Regression

regression:(Tim's definition) From the root word regress. To fall into old patterns.

Do you ever feel like you're slipping, instead of moving forward? Like you're losing traction? To me, that's exactly what parenting can feel like sometimes. Now,I know I'm a total novice at this. But after nine years you think some things would get easier. But it doesn't seem to...and from what I hear from parents of teenagers,it won't.

When we first started having babies, I used to read a lot on how to parent properly. (okay,I'd watch it on Supernanny) One reason for this was that we moved here from across the country and had no family locally.
The other reason was that I really wanted to be a good dad.

My dad was a really good dad,and had always been my hero. But he was a good dad in a blue-collar,1950's, suck it up -and- do -what -your -told kind of way. Imagine if Red from That 70's Show wrote a parenting manual. That would be my dad.  And to be honest, with raising boys that worked pretty well for him.

I just always figured that if times change, and we learn more and more about kids and how they think, then we definitely owe it to them to teach them in a way that makes learning easier for them and helps them to become more self-confident well rounded people. Lately though, as our time is more limited together as a family, and as we are working more hours on the business, tensions tend to put me into "Daddy-auto pilot" and I find some of my dad's sayings spewing forth. Like:

         -"Because I told you to."
                     or
         -"You can see as well as I can, get your stuff off the floor."
                     or
         -"If you're not sitting at this table in one minute,you're going to bed without dinner."
                     or
         -"You know,there are kids in this world who go to bed hungry who don't have this kind of food to eat.
           You should be thankful." (Which is really a watered down version of the old "there's kids starving in
           China" bit.)

That being said, I have not reverted to the classic  "Quit crying  before I give you something to cry about." or "get out of my sight." quote. But then again, I don't have teenagers yet, and I haven't had my son "borrow the keys to a girlfriend's new Geo Metro, only to total it in the school parking lot on a tetherball pole,while trying to do a doughnut  in the parking lot.(oh,did I mention he didn't even have his license yet?) So I chalk some of those quotes up to pressures I'm not under yet.

I've also not had my son back my truck into my car in my driveway. Maybe in that situation " You couldn't go hit somebody else's car instead of hitting both of mine? Are you on drugs??" is a reasonable response. Or at minimum an excusable one.

In the end, though,I think we're all just doing the best we can,and as parents we have good days and bad days. I'm just trying to think more before I go with the easy" knee-jerk parenting" responses with my kids. And trying to remember that whatever I'm going through at that moment,they still have the right to just be kids. I don't have to be a perfect dad,but I do owe it to them to try to be.

-Tim


let me know what you guys in internet-land think about the subject. We'd love to hear from you.

We are SO PROUD of Sarah Holton - Our MEMBER at Inside Out!! Read her incredible Blog

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Committment, you say?

Okay, so I demasculated my husband's truck in the name of advertising.  That's nothing compared to pushing out three nearly 11 pound babies in the name of being a good wife (he withheld the fact that he was 13lbs, 10oz at birth---his mom told me years after we were dating--in fact a month after we were engaged to be married).  I was in law school at that time and I quickly looked it up & it met the legal definition of fraud.  I considered filing a Motion. 

But, at that point, I was in deep and since he is 6'6" tall, the fact that I could wear heels at my wedding trumped what seemed like an issue that was years & years away.  I mean, who cares how huge your child is going to be at birth, right?    WHAT?  Er....well, THE ONE GIVING BIRTH....ME!  That's who!  His mom really never liked me much. Probably thought I deserved it.

So, my husband says in his last blog that he is "committed" to Inside Out Play Park--"all in".  Glad to hear that.  A business that I dreamed up about a year or so ago and, true to my personality, decided to turn into reality before I could take the time to second guess myself (are you seeing a pattern here?  My husband's birth weight...I could have called off the engagement, found myself a small, short, lean preemie of a man, but I tend to jump in quickly, before I have a lot of time to think about why not). 

Alas, I must say that I made excellent choices in both situations.  Tim and I have been together for 18 years (married 15), have three, tall, beautiful children (>98% on the growth charts---his mom's still laughing, I'm sure) and Inside Out Play Park open in December of 2011 & has reached success in ways I couldn't have dreamed. 

For the time being, I will keep dreaming with my eyes open & won't think things through---it has served me well.

We hope you enjoy spending time with us as we embark upon this adventure.  We will unfold the story of how Inside Out Play Park came to be, share with you what our guests bring to our attention on a daily basis---and how we both 1) reacted as business owners and 2) really wanted to react as humans---- and life as the parents of three while we are balancing working together for the first time, running a new concept business and dealing with my husband driving the Dora-mobile....lol....(I still think your all that, honey---girly truck & all....;)....)
-Micheala, CEO, Director of Creative Development, Inside Out Play Park

Commitment

I've always heard that if you want to be a successful business owner you need to be totally committed. Committed to the amount of work that will need to be done, committed to the time that will be spent away from family and friends,and committed to the fact that you will need to eat-drink-and sleep your business. But even knowing all this going in,there are bound to be things you were never prepared for.

Which brings us to my truck. Have you seen my truck? My once beautiful, metallic pearl white four wheel drive F-150 pick up? If you have,you will know exactly what I'm talking about.

It's wrapped. Not in something macho like cammo, or the Smashville Predator. Oh no, it's wrap is of the "come play at Franklin's premier indoor play park" variety with cute, little wide-eyed kids sporting backpacks.

 My kids call it the "Dora the Explorer Truck." My son's preschool classmates call it the "Happy Truck." My wife calls it advertising.

Me?  I call it a severe hitch in my get along.  I just can't rock out to Metallica and not feel guilty. I have to park around the corner when I go into the gas station if I want to buy beer. I have to be prepared for some real cattiness from some of the other play places when I'm parked in front and my kids are birthday guests.  And worst of all, I feel a real responsibility to drive much slower and courteously---using my blinker is a must & you always have to let someone in---even if they are cutting you off in traffic because you are representing your business at all times.


In the end,I guess it all comes with the territory. But that's ok. I'm all in, baby!

That's commitment! ;)

-Tim, CEO, Inside Out Play Park

Inside Out Play Park on Brentwood Home Page

Inside Out Play Park on Brentwood Home Page