Homefront Admires: Tony Bennett

“You have to fight for your feet.”

This was the response Tony Bennett gave when asked what the key to his jump shot was. Tony became a basketball legend in Wisconsin in the late 1980s and early 90s at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay (UWGB). His comment about shooting a basketball has remained with me since I heard it at basketball camp during the summer of 1997. Although my jump shot hasn’t received much work recently this quote has taken on a new meaning for me since becoming a parent. I agree with Tony and admire him with my first “Homefront Admires” post because, like a jump shooter, we as parents need to work to build a foundation within our children from which they elevate.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Tony Bennett the basketball player I have included pictures below.

This is a current shot of the Tony Bennett I am talking about. He is currently the head basketball coach at the University of Virginia.

This is not the Tony Bennett I am talking about, although this one “Left his Heart in San Francisco”.

In a slightly related story, as a Paul Johnson I can completely understand what someone with a common name like Tony Bennett has to go through. I once had a prescription filled in San Francisco by a 6’3”ish, 250lbs+, balding, African American named Paul Johnson. We briefly compared notes on how challenging it can be at airports, with Paul Johnson being on the do not fly list. I guess if there are enough of us there is bound to be one of us doing something wrong!?!?! More recently I was told by my dental hygienist that the receptionist was really relieved when I walked in the office. Apparently, the receptionist had dated a Paul Johnson and she got nervous when she saw a Paul Johnson scheduled for a cleaning. She was relieved I wasn’t that Paul Johnson.

Back to Tony Bennett…He and his father, Dick Bennett, put the UWGB basketball program on the national map during their time there. Dick Bennett went on to coach the Wisconsin Badgers and take them to the Final Four in March of 2000. Tony went on to briefly play in the NBA, for the Charlotte Hornets, before starting a coaching career of his own.

While I could continue with the memories and stories of these two, I am not posting a blog about admiring Tony Bennett to discuss his stats. I would really be choosing the wrong player if I was focusing on admiring someone’s stats. Tony averaged 3.5 points and 2 assists per game over his 152 game career. His career highlight was simply being on the court during the greatest shot in Charlotte Hornet history. I had to include the clip because your friend and mine, Larry Johnson/Grand-mama, is also on the court. I can’t get enough of him/her!?!?!

Ok, this time I mean it…enough about the Tony’s basketball career.

The “fight for your feet” comment is something that I would consider a top goal of mine as a parent. In addition to teaching the girls that they are loved unconditionally, I want to help them learn how to “fight for their feet” in this world. Although I don’t know Tony personally, I believe that he knows the importance of also fighting for your feet off the court. It would be easy to believe that if a young man from Green Bay, Wisconsin made it to the NBA that he might change as a person. Tony remained true to the humble and genuinely gracious person he was before the NBA. He also remained true to his fountain after the NBA, buy moving to New Zealand not only to be a basketball coach but to help build a church.

The analogy rings true beyond just being a cool saying from a player I liked. When you go to shoot if you don’t have a stable base, regardless of your vision, height or follow through, it will be very difficult to consistently make your shoots. If kids don’t have a strong base*, regardless of their other talents and attributes, it will be difficult for them to discover who they are or who they want to be.

*Accurately articulating what I mean by strong base has proven to be a challenge. It must be either because of my small vocabulary or because all the ingredients that go into being a grounded, self confident, resilient person are challenging to capture with written words.

As parents if we can instill in our kids that foundation for which they grow and discover who they want to be, I believe that will be a great accomplishment. Unfortunately, a helpful acronym like B.E.E.F. (Balance, Elbow, Eyes, Follow through) for shooting a basketball does not exist for how to build and maintain a strong foundation in your child. Not having an acronym speaks to the complexity of parenting and that the implications of our efforts result in more than a made or missed basket.

We admire your concept Tony Bennett, even if I have taken it completely out of context!?!?!

A Great Time

Libby went back to work this week, ending her 8 week maternity leave. With me being a stay at home dad and her on leave, it was a unique opportunity for all four of us to be together for two months. To go a little further on how unique this time was, I am guessing the next time Lib and I have two months home together it will be called retirement.

