I remember when my daughter was little. Every weekend day, every off day, it was always a strain to figure out what we could do that was both entertaining and educational, formative and fun. Some were hits, some were misses. Some worked better for me, some worked better for her. Sometimes we’d get a peek behind the scenes, as in when we visited a fish hatchery on a quiet weekday and the workers showed us how they inoculated the spawning salmon as they passed through the dam — special personal tour nobody gets to see. Sometimes it was just goofy. Kid’s theater, day hikes, sports, parks, museums, factory tours, watching logging operations, camping, poking our noses into whatever. Yeah, even the zoo! We had a variety of experiences, and it certainly helped her self-confidence.
After all those years, I find I now have an adult daughter who is actually a friend. Maybe all that work worked at bonding!
I was too young to remember but a close friend of the family used to take me with him to bars. Somewhere there’s a picture of me in a cowboy outfit standing on the bar next to him. Turns out that he and my mom were both alcoholics and drinking buddies. Ahh, the formative years. When I was in the Navy I found I could drink as much as I wanted and never have a hangover. Luckily I decided that this was the fast track to alcoholism and didn’t want to repeat my mother’s mistake.
I took my 8 year old daughter and her friend to the zoo on a break and we got to see two large tortoises humping. loud and awkward. an explanation ensued. They sort of understood. much different than watching their dogs.
SHAKEDOWNVILLE over 2 years ago
Try a “f{r}ight” club.
ekke over 2 years ago
I remember when my daughter was little. Every weekend day, every off day, it was always a strain to figure out what we could do that was both entertaining and educational, formative and fun. Some were hits, some were misses. Some worked better for me, some worked better for her. Sometimes we’d get a peek behind the scenes, as in when we visited a fish hatchery on a quiet weekday and the workers showed us how they inoculated the spawning salmon as they passed through the dam — special personal tour nobody gets to see. Sometimes it was just goofy. Kid’s theater, day hikes, sports, parks, museums, factory tours, watching logging operations, camping, poking our noses into whatever. Yeah, even the zoo! We had a variety of experiences, and it certainly helped her self-confidence.
After all those years, I find I now have an adult daughter who is actually a friend. Maybe all that work worked at bonding!
Bill The Nuke over 2 years ago
I was too young to remember but a close friend of the family used to take me with him to bars. Somewhere there’s a picture of me in a cowboy outfit standing on the bar next to him. Turns out that he and my mom were both alcoholics and drinking buddies. Ahh, the formative years. When I was in the Navy I found I could drink as much as I wanted and never have a hangover. Luckily I decided that this was the fast track to alcoholism and didn’t want to repeat my mother’s mistake.
Bill The Nuke over 2 years ago
Here’s an idea: ASK THE KIDS! They probably have some good ideas (ignore any involving bars).
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 2 years ago
Same old tiger!
scyphi26 over 2 years ago
Well, Len may not be enjoying it, but the kids seem to be, so at least they’re entertained, and seeing that was the whole goal of this…
Plods with ...™ over 2 years ago
What’s gnu at the zoo?
j.l.farmer over 2 years ago
Spring Break comes once a year so it isn’t too much to ask,; IS IT!!!!!
EMGULS79 over 2 years ago
Kudos to Len for not taking the lazy route which all too many parents would (parking the kids in front of a DVD movie or video game!)
icmodivah over 2 years ago
I took my 8 year old daughter and her friend to the zoo on a break and we got to see two large tortoises humping. loud and awkward. an explanation ensued. They sort of understood. much different than watching their dogs.
edeloriea14 over 2 years ago
I wouldn’t mind going to the zoo to see the animals.