High school exams

I can’t think of something that worried me more. High school exams. Even today I get anxiety thinking about it. The studying. The stress. The worry. Sure, there was a lot of success, but I don’t envy those who are going through it now or have to in the future.

Why are high school exams of all things on my mind today? Well I have a kid taking his first official high school exam today – math.

First, woof. I have a kid old enough to be taking his first high school exam. That hits hard no matter how you look at it.

Parent corner: Being patient with teens

Not to steal from the great Bill Simmons, but I wanted to start my own parent corner of sorts. This blog started over 10 years ago based on the day-to-day of having little kids. Well, those kids got bigger and the entire parenting landscape changes once they are over 10.

It especially changes once they hit the teen years and for myself (and wife), this land of having a young adult is all very new.

And after a few years in, one thing for me anyways, is that I am learning to be patient. I am learning to ignore the voice in my head to help them figure it all out. I’m ignoring that skill you developed as a parent of young kids – you know, trying to stay ahead of any and all problems.

Honey they shrunk the groceries

For most of you, this won’t be breaking news. Your groceries are shrinking right before your eyes. Well not literally, but if you are the person doing the grocery shopping, I bet you are noticing your favourite treat, cereal, cheese or even bread shrinking.

Whether it’s the hilarious size of what a block of cheese is now, to the fact that in a box of KD, it’s hardly filled to half.

Every week as we unload the groceries, there is at least one item where someone will say – did this get smaller?

BBFs: Exploring ways to encourage positive brother relationships

Best brothers forever!

I want to start by letting you know, I don’t have a brother by blood but I have a few people in my life that are pretty darn close. But what truly inspired me to delve into the topic of brotherhood is the bond between my two sons, who are three years apart in age. Witnessing their close relationship as they navigate their early teen years has been a source of immense joy and pride for me as a parent. So, what has contributed to fostering such a strong, supportive, and positive sibling dynamic between them? How have my partner and I encouraged the development of this bond?

Let’s go.

A Pascal Siakim appreciation post

Well it happened. Like I mentioned yesterday, it felt like the time was coming. The Toronto Raptors finally pulled the trigger on a Pascal Siakim deal. He’s off to the Indiana Pacers for a less than thrilling haul of stuff. The 2019 championship team is gone. It’s really hard to believe.

So before I start to welcome Bruce Brown Jr. (if he isn’t traded again) and start to wonder who these first round picks can become, I want to focus on Pascal.

One of the truly wonderful stories, not only for the Raptors, but for basketball.

So long to the NBA champion Toronto Raptors

Despite my wife saying it’s been in a the news for weeks and weeks, it seems the trading of Pascal Siakim is finally here. It could be today or this week is my feeling.

When it actually does happen, that will be the end of the 2019 title team. All the players will be gone. The coach is gone. I guess the only pieces left are the executive team that built it all. Oh and We The North.

It’s hard to believe that in less than 5 years, it will all be gone and to be honest, the team has declined quite a bit since.

Now, things have looked a little better as of late with the trade for IQ and RJ, but still, look at what the team was in 2019. It was a perfect team. I think it gets overlooked at just how complete a team it was.