Tag: Parenting

A Return to the Terrible Twos

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date May 26, 2021
No Comments on A Return to the Terrible Twos

A Dispatch from the Trenches

“Having a two-year-old is like having a blender without a lid.”
— Jerry Seinfeld

This is a dispatch from the war. I’m writing this from the trenches, in the heart of the conflict.

After what has felt like hours of intense battle, the rebel soldier has deployed her ultimate weapon, the one that is unleashed when all else fails: standing in the center of the kitchen, screaming at the top of her lungs as droplets of saltwater jump from her eyes.

What could have caused such a reaction? What did the oppressive totalitarian government do to the people to cause this emotionally-charged attack from the rebel?

Dinner was served.

Tags Children, Fatherhood, Kids, Parenthood, Parenting, Parents, Terrible Twos, War

Children Fatherhood Life Parenting

Thoughts on My 2nd Child’s 2nd Birthday

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date October 8, 2020
No Comments on Thoughts on My 2nd Child’s 2nd Birthday

My second child, my second daughter, turns two today.

My first, the oldest, is an eight-year-old that acts like she’s 14, and since there is such a large gap between number one and number two – for a very, very, very, very good reason – the past two years have been a refresher course in infant and toddler life.

Tags Children, Fatherhood, Life, Parenthood, Parenting

Career Fatherhood Life Parenting Work

The Other Essential Workers: Parents

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date May 5, 2020
No Comments on The Other Essential Workers: Parents

One question that COVID-19 has brought to the forefront of our societal conversations is, Who are the essential workers?

The first professions that immediately spring to mind are obvious: doctors, nurses, firefighters, police officers. However, the pandemic has proven that there are additional tiers and classes of essential workers, including grocery store employees, delivery drivers, warehouse employees, non-frontline healthcare employees, and teachers.

My wife and I are in these last two categories.

Tags COVID-19, Fatherhood, Life, Parenting, Work, Work Life Balance

Children Fatherhood Parenting

Instagram Dads vs. Real Dads

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date March 20, 2020
2 Comments on Instagram Dads vs. Real Dads

We’ve all seen it — an image of a father and his child, perfectly framed, beautifully lit, adorned with smiles and a caption of how much they adore being a parent.

I look at those photos and I’m envious. I have a few of them, but not a collection like some I’ve seen online. I’ve been to wonderful places with my children and we’ve experienced some fantastic things, but nearly all of my pictures are either selfies or family poses that often look forced.

Tags Children, Dads, Fatherhood, Instagram, Parenthood, Parenting

Children Fatherhood Lessons Life Parenting

My Children Help Me Battle My OCD (Just By Being Themselves)

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date April 16, 2019
No Comments on My Children Help Me Battle My OCD (Just By Being Themselves)

“Life is a long lesson in humility.”

— James Barrie

It’s a cliché that having a child changes your life forever, but things become clichés because they’re true, and one of the biggest adjustments is just how much stuff children come with and how difficult it is to keep it all organized.

Tags Children, Clean, Home, House, Kids, Mental Health, OCD, Organized, Parenthood, Parenting

Children Fatherhood Life Parenting

As a Father of Girls…

As a father of girls…

Tags Children, Fatherhood, IVF, Kids, Parenthood, Parenting

Children Parenting

6 Gift Ideas for the New Parent in Your Life

Post author By Christopher Pierznik
Post date November 30, 2018
No Comments on 6 Gift Ideas for the New Parent in Your Life

Did you or someone close to you just have a baby?

Congratulations! Your life will never be the same!

Tags Children, Happiness, Kids, Parenthood, Parenting

Children Fatherhood

Our IVF Journey

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.”
Robert Louis Stevenson

I.

My second time visiting an operating room as an expectant father was different from the first in a variety of ways.

It was in a different hospital in a different city with different doctors.

Most of all, though, it was planned.

The baby was so big that a Cesarean section (C-section) was scheduled on the morning of her due date. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 a.m., my wife was being prepped at 7:30, and she was taken into the OR at 8:30.

At 9:07 a.m., we had a big, healthy baby girl.

For the second time.

When our brand new daughter was first given to us, my wife looked at her and said, “It took so long for you to get here.”