You aren't a real Dad until you've been puked on!

Father's Day was just a week or so ago, and I want to take a moment to brag on my husband. Bob was about 33 when we met. He'd never been married. He'd spent his whole life focus on sports and coaching.

We met in September 2000, got engaged in November 2000. Got married June 3, 2001 and got Frank and Libby July 17, 2001. We'd barely been married a month. within a year Bobby went from being a committed bachelor to being married with two kids.

Madi came along in April 2002, and Carlie in March of 2003. In two and a half year, he went from being single to being married with four small kids!!! That couldn't have been an easy adjustment.

When we first got Frank and Libby, Libby would eat anything and everything in sight. She would scavenge for food in the trash cans, under the couch, anywhere she could find it. She would also sometimes eat until she threw up.

We'd only had them a few weeks when we decided to go eat Mexican food and then go to Walmart. Libby ate and ate. When we got to the store, Bob and I each put a kid in a shopping cart. I had Frank in my cart and he had Libby in his. He said he was going to take Libby and go look in the sporting goods section.

He'd only been gone a few minutes when he showed back up at my side with a look of panic and disgust on his face. The first thing out of his mouth was "What do I DO???" He'd been pushing Libby in the cart and she'd leaned forward and puked all over his feet. He was wearing flip-flops!!!

So I'm standing in the middle of Walmart with a 2 year old covered in puke and a husband covered in puke. Bob took Frank and went into the mens room to wash off his feet and shoes. I bought Libby a new set of clothes and paid for them in layaway, then took her into the bathroom and changed her clothes.

And I told Bob that he was now officially a Dad, as he'd been puked on!!!

Tales of a 4th Grade Drop-Out

My phone at work has caller id. When I see the number for the elementary school, I inwardly cringe. It can be anything from a child needs lunch money, to one of them is puking, to my son having a melt down.

I know which of the three it is when I hear the Principal's voice on the line. Our conversations always start like this:

"Well Hello Mrs Pool. How is your day?"

"Ummm...well....pretty good so far, but that depends on what you are getting ready to tell me!!!"

About a month ago, I got a call from the principal. He informed me that my 4th grade son is quitting school.

I spoke to my rebel on the phone and explained to him that it's the law that all children go to school. So his options are to go to school peacefully or to have to go to juvie. Jail is the ONE THING my child fears above all others.

After talking to him about 15 minutes about whom I should give his possessions too (because he wouldn't need them in Juvie), he wails "Oh MY GOD MOM. You are the meanest Mom EVER. I guess I'll go back to school!!!!"

I'm sure it will be funny.....one day. I now lay upon him the Mother's Curse "Frank, I hope you have four kids JUST LIKE YOU one of these days!!!"

I guess its a boy thing though, because my Father-in-law tells people that he spent as much time in the classroom as Bob did during the 3rd grade, because he had to go up there so often.

Poem about Father's and their Daughters

As my father sees me, so shall I.

As a daughter, all my self-worth comes from how much my father values me.
The amount of affection he pays me as a child is what I will expect from a mate.
The respect he shows my mother, will be what I will tolerate from a husband.
The time invested in me as a child, will equal the amount of time I invest in him during his "golden" years.
How he sees me in his eyes, is how I will see myself.
A little girl becomes exactly what her father says she is.
In short, I will be the product of what you do and say around me, to me, and to others .
No compliment or blessing is any higher than that of my Daddy’s.
In short, how you see me, is how I will be.
The least little comment, especially negative, I will take to heart.
You think the sun will rise and set with me, but without you I have no world.
You are my daddy and little girls NEED their Daddies.