Where Have I Been?

Nearly a year ago I wrote I’d be taking an unwelcome break because of the time dedication needed to complete an online college course. I passed the class and for about one hundred dollars– a processing fee for a paid State employee to do their job– secured my secondary teaching license for another three years. Thank you State of Vermont. Simon, our second child and our first son, was born about a month later, to the delight of all those family members who told us we “did it right this time” by having a boy. I know they meant well, no one would ever suggest having a girl was wrong, would they? Over the last several months, besides raising two children to the best of my ability, a toddler and an infant, I wrote a book, transcribed a memoir, had a poem published in two books of poetry, began a woodturning hobby, and moved my family to Pennsylvania. I’ve been busy; we’ve been busy. Time has just flown by.

This year, for one of my many New Year’s resolutions I’ve decided to return to writing for my blog, babytaylorandme. It’s not like I don’t have enough to do– getting the kids to eat solid foods, establishing new nap time routines, bedtime, bath, and eating routines; and one cannot forget potty training– but I need to write. At the very least, blogging lets me escape the daily drills of daddyhood for a few minutes every day.

Since we have recently moved away from my family and many of our friends, I hope blogging can help keep everyone up-to-date with our family’s doings, at least short snap shots of them. I have decided to modify the blog from writing merely instructional articles to writing about reflections on the life and wellbeing of the Gross family. Among many things, having a second child has forced me to reevaluate many of the initial decisions I made with our first: my unbending belief I was right and everyone else must be wrong, thinking there is a definite right and wrong way to raise a child, and shrugging even the best advice from seasoned parents of young children. While I still believe in some absolute right ways things should be done, I am much more open to suggestions and willing to sludge through what I believe to be advice grey areas while searching for that perfect “right” way to raise our kids– whether I have that proverbial warm and fuzzy feeling about the advice or not. Believe me, the change hasn’t been easy.

If you are returning to this blog, or maybe this is your first time visiting my site, I thank you. I’ll do my best to keep my writing interesting, informative, succinct, and fresh. I’m limiting my posting from 1500 words to about 500. This, more than anything else, will hopefully allow me to post at least once per week. Feel free to post comments or respond to the articles written; your opinions matter.

Take care,
Eric