Adventures of Shopping With Little Tots

How many times have you gone into a grocery store, shopping mall, Wal-Mart, you name it, and just prayed to God that you would get in and out with your sanity in one peace because you had your little tots with you? The anticipation of cute little foaming mouths ready to spew out "I want toy...I want that guy...no, I want this..." and so on, and so on about 100 mph can make any parent quiver. The cruel torture about to take place upon entering the store can be unending and overwhelming. Heaven forbid if you tell your kid, "No, you can't have that!"

Next thing you know, the whining starts with looks on their little faces as if someone just died. They make their demands and you tell them no again. The loud cries come bursting out along with hand gestures and emotional breakdown dance moves that would even make the likes of John Travolta jealous. Academy award winning acts can take place in these moments with your little ones just like the act that took place in front of my eyes recently.

I had the pleasure of taking all my kids with me to Wal-Mart. Of course, being a single dad, most of the time I have no choice but to take all of them with me unless I have a friend watch them. For some reason, this place has been coined, "Wally World", by many people in the Carolinas. Wal-Mart is great for many people because of the lower prices and one-stop shopping for all your needs. I frequently shop at Wal-Mart and my kids know the layout of the store. Most importantly, they know where the toy section is. Low and behold, I took a deep breath before entering the store.

Everything was smooth sailing for a little awhile, thankfully, as I picked up some groceries while accommodating them with a few of their "want" desires relative to their choice of yogurt, chips, juice, and cookies. However, after picking up some diapers and pull ups (we were closer to the toy section), CJ exclaimed, "I want a toy!" Then Tyler followed with a yell, "I want a toy!" Sweet little Maddie followed in sync of course with her older brothers. An older female lady who heard the yells walked by with a smile on her face as I squeamishly walked towards the toy section to prevent further commotion. When you have loud shouts like that from little kids, it's hard NOT to attract attention. It rivals the attention one would get when you yell, "Bingo!", in a bingo hall and everyone turns to look right at you.

Nevertheless, we arrived at the toy section with shouts of excitement,"Yay...toys!" Smiling faces galore were found on all their faces as if it was Christmas Day. I was cringing on the other hand as I was thinking about how I was not going to give in if the kids asked for this very thing. But what parent doesn't want to put smiles on their kids faces when they ask for something, right? It gives me joy just to make them happy! In addition, peace for that very moment will come when everyone is happy and I can walk out of the store with my sanity in one peace. Besides, I take my children everywhere and they always seem to find their way back home. In all seriousness, I suggested certain less expensive toys to the kids. Luckily for me, Madison was happy with hers after looking at different suggestions. The boys on the other hand were a challenge.

CJ begged and whined for $20+ dollar Wolverine claws that you wear over your hand and arm. I was looking at the $5.00 toys and I reasoned with him regarding this which led to him being satisfied with another choice of his given my options. I've been defeated in battle so far but I've made a valiant effort. Two down, one more to go! Tyler strutted down the aisle saying, "I want...I want...I want..." for every transformer, GI-Joe, and X-Men toy that he could possibly name. When I said no to the toys he requested and suggested again the cheaper five dollar toys which had some of the characters he was looking for, look out!

Tyler started with his usual pout when told no with his bottom lip hanging out, but this Daddy was sticking to his guns on the $5 choice of toys. The whining pout turned into loud cries as he kept saying "I want Spiderman, I want Wolverine, I want Bumble Bee" again and again. THEN, all of a sudden...he stopped as if to say he was surrendered. The cries stopped, the jumping came to a screeching halt, and Daddy was starting to think for one second that he's won! A complete calmness came over him, the pout still on his face, the tears clearing up, and then he laid himself down slowly on the hard floor...face down (just like Daddy when he pretends to play dead on our living room floor with his arms and legs completely sprawled out). The scene was soooo funny that I had to control myself from bursting out in laughter. I actually had to turn my head so he wouldn't see the smile on my face because as he was on the floor face down, I actually saw him turn his head with a little smile on his face as if to say he knew exactly what he was doing.

Needless to say, there was no line of reasoning that was going to work with this little three year old. I told him to get up with a warning and he did. He knew that I wasn't giving in to his choices. I proceeded to talk up the other choices in excitement and we finally found a toy that he was happy with. The battle was finally over and all the kids were smiling when we walked out of the store...yes!

Before I had children, I had a hundred theories about raising children. Now, I have three children and no theories. One thing about parents I've noticed is that no matter what stage your child is in, the parents who have older children always tell me the next stage is worse. Until then, for all you young parents out there, keep plenty of hand sanitizers ready when your kids drop to the floor and stick to your guns! The battles may change but the adventures of shopping with kids never ends!

