And Now for Something Completely Different

It May be Free but Easy It is Not

Posted Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at 1:59 PM

For the last few weeks my stepdaughter and her two children have been living with us. She recently got a job and with me being off the last couple days, coupled with my wife working and our two boys going to school I have been left to babysit Cameron who is three and Allison who is 10 months.

I absolutely love being with them and they give me energy I did not know existed, at the same time they have also shown me a level of exhaustion I did not know existed.

I have no children of my own, when I married Nicki I was marrying into a family with teenage sons and a grown daughter that had just had her first child. I have essentially done everything backwards. I have tried to be the best role model at the same time as being a parent for my two boys but I came into their lives rather late. Now with Cameron and Allison I am starting back with infancy and working my way up.

Allison is the light of my world. Every time I see her and those big old blue eyes see me and she smiles as large as she can everything in my life just seems miniscule. Yesterday I changed my first dirty diaper (I am talking number two, I have changed plenty of number ones) and it was not nearly as bad as I was expecting.

For the third time, alone, today I am watching Toy Story 3. I did not see it for the first time until yesterday and I believe it may be my favorite of the trilogy.

Whether you have children or grand-children you know very well just how much life they can bring to you. If you do not have either I hope that one day soon you will get to enjoy that absolute love that children bring to a home.

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Children are a joy forever.

Still awaiting an apology

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Tue, Apr 19, 2011, at 2:41 PM
what good is an apology on a waste of time blog? why bother writing anything since, to you, its a waste of time?

-- Posted by president obama on Tue, Apr 19, 2011, at 6:35 PM
big dawg,

I'm sorry, but what do your comments have to do with children or grandchildren bio, step, or otherwise?

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Tue, Apr 19, 2011, at 7:21 PM
A great post, Michael! Nothing is more important than faith and family.

-- Posted by Boomer62 on Tue, Apr 19, 2011, at 9:40 PM
big dawg,

Why are you implying that mikes stepgrandchildren are a waste of time to write about? This is one of the few blogs that he has written that is at least a little worthwhile. Shame on you!

-- Posted by Sir Didymus on Tue, Apr 19, 2011, at 10:33 PM
Mike,

Good blog.

-- Posted by Sir Didymus on Tue, Apr 19, 2011, at 10:33 PM
transplant,

you are waiting for an apology about mikes blog about his kids? I guess I am confused as to why he should apolpgize about anything in it.

Didymus, dont be obtuse. Transplant is the one who said mikes blog is a waste of time. I am glad to see you are willing to take her to task about it just as I have.

-- Posted by president obama on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 7:23 AM
bigdawg,

"you are waiting for an apology about mikes blog about his kids? I guess I am confused as to why he should apolpgize about anything in it."

Ah now I see, you are just woefully uninformed. I am awaiting an apology for Michael lying about me and what I have said.

Still awaiting an apology

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 9:15 AM
Nice touch Mike - don't spoil them too much!!

-- Posted by Geezer on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 10:06 AM
so, what do your comments have to do with this blog? the question you asked me. apperently its ok for you to go off topic but when I do it you demand to know why I went off topic.

Since when did you care so much about what mike said. seems to me you really care about what he has to say.

You offend me and i dont really care because I dont really care about you or what you have to say. you seem to hang of mikes every word. mikes biggest fan is transplant. who whould have thought

-- Posted by president obama on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 12:24 PM
bigdawg,

"so, what do your comments have to do with this blog?"

I'm not sure what you mean here. I commented on the joys of children, I think that fits in nicely with the theme of this blog. I think you are letting your dislike of me interfere with you reasoning abilities.

"You offend me and i dont really care because I dont really care about you or what you have to say."

Interesting paradox. How can I offend if you don't care about me or what I say. Things to ponder on a rainy day perhaps?

"mikes biggest fan is transplant"

Maybe I'm like Scott Adams and secretly this IS Michael and I'm only posting here to spur discussion.

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 12:59 PM
Oops, I forgot again. Sheesh I gotta get better about this.

Still awaiting an apology

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 1:00 PM
You mentioned changing dirty diapers, it made me think of a young couple I know. They tried and tried to have a child, but it wasn't happening so they got a surrogate mother for the pregnancy. She gave birth to twin baby girls, but low and behold while the surrogate mother was seven months pregnant, the young lady I know got pregnant. So now they will have three under the age of one, and if she has twins or more, wo boy!

-- Posted by Keda46 on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 3:35 PM
so your asking for an apology in your first post is talking about the joy of children?

I think you are letting your dislike of mike interfear of your ability to reason.

I find people like you in general to be irritating. As for you, I dont know you and I dont care about you.

Mike is still waiting for an apology for calling one of his passions a "waste of time".

-- Posted by president obama on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 10:14 PM
Holy cow!

bigdawg is really mike! It all becomes clear. The misspelled, misused words... everything!

