Being away stinks!

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By Pat

It is a family site, so lets just say it really stinks! I'm in St Louis and missed Ryan's birthday (we did see the Lone Ranger together before I left, which was hilarious) and I miss Owen's b day in October and I already feel like an absent dad and I've only been away for 3 days. It was tough when I talked to Ryan on his actually b day, hearing all the activity in the background, I wanted to be right there enjoying it and seeing that smile on his face. When I saw them before I left they were acting a bit distant, not knowing what to do or say. I felt the same way. I was really surprised with my 5 year old, with no prompting he told me he was going to send me a hershey bar in the mail. I nearly fell apart right there. 32 days to go...



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Blended Families

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It is with incredible admiration that I share the words of my Uncle, Marcel Duclos,
Clinical Director at Northland Family Help Center.


By: Marcel Duclos

Some time ago, you (Nicole) invited me to add to your blog on the topic of Blended Families. Early on in my second marriage, after ten years as a single father who parented mostly from afar and only occasionally to a few of my children, my life under one roof consisted of my wife and I and two elementary school age children up until their graduation from high school. On two separate occasions, two young adult step-daughters did a stint with us in the hospitable farm house. Once, we had grandchildren filling the old house and the acreage with their spirit and sounds. When everyone went away on their individual journeys and left the eight rooms to the two dogs and the four cats to tend to mother/grandmother and pépère, this step-father felt the accumulated loss of his own children weighing heavier than before.  Thus is the undercurrent of …
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Surviving

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By Nicole

I thought I'd share a difficult morning. Because it's not easy, and some days are just plain tough. But every day, thank God,  is a new day..






Surviving
It's Wednesday at 12 am: I check my son, Ryan. I'm worried about his blood sugar being safe for him to sleep. 2 1/2 hours before, at bedtime, his blood sugar was HIGH (meaning over 500) due his insulin pump failure. So scary. I gave him insulin to treat, but it was so much insulin, that now an additional blood sugar check is required to be sure that he won't go dangerously low while sleeping. I prick his finger, draw a drop of blood by squeezing, then press it into the ready test strip. His number is now in range, thank God, so I can rest. I'm tired. 2 am: My baby is crying. She makes her way into my room from next door where she has only started to sleep on her own. She stands next to the bed, on my side, screaming. Her father turns around and sighs. "Do you need to pee?" I ask her. "No …
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5 things to do when you're the only parent on duty and the kids are driving you nuts!

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By Nicole

Okay, so I think I have a pretty high level of patience. I know I can go a night with little sleep and function the next day (with an extra cup of coffee). But when life gets a little crazy and you're the only parent on duty for several days at a time, let's face it: the kids might start to drive you nuts!
 So ... here are a few things that work for me:

1. Put on music and DANCE. I love dancing and it's fun for me to dance with my kids--gets me out of my funk and they get out lots of energy! We play Michael Franti's "Hello Bonjour" and various versions of Star Wars electronica. (The boys are Star Wars fanatics!) Sometimes we even get a little crazy and do limbo using the broomstick...
Michael Franti!

2. Don't make dinner, take the kids OUT TO EAT, and be sure to order a drink. I know, sounds crazy to some people but I've been known to take 5 kids out by myself on numerous occasions. Lots of places have kids EAT FREE and my oldest is happy to …
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Becoming Comfortable, Being Different

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By: Nicole




Being Comfortable, Being a Different Type of Family

So many people prefer to live in drama because it’s comfortable. It’s like someone staying in a bad marriage or relationship – it’s actually easier to stay because they know what to expect every day, versus leaving and not knowing what to expect. Ellen DeGeneres
I recently re-watched the Emmy-Award-Winning Ellen DeGeneres in her 2010 HBO special at the Beacon Theatre in NY. This special is hilarious, and also thought provoking in our (meaning society’s) attitudes towards others. At the time of the special, Ellen had only been ‘out’ for a few years and was truly a pioneer for the gay and lesbian community and their supporters. I have always admired Ellen for so many reasons. Mostly, I love her uniqueness and the way she gives off such a strong sense of being comfortable with herself. Right down to being the voice of Dory, my favorite Nemo character, I think Ellen is really fabulous. The character Dory has an overwhelming number…
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