10 Helpful Tips For Single Dads

10 Helpful Tips For Single Dads

Hi Everyone! Please view the link above for some helpful tips! It will take you to my hub that I created to draw more people across the web to my blog. I have enjoyed writing and receiving feedback on my posts so far. I have been very encouraged by all of you relative to the messages I've received on Facebook and emails sent. I will be creating and writing hubs through hubpages as well on various interesting topics relative to my life in hopes of helping others. For future reference, I have also added a hubpages widget on the right hand side of my blog so you can click on the article of interest and the link will take you right to that hub. Thank you for reading and following me on my journey as a single dad!

Reflections of a Single Dad

Since taking on the role of Mr. Mom, I have by way of an occupational hazard adopted many motherly instincts and emotions. It's funny how becoming a single dad changes you in ways you would've never thought possible. Don't get me wrong, I'm still a man and my testosterone levels haven't changed at all. However, I find myself these days happier in female company (moms of course) discussing the kids, learning about grocery deals, learning recipes, learning from different mom's point of views on parenting, and the like instead of going out with the guys. I still love and need my hang time with the guys away from the kids, but in many ways...Mrs. Doubtfire has a whole new meaning to the realities that HIT you when you become a single dad.

When you're going through a divorce, it's no fun at all. It's very sad and for me it's like mourning the death of a person that you loved the most on this Earth. When my children's mother suddenly left us, it sent me into shock and awe. I'm sure that many of you single parents out there can relate. It's an emotional roller coaster that I don't wish upon anybody. All of a sudden, you are thrust into playing both roles: Mom and Dad. I quickly learned why God put more neurons in women's brains then men. Women are naturally better multi-taskers then men because of this fact. Mom's are typically better at nurturing and caring for children than Dads. I have much more respect for single parents now than I used to because I am living it now. Life would be much easier if I had 8 arms like Dr. Octopus from the Spiderman movie. I could change Madison's diaper, restrain Tyler's naked booty from running outside (he loves to be naked at this point in time as he's going through the potty training process) and play catch with CJ all at the same time! All in all, I think that other single parents would agree with me when I say we have the hardest job in the world!

I never thought I would end up as a single parent...who does? It seems that there are more single mom's out there as well than single dads. You should see the looks on peoples faces, particularly women, when I'm out and about at the grocery store with the all the kids and the cashier finally asks (because she's seen me with the kids sooo many times), "How come you're always in here with the kids?" I humbly reply, "That's because this man is a single dad!" The cashier sheeply replied, "Wow! Well, I commend you on what you're doing cuz most men in the world wouldn't."

Yes, there are single dad's out there and I'm one of them. I can't imagine being without my kids! My kids are like air and I need air to breathe. I would die inside without them and it's hard for me to fathom any parent giving up on their kids. My kids inspire me and keep me going. They are the best gifts in the world sent by God. I heard something in Church this morning that is so true: "The greatest legacy that we can leave for our children is our love for God." This quote resounded with me like loud church bells going off because it just helps me focus on what my purpose is in life. It's easy to get distracted by all the challenges of parenting, paying bills, taking kids to Dr. appts., going on kid playdates, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, helping kids with homework, kids jumping on my back, kids peeing in places they shouldn't be, etc. All those things are a part of life, but the greatest gift we could give to our kids is our love for God, our will to never give up on our faith, and our daily example of living the Christian life. I want to see my kids in Heaven one day. I can only hope that through all my imperfections, my kids will see a daddy that loves them and loves God more than anything. I pray that my legacy will live on in my kids and that one day, we will all hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

I thank God for all of my good friends who have helped me over the last year! I also have some of the best neighbors in the world! I could literally write a book about the trials and tribulations that I went through over the last year and how instrumental my friends were in helping me get through it. They still help me and I'm indebted to them for their love and friendship! It's always good to take a step back and reflect. It's always good to breathe and take one day at a time. Lastly, it's always good to know that you're not alone.

Seaweed: a Delicacy?

Last weekend, I was lucky and fortunate enough to eat some great Korean food thanks to my Korean mother, grandmother, and cousin coming up to visit the kids and I from Florida. My mother resides in Naples, FL and took the long road trip up in her camper to good ole Fort Mill, SC. My grandmother and cousin reside in the Los Angeles suburbs and were visiting her down in FL when they all decided to come up here and pay us a visit to which I was very delighted and grateful. I am half Korean, 1/3 welch, and 1/3 polish. I grew up as a US Air Force military brat and was born in South Korea, spending my first three years of life there.

