Daddy, it’s your special day,
And it’s time for me to say
I’m so glad for all you do.
Thank you, Daddy, I love you!

While I don’t like strange folks touching my babies (6, 2.5 and 1) I can’t stand folks that won’t acknowledge kids. I make a point to interact with most young uns i see. I do it for selfish reasons. If I can make anyone under 2 smile, it makes my day.

I admire your strength and commitment. I wish you the best and if you’ll give me a little info, my wife and I would love to send you some stuff.

Take care of yourself and that little girl.

Todd

Just wanted to tell you that I tried that handprint thing you got when Maddy (my daughter) was about 3 months old – it was a nightmare. The trick is to get them while they’re sleeping, but my baby doesn’t sleep (or she didn’t at that time – too fussy, etc). So, I hope you have better luck than I did – at the end of that disaster both of us were on the floor, crying.

this post reminded me of you
http://www.mattlogelin.com/archives/2008/05/22/wednesday-4/
heh
pedophile

I’m someone who might say something like “…but I’m not a pedophile.” Why? I’d have to say Maureen hit the nail on the head- society is pretty abgefuckt. There are many innocent and uncreepy kid-things that an male can’t say without immediately becoming suspect to many parents. I’ve used the “not a pedophile” line before, and it was mostly motivated by the reactions (real and imagined) that parents have had. That, and once my wife pointed out to me that someone who looks like me (large bearded man with a fair bit of muscle, even more fat) might be intimidating or even a bit creepy to some women, regardless of my words or acts. I used to be under the mistaken assumption that because I was protected by being a jovial, talktaive and smiley sort of chap.

I’ve never heard a parent say “Jimmy! Get away from that man! He’s a pedophile!” But I’ve had a parent grab onto their kid’s arm and yank him or her back and shot me a dirty look when I said something or made some faces. I’ve had this happen a number of times. In none of these situations have I don’t anything red-flag like make physical contact or ask the kid to come over, etc.

Because the “not a pedophile” line is so suspicious in and of itself, I just avoid making faces at kids more often than not. It just isn’t worth it. Which is sad, IMHO.

I think those guys probably felt the need to explain that they weren’t pedophiles because:

a) most dudes don’t oogle babies, and they knew they were rare for appreciating baby cuteness
b) they actually were pedophiles and were trying to throw you off their track
c)I don’t have a c

And I swear, I get hungry every time I sit down to read your update, man you got some good eats around there.

Me, I got some left over “hotdish”….(insert sad Minnesota accent that the rest of the world believes we all have)….and no I don’t really have hotdish…today.
Kat

I’m so glad you have such caring friends and family, Matt. It seems like you have the whole world in your corner, cheering you on.