Our president made CHANGE the center of his campaign. I have talked about it much lately, too. It is an inevitable thing. We cannot avoid it. Change comes to us all in many forms and many connotations. In less than two weeks I will embark on yet another change in my life. I’ve seen numerous changes to my life in the last two years, and perhaps the best has been the addition of Jacob into it. He is an absolute joyful son and each day with him has been a blessing.

Now the hard part is coming….letting go a bit. In September I go back to work full time and Jacob will be enrolled in nursery school three mornings a week. The rest of the time he will be with my amazing mother and another fantastic woman, Valerie, a mother of four boys, all grown. Of course, my mother-in-law will help plenty, as well. She is terrific and Jacob loves both his grandmothers so much. This was the best we could do for the first five months of the school year. Bridget and I wanted to ease the little man into school and also allow him to keep his nap schedule. Again we are lucky to have great support - even if we have to pay for some of it.

CHANGE is upon us all in many good ways, but I know I will feel a huge pang of sadness at letting go of the best two years of fatherhood - staying home with Jacob. I have bonded with my son and he has done the same with me, but I somehow feel he will be more resilient. Ironic, isn’t it? He’s two and a half and I am thirty one, but he is better equipped at letting go. How did that happen?

The newest and best news I have to offer is that Bridget and I are expecting again. Yes, it’s true and you can feel free to send a congratulations our way if you feel inclined. That CHANGE will be here in February. Until then, Jacob will be telling all who will listen, “I’m going to be a big brother.”

Resist. Multiply. Accept CHANGE because what is the alternative?

A buddy of mine from way back just opened his own restaurant in the town I grew up in. Jacob, Bridget, myself, and my parents all got lunch there today. The food is excellent, the prices are low, and the service is top-notch! Check it out here.

Tell Steve that Dean sent you…

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby. If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home. If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal. If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her. So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

THINK ON THAT.

Resist. Multiply. Enjoy your family this beautiful summer weekend and be good to your wife!

Today I went back to my former school - one in which I spent two years before Jacob was born and I began my  journey into parenting as a stay-at-home papa. I had not visited this whole entire school year for any number of reasons. The number one reason probably was that I was not going to go back to the school. Instead I was starting fresh in my former former school (yes, I know I wrote that twice). So I guess you could say I was a little bit over being around elementary school teachers.

At any rate, I decided last week that there were a few people who I wanted to visit with Jacob. I sent an email and made my plans to venture in and basically say “goodbye” to those that I valued and valued me. Most people there I had lost touch with - probably because I was a guy in a school with almost 100 percent women, and probably because being a stay-at-home dad is not really the most popular decision a guy makes. Whatever the reasons, I was out of touch and out of time (I can see Hall and Oates getting their lawyers ready as I write that last line - YIKES).

So I made my decision to return to the school that I was not really going to return to in September. See you in whenever….

Of course, two days before I made my trek back, a hard knot started to form in my forehead, above my eye brow with no place to be hidden, as a result. I looked in the mirror to see what was brewing and sure enough it was an enormous, hideous, disgusting ZIT! Oh crap, I thought. Just what I need on my head before I go and see all these people. Thanks. Thanks for nothing.

What I did next, I know I should not have done, but I had to do it. You know how it is. It is not like you are free from guilt here, either. You’ve all played around with the ZIT as it begins to form. You’ve all done a little digging, a little squeezing, and a little pinching. Don’t try to deny it. I did the same thing that all of you have done way before me. I played doctor. I thought I was doing myself a service, but in reality I made things a hell of a lot worse.

I tried to pop it. I tried to squeeze the huge, monster-sized, pea-shaped disaster that had formed above my eye brow with no place to be hidden on my almost clear face. I took both thumbs and I really layed into that s-o-b. It did nothing. It did not move and squirt out anything except a thick, yellowish liquid. My head ached, and the ZIT stared back at me - now red and very pissed off. I could feel its heartbeat in my brain and I began to panic. I took tweezers and an pin and poked it. Nothing changed. Well almost nothing. The ZIT changed. It grew angry and more annoyed at my prodding fingers. It turned purple with a yellow center. I swear it looked like something out of the movie “Something About Mary”. Gross. Yuck. Ack.

I came downstairs from my lab (the bathroom) with a piece of tissue stuck to the wound. Jacob asked me, “What’s that, daddy?” I told him it was a boo-boo and Bridget just shook her head. “Why did you play with it? You knew this would happen.”

She was right. I knew and I did it anyway. I thought this one would be different. This one would yield to my hands and break open as I applied a little pressure. WRONG. No change here - except from bad to worse.

Thank god for a clean shower - spraying hot water on an open sore. Thank god for neosporin. Thank god for two days of not picking at it before entering my former school.

The day finally came and my ZIT was really gone for all intents and purposes. Of course, in its wake, was a scab the size of a dime. At least I had replaced it with something more disgusting.

When will I ever learn? Zit happens and we should leave it at that.

Resist. Multiply. Pop ‘um if you’ve got ‘um - or not. Enjoy this clip:

So today I made the trek back to the town that I taught in for six seasons before Jacob came along. It was with trepidation and some excitement that I entered the new building (an old building I had previously worked at to start my career) and entered the principal’s office. Like a kid in school I was full of nervous anticipation as to what was to come next. The truth was that I had manipulated the situation to my favor. I had in fact waited patiently for a chance to change schools, grade levels, and perhaps even myself. After two wonderful years at home with Jacob, my time is nearing an end in this capacity, at least.