To the amazement of most people, my first language was Korean and the only food that I would eat growing up as a kid was Korean until my parents split when I was 5. After living in Korea until I was 3 yrs. old, my dad was ordered to move to the states where we spent some time in NY before residing in CA until I was 10. When my parents divorced, I ended up living with my dad. Thus, no more Korean food!!! Granted, my dad did make attempts to feed us Korean food every once in a blue moon, but it just wasn't the same. I was subjected to American food which took me a long time to get used to! I used to abhor the look of my cereal getting soggy in milk while I was told to eat it. I would sob, throw tantrums, act like I was going to throw up, and have the look of utter disgust on my face when asked to eat my grean beans or peanut butter and jelly sandwhich. It really didn't matter what it was, I just wouldn't eat it! My mother till this day would even tell you that the only thing I liked that was American was Apple Juice. I loved Apple Juice and drank it like it was about to go extinct! At one point in 1st grade, my dad made a special visit to my school just to make sure that the teacher would sit with me in the cafeteria and make sure that I would eat at least most of the contents in my lunch bag because I had gotten sooo skinny. Eventually, I grew out of the poor eating habit and learned to love American food...amen!

Needless to say, anytime I'm around my mom and other Korean relatives, I'm in Korean Food Heaven!!! They brought all kinds of Korean delicacies that I love and my fridge quickly became the refridgerator from the Far East! My kids just looked in amazement as their Korean grandmother and great-grandmother took over the kitchen. Their eyes would gaze over the hot and spicy anchovies, eyes would grow bigger, until you hear the snarl from Tyler, "Ewww...that's nasty!" He had the cutest little look on his face when he said it with his face all scrunched up, then turning to a little smile because he saw me smiling at him. Of course, Tyler didn't even want to try it. He's probably the most picky eater out of all my kids at this point in time. CJ used to hold that title but he's more open now to foods that don't look right to him. All the lectures I've given him on being open to different kinds of foods (even if they don't look right) and healthy foods until he's blue in the face have helped. Madison is the best eating machine out of all three! However, even her "I will eat anything attitude" was challenged by the smell and looks of the Korean dishes that were laid out for all of us.

I can dabble with a little bit of Korean cooking and have given my kids Korean food before, but they're not use to seeing an array of Korean foods sprawled out on the table. To my surprise, they all liked a portion of the food that they had never tried before. However, what surprises me most is their love for Korean-style seaweed called Gim, sometimes spelled kim. The seaweed is roasted with sesame oil and salt seasoning. If you want to see the definition and/or picture of it, go to this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gim_(food).

I've seen people quiver at the sheer site of this seaweed when I've introduced it and the get me out of here looks start to hit you between the eyes. Most people I know would dare to try it unless I egged them on or dared their manhood if it was a guy. What puzzles me though that if you were to give my kids the choice between a hamburger and kim, they would choose the kim. I'm proud that my Korean blood is in them but never in a million years would I have imagined that one of my kids (Tyler) would yell to me over and over again, "Daddy, I want kim and rice...Daddy, I want kim and rice...Daddy, I want kim and rice!"

You can buy it at most Asian food markets and I use cooking scissors to cut the roasted seaweed sheets in 4 squares so that you can take one in the palm of your hand and wrap white rice in it. You can add anything you want to it in the wrap like beef and/or vegetables. My kids love it and would probably call it a delicacy if they were old enough to know that word! It was great having my family around! Good food, good laughs, and for this single papa of 3...it was just nice not to have to cook for a day! Oh, and before I forget...thank God for seaweed!

Here's the Story of a Man Named Rob...Who is Busy Bringing Up Two Boys and a Girl...

I love being a dad to my three beautiful children. Just over a year ago, I found myself in the middle of abrupt change in my marriage. It was like a sudden tornado or volcanic eruption that changed my life and the lives of my children. I have primary custody of my children and have been seperated for little over a year. The final divorce hearing is just around the corner. My children are 6, 3, and 2 yrs. old. All three of them (2 boys and 1 girl) have adjusted to the changes very well. God has blessed me with the best kids a daddy could ask for and they're pretty resilient. They're typical little tikes who love to learn, play with their friends, and use their imaginations everyday. My 2 yr. old daughter is all girl, thankfully so far, and looks up to her two older brothers. Spiderman, The Wiggles, and Barney are very important figures in my house as you can imagine. There is no shortage of web-slinging action, climbing walls, singing, and dancing in my household.

I am just your average single dad doing the best that he can to educate himself on being the best dad he can be for his kids. I have learned that the best way to learn this is to live it one day at a time. I make many mistakes and make many apologies, but it seems to be getting better. Everyday is a new lesson and we are all learning as we go. This blog is only intended to encourage readers and let you know that you're not the only ones out there who are going through the roller coaster ride of being a single parent. Being a single parent is challenging as we all know it, but it does have its joyful, rewarding, and often hilarious moments. Your thoughts and comments are always welcome. Thank you for stopping by and I hope you continue to read and maybe enjoy some of our adventures!