The first month was a fatigue fog as we got to know Paige and tried to continue to keep up with the energetic and ever developing Lucy. Over the second month, we started to get our feet on the ground...enough so that we made it out to a Twins game and the Minnesota Zoo.

While both of these outings were enjoyable my best memories were the mid day walks and the other routine things the four of us did. The majority of the walks included Paige fighting falling to sleep or Lucy fighting to get out of the stroller and walk, but that isn’t what we will remember. I am much more likely to remember the beautiful. unseasonable warm March and April we had. It won’t be every March and April walk that Lucy will be able to track the blooming flowers and yelling out their colors to us.

Now that Libby is back at work, “work” has picked up for me too. A common joke that I liked to discuss when Paige was born was that I was about to get dumped on a work. I would say my work load was going to double with no change in my pay. While telling this story once, whomever I was talking to, simply replied, “You know the increased workload (second kid) is partially your own fault.” I don’t remember who said it, but thank you for putting me in my place.

Other then Paige, who seems to remain very consistent with her demands for food, sleep and clean diapers, the rest of us will need a couple more weeks to get fully adjusted to Lib being back at work. For Lib it is balancing the demands of work and home. For me it is getting familiar with how to entertain Lucy and keep Paige content. Getting a routine established (or at least as much as you can with an 8 week old) will be beneficial for Lucy, Paige and I. Lucy will have to get use to leaving mom alone when she is working. Currently she bolts down to mommy’s office every time I try to get Paige to sleep or wants candy and dad just said no.

I am confident we will all get adjusted. As we close in on the completion of week one with Lib back to work I continue to remind myself that it will get easier each week. Of course there will be days that we are wishing retirement was some many decades way!?!?! When retirement does arrive, I know that we will look back on our two months on the spring of 2010 with fond memories.

Thanks Moms

Mother's Day and Father's Day has taken on a different meaning since becoming a parent. I am not referring to the obvious fact that as a parent we started celebrating Mother's and Father's Day. The bigger change is in my perspective on what it means to be a parent.

As a parent I feel very blessed to have two health, happy daughters. As a son I feel very blessed to have a loving, supportive mother. I also feel blessed to have a wife who is such a good mother. Lib also has a pretty cool mom.

My mom was in town this week for a couple days visit. It was great to have her around and the extra set of hands was very helpful. Lucy loved Grandma time! Thanks mom.

We have also been able to spend some quality time with Lib's parents over the last couple months. They have been very helpful throughout our adjustment to a family of four.
Lib celebrated her first Mother's Day as a mother of two today. To celebrate Lib fed Paige every three hours, made mulitple meals, put Lucy down for a nap, gave Lucy and bath and performed multiple other selfless tasks...as usual.
Lib did get out for a run and we had Panera for dinner (her pick). Don't worry Lib, the girls and I are looking forward to stepping up our game next year!

Thanks for all you do for us MOMS!

A New Paige

I am going to go multiple directions with this one:

The new baby Paige When I talk about Paige my instinct is to compare her to Lucy. I hope to avoid either of the girls ever getting sick of being compared to each other, but I am going to go with it for the moment. Paige was born smaller then Lucy and has put on weight slower. With that said we have been excited to watch the development of a belly, leg and neck rolls, and round cheeks.

Paige seemed to be more of a natural latcher then Lucy, but I am sure that mom’s experience helped. Paige is also a natural at filling diapers. Not only have I been amazed at the amount of poop she produces for someone on a 100% liquid diet, but the sounds and facial expressions with which she does it.

Paige, we love having you in the family and we look forward to your story to continue to unfold. It has been amazing to watch so far.

A new page in our family
We are starting to get settled in as a family of four. Lucy has been a great older sister and continues to be very interested in Paige. She loves to look at Paige, sing to her, and insists on knowing which Sesame Street character is in the diaper we are putting on Paige during a diaper change. Lucy also likes to give Paige kisses and talk to her. Lucy has been heard saying the below quotes to Paige:

• “Hey You”
• “Big Sister Here”
• “Don’t cry Paigie”
• “When you get older:
o We will eat ice cream together
o We will play on the swing set
o We will go swimming

Lib has been amazing with all the demands of the two girls. Although Lucy has been great to Paige she has been a bit sensitive about her mommy time. Paige is naturally demanding with her need to eat ever 3 to 4 hours around the clock. Lib you are my hero!