Recently I wrote a piece about wrestling where I tried to eloquently make comparisons about life in terms of six minutes (the length of most wrestling bouts) and how small an amount of time that really is.  Life is the larger event and the more substantial or meaningful piece in the time equation. Live it well. Basically what we all know is that time waits for none of us. It does not stand still and it certainly does not know how to expand to give us more of it. Simply put, my time with Jacob is and always was working as a count down and not the other way around. After two excellent years at home with the little warrior I am beginning to realize that reality.

Nevertheless, I will not complain or feel sad about the fact that next year at this time I will be completing my first year back in school. I have to move on and so does Jacob. Life is not meant to be lived standing still. It is important for me to journey back to teaching other children, and it is equally important for Jacob to begin his adventure in school. Next year he will have his grandma (my retired mother) looking after him two days a week and the rest of the time he will be tearing it up in nursery school. This is all part of growing up. Jacob is ready and so am I. (I think Bridget is ready, too. We’ll see when we get to that first day of school. Tears are expected for sure.)

So after a few minutes of talking with my new principal in my new school with a new mindset beginning to unfold, I quickly began to switch gears and transition back into a life I knew so well before Jacob ever entered the equation. This time I am wiser, stronger, more seasoned; despite two full years away from the game. Being a parent has and will continue to make me a better educator. I look at everything differently now and I think about my experiences at home, knowing that I can make a strong difference in the lives of my students. I also realize how important time with my family is. I cherish it and I always will put Bridget and Jacob first before any school work or situations related to school. 

There is no room for sadness on my part. I am lucky. Not many dads get the chance to do what I have done. I am thankful for my time - even if it seems to be speeding up lately. I have more of it, I remind myself. It will change in a few months, but what doesn’t change? Life is like that and Jacob will learn that someday, too. What’s crucial is to enjoy every moment along the way.

Resist. Multiply. Take time to enjoy your family.

Well today is the big day. Once a year it rolls around whether I like it or not and I officially grow another year wiser and hopefully richer. My birth date happened 31 years ago at 6:52 a.m. It was probably the happiest day of my life - just kidding.

Seriously though, it is pretty cool to be alive. I don’t look at birthdays as a cause for concern with respect to getting older. If anything I still look like I did when I first got married almost six years ago - so I can’t complain. Sure maybe my hair is a little thinner these days, but it’s only hair. I still have my good looks and my charming personality - again I am kidding, kinda.

At this point in my life, I have to say I am richer than I ever was before. I have a beautiful, intelligent, loving wife. I have a terrific son, and I have lots of friends and family that care about me. What could be better?

So do I have any birthday wishes? Well maybe one or two - of course I will never tell. A hint is that they involve my family and friends, and maybe a certain English Premier League Football team with the initials M.U.F.C. Go United!

Resist. Multiply. Eat some cake! 

This weekend we all got a preview (at least on the East Coast) of what summer heat is like, after being subjected to the endless winter cold that we have been feeling for the past few months. Despite the heat wave, I remain optimistic that being outside in the sun is much better than being shut in the house with none. Can I get an Amen?

This week brings a new change to the Jacob and Dean routine - the last gymnastics class. I know this sounds funny, but the last four months have been blissful, having had an opportunity to let Jacob run, jump, skip, climb, and tumble all around the 1,000 square feet of gymnastics heaven that is the gymnasium that we go to every Thursday morning. He got to play with kids his age and younger. I got to talk with some open-minded adults. We both had a lot of fun. Of course, Jacob got a great little outlet for all his toddler energy.

The experience of things beginning and ending is one that I am growing used to as a parent. Everything must come to an end. Time waits for no man. The truth is that we all are heading to a conclusion of sorts and with the end of something wonderful is hopefully the beginning of something else to fill the void. I am going to fill our Thursday mornings with the park or a long walk through the neighborhood. Jacob is going to be there every slide or step of the way. After all, I can’t leave him at home alone!

For those of you who enjoy the parks…enjoy this clip from the new NBC comedy, Parks and Recreation. It is a very funny show. Bridget and I highly recommend it.

Resist. Multiply. Enjoy new beginnings and the warmer weather. 

I was sent this by a friend and I really enjoyed the message. You have to watch the whole clip to understand what I mean. Enjoy it and share it with someone who needs it.

I apologize for not finishing up the Costa Rica report, but when returning home I was in a good amount of pain, discomfort.  My hernias, bi-lateral hernias were acting up, and tending to Dalton didn’t allow for a reprieve.

As I forge this digital apology/delay I sit on my living room couch in a great deal of pain, discomfort, and high on narcotics, better living through chemistry.  This morning I had surgery, fixing, nipping, cutting, rebuilding the two bulges in my groin. Bi-lateral translates to two equally, symmetrically positioned areas in my groin.  Ouch man!

I’m staring at the mind numbing TV, thoughts random, concentration fragmented, chased by the dragon that is Oxycodone.  On the other side of the medicinal spectrum is the homeopathic approach I’m taking, speeding my recovery along.  Pharmaceuticals for the pain, herbs and vitamins for the recovery, the rebuilding of Owen’s groin, ‘balls, and pained lower back.   Thanks Dr. Hob for the guidance, and a thanks to the global conglomerate like, immensely influential, powerful industry of international pharmaceuticals.

Vitamin C + Oxycodone = Owen’s Speedy Recovery

‘Write to you soon.

I ran spell check three times to ensure Tribe of Dad quality.  Wasted.

-Owen Scott Verde

Soon:  Costa Rican Conclusions

Resist. Multiply.  Bend With Your Knees To Avoid Hernias.