it is way easier to clean poop off tile or hardwood than it is carpet. Choose your spot carefully!!!

#6. Your kid is going to get you sick…

So so very sick. Nothing like the entire family ending up in the hospital with the Norovirus because you had a fun day at the Children’s Museum. Make sure everyone is washing their hands anywhere you encounter several germ buckets in one area. Especially when you visit all those awesome public places full of other peoples sick kids.

#7. The second child experience…

All that crap about washing hands goes out the window with this kid. You won’t think twice about letting this one eat dirt. This one gets to play with that kid at the playground with green snot running down their face. You might even remember that snot sucker you have collecting dust in the medicine cabinet.

You now realize that kids are a lot tougher than they seem. They also heal extremely fast. You are not as worried about the huge goose egg on your kid’s forehead after they face plant on the neighbor’s sidewalk as you were the first kid.

There won’t be as many pictures of this kid. They sometimes get the short end of the memory stick. You will still love them just as much as the first kid, but now realize that you just don’t have as much time to spread between these two super needy creatures.

#8. Forget going out to eat…

Don’t expect to have a nice meal out to eat anywhere that doesn’t have a playground. Even bringing some books and toys will only last the kids so long.

When we first had my son, we bragged about nothing changing and going out to eat all the time. Yea, that lasted about five minutes.

Rushing to take a few bites while your spouse is walking a screaming kid around outside sucks! Taking turns walking the little troublemakers around gets old quick. Better to get take out and embarrass yourself in front of your friends at home on your own turf.

#9. Your house will never be clean again…

You are going to spend so much time cleaning, folding laundry, and doing dishes it becomes a second full-time job. Just accept it. You may want to think twice about getting a huge house. More house = more to clean!!

Watch your step around Lego’s! Stepping on a Lego is it’s own special kind of pain.

#10. Your kid’s pet is really your pet…

Having a pet growing up is great! I had a bunch of pets when I was a kid. Just realize when you decide to get an animal when you have young kids that you get to take care of it.

Maybe if the pet lives long enough you will get to teach them some responsibility.

#11. Kids really are the best thing ever…

You might be thinking that after the first ten things on this list your life is over. Truth is that the first time your kid says your name or grabs your finger with their little hand your’s hooked.

aditya romansa - www.unsplash.com — aditya romance – www.unsplash.com

There is nothing like being a parent. Life is full of so many ups, downs, and sideways. Kids do make these swings more significant in good and bad ways.

Your goals will shift. Your dreams will be centered around the little ones for the time being, but don’t forget to keep the long game in mind. Eventually, these kids will move out.

#12. Your partner in crime…

Don’t take your significant other for granted. It is really easy to fall into a routine of work, kids, clean, sleep. Remember your partner that’s tagging along on this journey with you. Maintaining that bond and connection is extremely important! When the kids have moved on to their own lives it will just be the two of you. Make sure there is still a “Us” at the end of the day.

If you are a single parent, I tip mine had to you! I couldn’t do this on my own, and can only imagine how strong you must be. Same goes for Step and Adoptive parents. It takes a special person to come in and raise another person’s child.

All that said, you will never know another love like that of your kids! Whether they are your own or adopted, these kids will force you to be a better person. You just have to do your best not to fuck them up too bad.

Goals…

I know that I am a bit late to the table for a new years goal setting post, however, the best day to make a positive change in your life was yesterday.

I have seen several posts about how people are going to get in shape this year or become even more productive. These are some of the common themes that are floating around out there, and I’m all about doing everything possible to improve my performance in my day job. I have plenty of goals documented at work, and there are a lot of people that have already put out some good career and productivity stuff that can be used at the 9-5.

Things in my professional life are doing okay at the moment, so I plan to take some time to focus on my off time. Becoming more efficient at work will give me more time to enjoy at home, and since that is what I really want in life, will help me stay on the professional track throughout the year.

These days most of us spend more time at work than we do with our families and the activities that make life worth living. So, this year I want to tackle some things that have been on my list for quite some time, like:

Fencing

Yep, that’s right. Nothing says fun like good old-fashioned swordplay! Of course, I have never done anything close to fencing since I was a kid battling the neighborhood kids with broomsticks, which was always fun.. until you got smacked on the hand, or ear. It may be my inner pirate or that one James Bond movie that got this one high on my list.

Rock Climbing

There have been a couple periods of my life where I was hitting the rock climbing gym pretty often. Growing up in Colorado I took the mountains for granted and never made it out of the gym.

I do think it is a little funny that this is pretty high on my list as I am terrified of heights, so I’m hoping to spend some time confronting my fear head-on. Granted I won’t see any major heights in FL, so I will have some time to work on this one.

This also fits into another overall goal…

Getting active

I work in an office, so that means I sit on my ass all day and get fat. There is no shortage snacks and temptations floating down the aisles between cubicles, and I am never one to turn down a baked good that happens by.

I know that getting fit is one of those New Year’s resolutions hardly anyone keeps, so I am going to start by just being more active. Easy stuff like going for a walk during lunch and having a Nerf gun war with my kids. Just getting off my ass and away from the TV will go along way.

Writing

I really wanted to try my hand at writing this year, so started this blog. I don’t really have a set plan or goal for this other than to publish a new post about once a week. I realize that I will need some time to find my voice and what I really want to write about.

Camping and hiking

I love it outside! I love the smell of campfires and sleeping in a sleeping bag. Listening to the breeze move through the trees and waves lap on some shore put me at peace. It’s very true that going into nature is going home, and even an overnight backpacking trip feels like a week-long vacation.

Car camping is great, but nothing beats heading into the back county where everything you need fits into a backpack! I really want to take my son on an overnight trip this winter before it starts to get hot again. We only have two seasons in FL. There is the scorching hot sweat staining summer, and a couple cool days sometime in January- March. So, needless to say, I need to pencil this one in soon.

Now for the things that really matter…

Playtime with my kids

My kids are growing up so fast. My boy is in kindergarten and my little girl is already starting potty training. It’s hard to imagine moving into the next phase of parenting where there aren’t any babies anymore. I can admit that becoming a dad has made me more emotional, and sometimes it makes me a little sad to see how big they have grown.

My last position in my company had me traveling about a week a month, and over the course of a year, I felt like I missed so much. Even though my trips were usually three to five days they looked bigger every time I came home. I realized it was time for a change when it wasn’t a big deal to them when I left on my trips. I was fortunate when a new position came along that required much less travel.

Whatever you do, don’t take time with your family for granted. It will be over sooner than you think!

Snuggling with my wife

Is there any more that really needs to be said about that? Spending time with your significant other is precious. I really look forward to nights after we put the kids to bed and we can just talk, and be us for a while. It is hard to believe that we have been married for ten years as of June 2017! I’m glad that she still puts up with me, and all my quirks… Like wanting to go fencing.

An overall goal of a full life

All of these things just help to enhance the quality time we have. Don’t spend too much time thinking about work, and your next big move up the corporate food chain. Do your best to leave work where it belongs, at work!

You can always make more money, but you will never get the time you spend away from those you love back. Don’t let stress get in the way of a full life, and never ever take time for granted.

Mark Leiker

Tag: Kids

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