Fatigue is a natural part of having a new baby in the house. Below is an embarrassing picture that I will forever contend simple captured a blink. Nonetheless the pic captures how we have all occasionally felt over the first month as a family of four.
It may be time for me to turn the page on the name of my blog and go with “DAZE from the Homefront!”

A newer Paige
Lib told me she recently read a newborn is the fussiest around week 6. Paige has verifying to us that she agrees with that statistic. To say she is colicky would be to way over state her mood. She continues to be an overall good baby; she just has been working her lungs out more frequently in the last week. My unmedical opinion is that she is becoming more aware of her surroundings (more sensitive), but doesn't yet know how to deal with her new feelings.

For example, we went to the zoo earlier this week. We left our house around 9AM and returned around 12:30. During this three and a half hour trip, Paige ate twice (30 minutes each), slept for 15 minutes, and screamed the rest of the time. Now that is a lung workout! She apparently wanted to see the animals.
Lucy said her favorite was the monkeys and she is very interested in returning to the zoo.

With this new fussiness our new nightly routine has become walking laps around our living room and kitchen. We take turns “singing” until she falls asleep.

Paige, I look foward to being there as the numerous pages of your story are written! (I couldn't resist including one more cheesy page/Paige reference!?!?!?!?!)

Happy Birthday to Mommy!

Mommy turns 30 today!

We love you and are luck to call you our mommy and wife.

Thank you for all that you do for us.

You are beautiful!

We are looking forward to enjoying the next 30 years (and the 30 after that) with you.

DUDE REPORT: Correction

I wanted to briefly post a correct to my "Let's hear it for Nellie" post. Although it worked well for my story, Nellie (the rapper) did not sing The Thong Song.

I want to first apologize to Sisqo, the real artist of The Thong Song. I also want to apologize to the readers of this blog, for posting incorrect information and for mentioning The Thong Song in multiple blog posts!?!?!!?

Spring has Sprung

When I was growing up we were trained that during March and April you should always be on the lookout for signs of spring. It was always a proud moment when we saw our first robin or a flower blooming or drove past an open golf course.

With Lucy’s assistance I have documented some proof that spring has arrived.

First Sign of Proof: Getting ice cream after a family walk
After a walk earlier this week, we stopped at the ice cream shop on the way home. Lucy's smile says it pretty well, but she really likes ice cream. To drive the point home that it was a warm spring day, Lucy went pants free to eat her ice cream.

Second Sign: Tulip bulbs on the verge of blooming
Last fall, shortly after we moved into the house, Grandma (my mom) and Lucy planted Tulip bulbs in our yard. It has been fun to watch them pop up this spring. Within a week we should have some colorful flowers.

Lucy and I have been discussing what color the flowers will be. The color guessing discussion with Lucy reminded me of my silblings and I discusing what colored sweater vest Mr. Rogers was going to wear each day. I would love to know if anyone else ever played the "guess Mr. Rogers vest color game". For those of you who don't remember Mr. Rogers would start every show by taking off his coat and boots and putting on a sweater vest and shoes. I always guessed blue. He is not a sign of spring, but I pictured him anyway.

Third Sign: Successful worm hunt
After a heavy rain one night this week, Lucy and I walked outside and looked on the street for worms. As you can see from the pictures we were successful. I was also very proud of Lucy for her willingness to touch and hold the worms.

She did ask why worms go on the road when it rains. If anyone knows I would love to provide her (and myself with a real answer). I believe I mumbled something about the rain taking the air out of the dirt (which was met with a blank stare and a "why?"). I then went with because the dirt gets cold and the road is warmer during a rain storm!??!?!

There were a lot of squished worms in the middle of the road. I took the opportunity to reminder her that is why we have to watch for cars and why we don't play in the street. This lesson may have fallen on deaf ears though because she was really into her worms!

Fourth Sign: Spring fashion

Lucy announced what will be the popular fashions this season for two year olds. She went with a classic look. The look has been worn by two year old who love to run faster then their coordination can keep up with for generations. It is the multiple band aid look. To date she has been sticking with Dora band aids, but they seem to be running out fast.

Happy Spring!