Jake, Porter and I were driving home from Costco today when Jake commented that he had a lot of friends with parents divorcing. He actually had five. We talked a little about why. I told him that I figured a lot of people get disappointed with marriage--or with their partner. They didn't have their expectations met. Jake then asked what "expectations" were. To put it into terms he knows, I said something along the lines of wanting something really bad for Christmas. And in the case of a bad marriage, not getting that Christmas present. I believe it's never too early to start marriage education. I'll fill him with my ideas, hopefully his Dad will fill him with his ideas, and he'll start to have a little picture of what it takes to be married.
My theory on marriage? My spouse in not responsible for my happiness, I AM. My spouse provides a launching pad, a safe haven for me finding my own happiness. Parenting, I think, is rather the same, but with a lot more training up front. You can try and train your spouse, but I think that is a bit like banging your head against a wall repeatedly. Like it or not, spouses are already trained (?) when you get them--especially when you marry older as I did.
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The purpose of this Costco trip was to get Dad some Dr. Pepper (or as Porter has called it from the time he could speak--DADDY Pepper). Dad had been grouchy all weekend after not having any on Saturday or Sunday. Jake mused that Dad hadn't had Dr. Pepper yesterday, but he was fine when they went to work on their soapbox car for Scouts. Jake then said, "I think Dad just needs a hobby. . ."
Out of the mouths of babes.
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Finally, Paul sent me an article on food scientists.
http://www.slashfood.com/2008/08/04/food-scientists-on-the-decline-worldwide
I love product developing, and I love working for companies that do research to end world hunger. Figuring out how to make crops grow with not a lot of water, with out much pesticide and still produce nutritionally sound food that is where we need more research done.
Labor Day
7 years ago
