Author: boujin
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Heavy
Covid-19. The ongoing conflict in the middle east. The new conflict in Ukraine. Global warming. A lot of hard to swallow news and realities hitting every day. My plate feels full just taking care of my family from day to day. But should I also be taking care of them by taking action against the…
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Finding the time
The family is glued to the TV and I’m glued to my Kindle. The last few chapters of book six of The Expanse, Babylon’s Ashes, are within my grasp. The whole series is a page turner, but these last few pages make it mighty hard to do anything other than gobbling them up. I found…
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Just out of reach
Or so I thought. The infant, soon-to-be toddler has been trying to teach me over and over and over again that things are within reach. I give him an inch and he’s balancing on his tiptoes atop the leg of an overturned chair or discovering that his finger tips now hit the microwave dial. The…
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Stay the course
Tomorrow I can break out of this bubble. Will I? My middle child is still in quarantine until next week and it only feels fair that I stick it out with him and my wife. Grocery shopping may be necessary, but I’d try and keep it at that. After all, they did the very same…
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A fortnight feels a lifetime ago
Health has always been the number one concern during this pandemic. We’ve been fortunate there. With the luxury of health, this fortnight of quarantine has been a challenge on a few fronts. First, my wife and I taking care of each other. We were fortunate enough to have our bouts with Covid overlap only a…
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From head to toe
The baby is addicted to books. That’s a good thing, right? The same dozen books, day in and day out. From Head to Toe. Hand Hand Finger Thumb. フクロウ。 Splish Splash Baby. Moo Baa La La La. いいへんじ。Barnyard Dance. Down by the Bay. I never did theater or performance art or improve. Maybe one of…
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Recovering
Things were going so well just a week ago. Then Covid decided to give our entire family a scare. The writing was on the wall. Nearly every day I was getting alerts from the school and daycare that another student or teacher had contracted Covid. It only felt like a matter of time. Even with…
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Noodle this
Is this the right path? A meltdown of epic proportions at dinner tonight. The middle child spilled his milk because he was concentrating on the TV. Overflowed and milk everywhere. I give him the, “you spilled it, you clean it up.” His head snaps back, tears well up in his eyes, his cry of anguish…
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Sleep or wake
The hardest thing to do every day is wake up after putting the kids to sleep. Even harder when I’m not feeling well or unmotivated. That happened last night. I had a ski trip canceled and some news about work that made me feel pessimistic. There I was in bed with the infant drifting away…
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Sticking with the family chat
The family chat wasn’t a thing before the pandemic and now it’s a daily reminder of the big and small wonders that make up our lives. I’m thankful for the connection it has brought with my family in the United States as I was never the best at keeping in touch with my family in…
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Taking a breath
Caring for an infant is tough. You already knew that. My hats off to you. It also brings the most amazing moments. Like when they start communicating with their eyes, hands, gait. Holding on to these magical moments is so important. And how easy is it to be sucked into giving attention to the one…
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Finding parks in Japan where kids will have fun
Japan has a love affair with playgrounds. Playground equipment scattered throughout Japan seems to date from the 80’s to the modern era and delights millions of children every year. I get a nostalgic rush with many of the playgrounds I’ve encountered around Japan. Seeing my kids exploring and playing on these classics is both exciting…
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The big effort
Seeing anyone punch above their weight is a thrilling experience. Seeing my middle son do it made it special for me. He started kendo almost a year ago and has been growing into it ever since. He’s the smallest of anyone in the group but doesn’t let his height affect his approach one bit. He…
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Rage against the dad
Perhaps a tiny crack in the wall? Just the other day, I was picking up my son from daycare and one of the moms hailed me over and commented that I was looking a little tired. It was a welcome gesture and uplifted my spirits instantly. It felt like a small step from the outer…
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A day of firsts
Do you remember your first homework assignment? Was it in the first grade? I’m trying to think back and cannot remember what was the first thing I brought home to do. I’m guessing some alphabet practice. That’s roughly where we are at with my eldest son. His first assignment was to practice writing the letter…
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A new hope
I’ve been second-guessing my approach to getting my kids comfortable with English for some time. They are growing up in Japan with Japanese daycare, Japanese-speaking friends, and a Japanese mother. The real kicker, they known I know Japanese as well. So where’s the motivation for them to speak in English? Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only…
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Repackaged
Pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, paper cups, construction paper. All staples of the American arts and crafts scene when I was growing up. In our daycare in Japan, the kids have a very different set of supplies. Packaging is an art in Japan. From paper to plastic, how something is wrapped in Japan carries a certain…
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Safety city
We called it safety city at my elementary school growing up. A grid of lines in the elementary school parking lot would undergo a metamorphosis at summer’s end. The police department would set up a fake town with tiny stop signs, buildings, and other miniaturized town stuff. On our bikes or big wheels, we’d inch…
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Two Weeks In
I just started reading The Martian by Andy Weir and the journal entries are always count the sols. 5 sols, 23 sols, 100 sols since the protagonist lands on Mars. When I wrapped up work a coworker sent me the exact years, weeks, and days until I’m expected back on April 1st, 2022. From Mar…
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Buying beer
“Let me get the beer!” says my 4 year old. Not sure if I’m doing this dad thing right. When we visit the local grocery store, there is a modest selection of beers that I’ve plundering more frequently over the past couple of years. My kids will often be with me when shopping and it…