Sometimes a papa’s pride and a papa’s thrill are one and the same. Or, maybe they’re not, but they feel as if they are. What am I talking about? Baobao has for quite some while been able to “count” up to 10 — indeed, she could sometimes hit 16 or 17. But ask her to … A one, anna two, anna three, anna …
Promises, promises …
In which Papa Zesser looks back at a remarkable year in reading to Baobao (and of Baobao “reading” to herself and, sometimes, us), and commits to reviewing 26 books in the very near future!
Will he really do it? Only time will tell! Read more …
In which Papa Zesser finds an un-posted letter written back on July 29th, which looks at his daughter’s slow progress towards speaking — and her earlier long road towards walking — and doesn’t much worry about either.
Why not? you might ask. Well, simply put, it’s the other things she does so well, so remarkably well. Read more …
In which Baobao made a new friend on Friday and suffered her first taste of grief in very short order.
Balloons have mayfly lifespans, and the thrill of discovering their joys on Friday afternoon turned to tears and heartbreak on Monday morning.
Papa provided as much solace as he could, but was it enough? Read More …
Papa learned a valuable parenting lesson this past weekend: It’s really easy to over-estimate your child’s readiness for things.
We took Baobao to the Luskville Falls trail in Gatineau Park on Saturday, where the southern tip of Canadian Shield descends into the Saint Lawrence Lowlands. Our intention: to hike at least part of the Luskville Falls Trail.
In retrospect, a pretty dumb idea even if conditions had been ideal. The National Capital Commission rates it as a “Difficult” climb, and we had a toddler in tow.
But it wasn’t the difficulty that made us turn around. Read More …
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy. — Lewis Carroll
In which Carl the Second becomes Carl the Hero! Red more …
In which Papa Zesser returns (at last) to report on how he and Mama Raven dealt with Baobao’s new-found terror of tower fans. Read more …
In which Papa Zesser explores a new, and difficult, phase in Baobao’s development — fear!
There was a monster in Baobao’s bedroom!
If any of you have had experience dealing with a small child’s “irrational” fears, please read on and feel free to share your experience!
Meanwhile, whether or not you do, read on (if you dare!)
In which Papa Zesser reports on two walks to a (semi) local duck pond connected to the Rideau Canal, and their connection to some of Baobao’s books.
Not only does Baobao use some of her books as menus, she also uses them — somehow — to make abstract connections to pictures in her books with elements in the real world.
Case in point: She was thrilled when we told her we would take advantage of the Good Friday holiday, to take her on a family walk to see … ducks! Duck! Duck! Duck!
In which Papa Zesser recounts Mama Raven’s report of events which transpired while Papa was out returning Friday’s rental car, and dealing with a road closure that forced him to return the vehicle to a far-distant location.
Which irritated him.
Although, he was given a ride back to his neighbourhood, by a well-masked driver, so it wasn’t really a big deal, but Papa hadn’t had any coffee yet and so it felt like a big deal and he had a hard time keeping his temper at the service desk but he did manage to smile beneath his own mask so really everything worked out okay presuming that he doesn’t come down with Covid-19 despite the masks.
But Papa digresses. Take it away Mama!