-- Posted by Sir Didymus on Wed, Apr 20, 2011, at 10:20 PM
somehow I knew you would put your 2 cents in despite the fact it has nothing to do with you.

ALERT, ALERT, THE GRAMMER POLICE ARE HERE. CLEAN UP YOUR GRAMMER OR FACE THE CONCEQUENCES. THOSE WHO HAVE NOTHING SIGNIFICANT TO ADD ARE HERE TO CORRECT YOUR GRAMMER. ALERT, ALERT.

-- Posted by president obama on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 7:31 AM
Wow Michael - I guess I thought you were like in your early thirties...and here you are with grandchildren. And yes, you do have your hands full.

I fully believe that kids help us regain our perspective in so many ways and instances. They are a true blessing. Have fun while it lasts, because it really does go quickly!

-- Posted by Mickel on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 11:06 AM
I am in my early thirties Mickel.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 11:14 AM
They are a handful but I wouldn't give them up for anything.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 11:15 AM
Some of you guys are idiots. Not sure as to whom I am referring? See who responds to this post. We have one person asking for an apology from a past blog? One person not sure why that person is asking for an apology and then some pointless back and forth about who said what. The point of this particular blog would be to comment on family in some way not rehash old blogs or carryover grudges from previous blogs because you disagree with Michael and his political views. Let's keep it to topic. Save your debating skills for a topic that deserves them. On that note. I agree Michael. Family is good and there may be nothing in this world that compares to the connection you feel when you have a baby look at you. Though I do think you open this blog up to debate by making statements about Toy story 3 being your favorite. When it's clear that as in most cases that the original is the best.

-- Posted by ROCKETSAZ on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 11:40 AM
MRS. TRANS OCHO SMITH...

CATCHY ISN'T IT!!!

JUST SAY'IN

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by CLUELESS SW NE on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 12:12 PM
bigdawg,

"so your asking for an apology in your first post is talking about the joy of children?"

Not directly, the apology request is more like a signature for me now, but being new to it, I sometimes forget to add it to my posts.

"Mike is still waiting for an apology for calling one of his passions a "waste of time"."

Oh my, I didn't realize you were a conservative bigdawg. Michael says only conservatives assign beliefs to him so your intimate knowledge of his desires can only mean you are a conservative or, more unlikely, as Sir Didymus said Michael yourself. If you or Michael, if you are separate people, desire an apology please let me know. I know you have suggested that I should apologize but I don't think you have asked for one. If so please correct my mistake.

Still awaiting an apology

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 4:35 PM
ROCKETSAZ,

I agree, thank you.

Still awaiting an apology

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Thu, Apr 21, 2011, at 4:37 PM
Michael, I completely agree with you on this topic. This was a great column. Grandchildren are indeed a wonderful joy.

10 months and 3 years...I'll bet you were hopping the whole time! Those are good ages, one before and one after the "terrible twos," but still plenty to keep Grandpa busy!

And it's wonderful that you have taken on a pre-made family and obviously love them all so much. Many people don't manage that with "steps." God Bless!

-- Posted by MrsSmith on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 7:08 AM
its my belief that you should apoligize to mike. not his. thank you for admiting that in your first post you wrote something that had nothing to do with mikes blog then attacking me for doing it. I would like an apology for that too.

-- Posted by president obama on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 7:26 AM
MrsSmith, I have long heard of the fabled terrible twos and after experiencing my grandson when he was two and now as he is three I have to disagree with that. I think it should be the terrible threes. But then again that's just my opinion.

Allison, my granddaughter, is definitely a grampie's girl :)

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 8:27 AM
rocketsaz, the main reason I believe the 3rd one is the best is because there is actual closure with the series and it is extremely good closure. I think all can agree that the second was the worst and probably never should have been made.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 8:28 AM
bigdawg,

I'm sorry that my new signature line caused you to incorrectly believe that was the purpose of my post. I didn't intend for that to be the part of my post that you should have focused on.

Still awaiting an apology

-- Posted by SWNebr Transplant on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 9:56 AM
Home again with the two grand-children while mom and grammie are at work, as well as a very sick step-son. I need a nap, already. It doesn't help that I am a little under the weather with a severe congestion issue, but a grampie's gotta do what a grampie's gotta do.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 12:05 PM
Michael, I hate to mention this, but for some kids the "terrible twos" start with their first word ("NO!!!!!!!!"), and last until they are in their mid-20's.

Good luck!!

-- Posted by MrsSmith on Fri, Apr 22, 2011, at 1:23 PM
That was a good one, MrsSmith. Unfortunately the three year old learned "no" a long time ago. Sometimes I think it was his first word.

-- Posted by MichaelHendricks on Sat, Apr 23, 2011, at 12:04 AM

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