Breaking the silence of the night, the unmistakable small voice of my seven year old daughter Skylee called out, “Daddy.” Immediately, instinctively, I was up and striding toward her room. I never knew what the midnight call would bring. About […]
It’s a Wonderful Life: Making Lasting Christmas Memories
They are some of the most vivid memories of my childhood. We carried piles of chopped wood into the house, stacking it next to the fireplace. My father mashed newspaper and leaned kindling on it, shifting the logs into the flames until the entire room glowed and warmed. Stockings dangled on the mantle.
Floored By Fatherhood
The instant I saw my daughter’s face for the first time, I almost fell over. Slammed directly in the chest with the proverbial two by four, I stood there enamored, trying to breathe. I stammered out her name in a […]
[LUDWIG@HOME] Home Alone
I’m lucky for many reasons. Among them is that The Wife rarely travels for work. Last month was a bit unusual in that she flew to Washington, DC, for a daytrip and had an overnight excursion in Columbus, OH. She […]
Cutting Your Stock-Market Losses Is Child’s Play
Image by: Steve Woods For big savings amid a tanking economy, I suggest thinking small. Really small. The stock market has plummeted. People are losing their homes and retirement savings. Most of us are doing all we can to save […]
Why Teens Need Dads
When our kids are young they think we dads are gods (well, for the most part anyway). We’re smart, strong, handsome… it’s really nice, isn’t it? But, come the teen years, things can get complicated despite the best of intentions. […]
Staying Connected While Away From Home
Work life… In previous jobs I traveled quite a bit and although it felt good to make the phone call back home, I always wished I could do more to connect with my family and be with my family even […]
A Father’s Voice: Pee and Poop…There, I’ve Said It!
While I have written many articles on what it feels like to leave my three year old twins to go to work or the challenges I’ve faced in helping them to sleep on their own during the night, I have […]
[LUDWIG@HOME] Back in my day
As a kid, I remember hearing adults reminisce about 8-track tapes and watching The Beatles on “The Ed Sullivan Show.” I also remember thinking these adults sounded very old. I found myself reminiscing similarly this week. Even as a young […]
REALLY Be There, Dad
Spending time with our children is obviously a huge part of ensuring a child’s self-worth as they grow. When we are spending that time with our children though, are we truly engaged with them or just taking up space in […]
Into the Dawn: The Sabrina Kindergarten Story
Once upon a time the obstinate Princess Sabrina started kindergarten. Although she had gone to preschool for two years and had a GREAT time with a wonderful teacher, Terry Dayner, she did not want to go to Kindergarten. The prospect […]
The Juggle
Today’s fathers are more and more involved in their kid’s lives. As school starts back up and calendars fill with work and extracurricular activities, the logistics of day to day life can get a little crazy! How does a guy […]
A Father’s Voice: Blazing A New Parental Trail
Into the Dawn: Incorrigible
Sabrina is turning five years old this month. The younger sister of seven year old Skylee, she really knows how to raise a stink. It makes life for the whole family difficult when she launches into a tantrum, lying on […]
A Father’s Voice: Twinkle, Twinkle, Our Little Star
“Twinkle, twinkle?” our almost two-and-a-half year old son, Elijah, asked. “You want to sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Elijah?” his mother asked. “Yeah,” he responded in his soft voice. It was dinner time at the Schneider family household and as […]