Questions 8-14

Question 7: How Does Daddy Treat Mommy?

Kids really notice everything. Just ask my wife who used to teach 4-5-year old kids in Sunday School. She learned a lot more than she wanted to about what goes on at home and how mommies and daddies get along.

This one is another "daddy check," meaning that I'm making sure I'm not messing things up too badly. I'm happy to hear that the kids see only positive things so far. I definitely want to keep that going.

I think with the next round of interviews (around question 14 or so) I will have my wife interview just to be sure the kids aren't answering the way they think I want them too.

Question 6: Has Daddy Ever Done Anything That Scared You?

This was just to make sure I wasn't too bad of a father. I'm happy to report that I haven't done anything scary enough to remember. I am a little worried about the face R mentioned that is scary. It may be the same face A mentioned in one of the previous videos: my "serious face." We actually played a guessing game with the kids the other night where they acted out different animals and we had to guess what they were. Well, my son started opening his eyes really wide and making a face that looked pretty serious and a little scary. Then I realized the animal he was acting out was me. He was doing my "serious face." It was pretty hilarious. It also makes me keenly aware of the faces I make at my kids.

Question 5: What does Daddy say when you ask him to play?

Well, I think all the kids were right. Sometimes I huff and puff because I'm tired or have other things I need to or want to do at the moment. Sometimes I come up with fun ideas and suggestions. The answer that worries me a little is "That's a hard question." It sounds like "I don't want to say because it might hurt Daddy's feelings."

This was a very insightful interview.

Question 4: What Face Does Daddy Make A Lot?

This video is very insightful. I think A does a great impression of my famous serious face. I think I would be a little annoyed by that face. Good thing I can't make faces at myself.

I was relieved to see that R said I make a happy face. She has been blessed with the ability to forget the mistakes I make and to always think positively.

And K, . . . well . . . she was either sick of interviewing or I make worse faces than I thought.

The conclusions from this interview:

I have a very memorable serious face, and

I am generally making happy faces.

Question 3: What Is Something Daddy Says A Lot?

This is a dangerous question. But I ended up feeling more relief than anything else. I hope you enjoy it.



You never really know what you say a lot. My son's response was interesting. I think he was a little scared to repeat it, but he finally said, "no." I do say that a lot. My feeling is similar to what Emerson said: You remembers most the things you love the most and the things you hate the most. Apparently, I don't say anything my kids really love, except maybe "toys," but I do say something they hate: "no." I'm not exactly their Emerson--yet.

Question 2: How Does Daddy Act When He Gets Home?

I thought the responses to this question were especially insightful. Enjoy.



I had a feeling that my son would say what he did. He's mentioned it (and I've blogged about it) before. It's true that after a certain point, it's time to get down to business, meaning bed, and that requires some nudging. In more direct terms, once it's time to get down to business, I become Charlie Brown's mom to them. In fact, I'm not sure they can even hear me when I speak sometimes. There is hardly anything more frustrated than repeating yourself or just plain being ignored. On the other hand, they are kids, so they need some time and patience when asked to do something, and probably a little gentle nudging. What I wonder now is whether I need to adjust my nudging so that it isn't so memorable for the wrong reasons.

Question 1: What Does Daddy Do For A Living?

We're doing something different this year. Instead of daily entries, I'm going to post videos of interview with my kids--I'm aiming at one per week. With my brother Sam's video editing help, we've brought you the first in a series of 52 interviews between me and my kids about what their impressions of Daddy are.



I decided to start from the beginning. I want to know if they know what I do when I'm not at home. This is important because I want them to know that I am not away from home because I don't want to be at home, rather because I am doing something to help my family. Their sweet innocence makes for some very interesting answers. Enjoy.

Peace At Last

I hope my wife will forgive me, but although I had to come home from Christmas break without her and the kids because of work, I was looking forward to a vacation from our vacation. Traveling with the kids for the holidays is exhausting. "Peace at last," I thought. Only, I don't know what to do with so much peace. The house is empty. My evenings are empty. I'm not sure what to do with myself without wrestling with my son, snuggling with my daughters, and laughing with my wife. (I know I'm forgetting the part where the kids splash us during baths, scream during bedtime, and continue getting out of bed for various reasons, not to mention dinner table drama and clean-up.) I know I'll get some needed extra work done, and I don't want to be the new attorney who vacations longer than more senior attorneys. On the other hand, it is hard for me to think of anything other than my family. My baby girl's first hair cut, the tenderness with which my son and oldest girl played Mary and Joseph in the nativity, reading to the kids at night, spending the nights talking with my wife. I've actually creeped into the kids' rooms a few times just to feel like they are closer. I'm not sure I like this much peace.