1. The Nice Thing Rule

   August 18, 2026

   I noticed it first.

   

   The mark, the mistake, the stain - call it what you may.

   On BW’s fancy new bedspread that is about 2 weeks old.

   It was undoubtedly a sharpie and undoubtedly we knew who did it.

   “I didn’t do it”, she said.

   “We don’t believe you”, we replied.

   “I might have done it”., she replied.

   That’s a little better. We were getting somewhere. The mystery was solved - as if it could be any other answer.

   We tried to minimize the damage. The picture up top is what I uploaded to Google asking what to do. I won’t give you the details but if you want to get an answer from Google asking how to remove sharpie stain from clothing the answer is:

   YOU BETTER LIKE SHARPIES. THIS IS NOT COMING OFF.

   A discussion was had. We stated that from now on no more sharpies for those in the house under 18. Especially those that like to use beds and other furniture as ready-made artwork desks.

   She protested. She said that was not fair and that sharpies are the only thing that she can write with because they “feel good”.

   We told her that was not true and some guy at Crayola is very rich because of washable markers. They were made for kids who love to draw and come with a neat feature: you can wash it off!

   But a Sharpie stain? AI hasn’t figured that one out yet.

   It might tell you the answer, but you won’t like the result.

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

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2. The Walmart Run

   August 17, 2026

   This story starts with coins.

   

   Photo by micheile henderson on Unsplash

   “Hey Dad - Why do you have my piggy bank open and coins on your desk?”

   I explained that I needed a quarter and I didn’t have any, so I took one. She was okay with that answer and then she brought up all the piggy banks so we could look at the coins. Because it’s our house we had some from Canada, the USA, the European Union and a few from Spain I think.

   Then she brought up the piggy bank with the dollar bills in it. These came from birthday cards, etc over the years so I would just toss it in the coffee tin with some change.

   Well.

   The child had $110.00!

   Then she’s all about spending it, and I went sure - it’s YOUR money - you can do what you want. I know some would say that I should have encouraged her to save save save, and they’re probably right. But this is a lesson. I asked her repeatedly if she wanted to do this.

   We ended up at Walmart.

   

   It’s hard to make a decision.

   A quick aside about the toy departments of modern times:

   1. the shit is pricey.
   2. it’s all that - shit.

   Maybe it’s my rose colored glasses, but I remember coming home from K-Mart or Sears with some cheap toy.

   Today, there are no cheap toys They all start about $20 a pop it seems and there wasn’t a cheap little thing I could steer her to. Also they’re not toy departments anymore - they are branded aisles. There’s a row of barbies and a row of Lego and a row of the TV characters and that seemed to be it. Oh, the Fisher Price Aisle for the younger crowd.

   I bought her to Walmart thinking selection and was disappointed.

   She wanted a washer and dryer plastic crap that was $30 and I steered her to something both a tad cheaper and actually more fun. It was a latte set complete with carry out carrier and cups and straw and play ice and muffins and donuts. It’s actually well made

   And then she saw the Disney Play Cash Register and she had to have it. I asked her if she was sure, but this would be like me asking BW if she still wanted to go on a date with Enrique Iglesias. I knew the answer before I asked the question.

   “Yes.” She was sure.

   So we went to the checkout and she paid with her own money.

   On the way out the door we stopped at the vending machine and got sodas before heading home with her new haul of stuff which she played with all afternoon so so far it’s been a good deal. We’re down to about $20 an hour of entertainment costs so far.

   That is, until the dog eats the muffin from the latte set.

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

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3. The Flu Shot

   August 15, 2026

   We have tradition at our house - or more of a challenge…

   

   Photo by Олег Мороз on Unsplash

   Who gets the flu shot first? This year BW won. So the next day at her urging, I went.

   Good idea, yes? And seeing as how I am there anyway I may as well get three shots.

   Add two more: Covid and Pneumonia while I’m in the chair. Three shots must be better than one shot, or so I thought.

   You guys! I can’t feel my arm and this was yesterday.

   The doctor mentioned something about feeling a little under the weather and I dismissed it and went about my day. I was fine….

   UNTIL THIS MORNING

   At first, I thought I just needed to be vertical and showered and get going and I managed to get the child to camp on time for the first time this week, so I am calling it a win. Also, it was fun Friday where she touched a horse and ate junk food all day.

   Just as I dropped her off at camp I realized how I felt: SICK

   It’s the freaking shots - they knocked me on my a** and I spent the day in bed. I am happy to report that I am much better now. I may not get to bed until 3 am because I slept all day, but that’s on me.

   Today I learned with vaccines - you can sometimes pay a little bit now - or skip it but it could get a lot worse later.

   I will take the little over the lot any day. A lot of the FLU doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.

   Don’t let my story scare you away. Get the Flu Shot. If you do it now, maybe you too can win this year’s flu shot challenge.

   Just don’t get all at the same time. Trust me on this one.

   Until Next Time,

   Th and Co.

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4. The Deal

   August 14, 2026

   “Dad, I didn’t get really dirty at camp today”

   

   I gave her the eyeball while she got out of the car: Hmmm…hair seems clean, there’s a small forehead scratch but nobody has said anything …so… I guess we’re good.

   Or, what has become my motto lately: “Good Enough”.

   She’s not clean, but she’s not dirty either. She was still in her swimsuit from the day at the beach, so I made her a deal: hose yourself off with the garden hose and we call it good enough.

   So she got out her scooter and I donated a bit of dish soap to the cause and look at that - a good half hour of fun for the price of the water bill and dish soap.

   Kids are weird. Warm Shower? NO WAY.

   ICE COLD water from the garden hose? BRING IT.

   Me, I would have opted for the warm shower.

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

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5. Keep the Change

   August 13, 2026

   Math is hard.

   

   Photo by micheile henderson on UnsplashT

   After being sick all day yesterday, the child was ready and raring to go to camp this morning.

   And today was field trip day - this week it was the roller rink. She had to wear her special colored t-shirt (purple) so she could be easily found. I stuffed ten bucks in an envelope for her for treats while there.

   She came home and told us that she is better at skating than the junior counselors. I think there might be some fibbing going on there. I then asked her if she spent her money I gave her - ten dollars.

   She told me that the Cotton Candy she had was made by robots and cost five dollars.

   She also told me that the Slushee she had was also five dollars.

   Then she told me that she was given change and there was enough for her to give to her friend so her friend could buy a soda. This was very nice of her to do and I told her so - that what she did was nice and I was proud of her for sharing with her friends.

   I’m not sure how she ended up with change for two five dollar items.. Somehow, somewhere - at the roller rink today somebody there is not doing the math right.

   But, it doesn’t really matter because at the end of the day 2 little girls had a good time at the roller rink and had treats and watched a robot make cotton candy.

   I’d call that a pretty good day - even if I am out the ten bucks - it’s worth the story.

   Today’s Lesson: Sharing is Caring and Math is Hard.

   Until Next Time,

   TH and Co.

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