Category Archives: Family Time

frEEd – chapter 2 – martha

frEEd ? but never frEE. not for me…

Hard, sharp ropes cut dEEp …

… into the blOOdy skin on my wrists.
frEEd ? New York Times Best Seller
frEEd ? but never frEE. not for me

Men were behind me, ready to beat me with their whips.


frEEd ? chapter 2 – martha

excerpts from “frEEd ?”

by penelope waFFle


And I braced myself to feel  more pain in my already bloody back.

A few seconds paSSed.

Seemed like hours.
I was starting to think my new owner changed his mind. But then I felt a sharp, clear ache cutting into the shredded skin on my back.

I opened my mouth to scream.

I had to scream, but no sound would come out.
frEEd ? but never frEE
frEEd ? but never frEE

“Ain’t no one gonna help ya, sweetie,” my owner chided.

Suddenly I found my voice. “Jim!” I screamed. “Jim! Help me.”
Another dig in my skin with the handle end of his whip. This one harder than the last.
“Ain’t no one comin’ ta help ya. Ya know why?”

My owner bent down so close …

… to my face that I could feel his tobacco breathe on my neck. And his lips were level with my ear.
“Cause no one cares ’bout ya,” he snarled.
“Yes. Yes, they do.” My voice was barely a whisper. Tears of shame and rage and fear rolled down my cheeks.
“Oh really? Where are they now? Too scared, huh?” My owner taunted. “I’ll even let them pass if they a-comin’ right now.”

Here was my one chance.

frEEd ? but never reaLLy frEE. not for me
frEEd ? but never reaLLy frEE. not for me
“They’re too scared. And they don’t care ’bout you. Which is exactly why no one has come for ya.”
It felt like he was trying to kiss my neck. And he started touching me. Below. Where he shouldn’t…

I thought. My dizzy mind raced.

Did I dare do this now? His face became flushed, clearly enjoying what he was doing.
His fingers holding the whip loosened. And then, without even realizing it, my owner dropped it.

 In that split second …

… I picked it up, banged the wooden whip handle against his head as hard as I could.
And then hands came out of nowhere. Before I could scream, dirty fingers covered my mouth. I tried to pry them off, but they gripped even tighter over my mouth.
The last thing I remembered hearing was “Be careful. She’s dangerous, Scott.”
And then I felt someone opening my mouth, and putting something in it.

The last thing I reMEmber before I blacked out.


frEEd – but not reaLLy frEE – chapter 1 – bill


Hi, my real name is …

frEEd ? the next New York Times Best Seller
frEEd ? by penelope waFFle

… Vivaka. I like my real name. But my pen name is penelope waFFle. ‘Cuz I like waFFles. And I reaLLy like puTTing double caps in the miDDle of words.

I like pink.

And my grandpa says …

I am the “next big thing” to hit the history thriller book market. Hey, why not ? I’m writing about one chapter per month.

I’m 11 years old.

My name is penelope waFFle, and I’m gonna be a New York Times Best Selling Author by age 12.

frEEd – the next New York Times Best Seller

Thud, thud, thud.

My feet pounded the sidewalk.

frEEd ? the next New York Time's Best Seller
frEEd ? but never reaLLy free. not for me. never frEE

Thud, thud, thud.

My heart was pounding and my mind was racing.


frEEd ? Chapter 1 – Jim

excerpts from “frEEd ?”

by penelope waFFle

Thud, thud, thud. My heart was pounding, and my mind was racing.
Running towards … towards what ?
FrEEdom ?

I doubt it.

There is no frEEdom. Not for me.
There was a biGGer reason I was running. It was Bill.

The sound was faint.

Like it was in the distance. It was in my head just for a second, but I know that I did hear it.
I imagined poor dead Bill. Still on the sidewalk, just lying there.

Poor dead Bill. Bleeding. His face was smashed. Poor dead Bill looked more like roadkill. Than a man.


Blood oozing from his ears and mouth.
My eyes started welling up dangerously, with tears to the brim. Tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

But I held it all inside.

Just like I always do. I had to. I had no choice.
I had developed this ability when my owners tied me to a pole and beat me.
On a good day, they just called me names and slapped me.
My sore legs tingled, bringing me back to the present. I rounded another corner. And immediately spotted an overgrown hedge.

I dove into the prickly hedge

… breathing heavily. My owner passed still cradling his favorite shotgun.

He looked for me.

For nearly 5 minutes, but it seemed like forever.
Then he quit. Finally he left. At least, I hoped he had left.
It took a while for me to slow my breathing and to control my heart rate.
When I realized my owner was finally gone. I let out a BIG, but silent, yawn.

I noticed how tired I was.

My eyelids drOOped, my feet ached, and my legs burned.
Maybe I can sleep for just five minutes. Please. Just 5 minutes is all I need.
This was my last thought before I fell asleep.

chapter 2 – martha 


frEEd ? the next New York Times Best Seller
frEEd ? but never frEE. by penelope waFFle

Hi, my real name is …

… Vivaka. I like my real name. But my pen name is penelope waFFle. ‘Cuz I like waFFles. And I reaLLy like puTTing double caps in the miDDle of words.

And grandpa says …

I am the “next big thing” to hit the history thriller book market. Hey, why not ?

I’m 11 years old,

my name is penelope waFFle, and I’m gonna be a New York Times Best Selling Author by age 12.

3 Ways to Fail at Homework with a Six-Year-Old

3 Ways to Fail at Homework with a Six-Year-Old

I did it. I failed miserably. I was trying to do homework with my six-year-old grandson, Daniel. And I failed miserably in three different ways.

… and I did it all in one aftern00n.

It felt  like a major setback this week. Doing homework with my grandson, Daniel.

So much progress made this year motivating Daniel. And then an EPIC FAIL in one aftern00n.

I dare you to make learning fun.
“I dare you to make learning fun.” – Lucas, one of Daniel’s older brothers

Thursday after school didn’t go well.

It didn’t go well at all. Daniel just decided to assert himself – more than usual. Our homework session started OK. Then Daniel just said “no.”

  • “No. I don’t like math.”
  • “No. I don’t want any help.”
  • “No. I don’t want to do homework.”
  • Just “no.” “No.” And another “NO” for good measure.

And internally I just crashed.

It was already an emotionally charged week for me working with Daniel. Daniel was in a no-no-no mode” this week. My aged brains cells raced with frustration and questions.

  • Doesn’t he understand how valuable MY time is?
  • Doesn’t Daniel understand how IMPORTANT education is?
  • Doesn’t he appreciate ALL OF THE WORK I have done to create a friendly learning environment?

Internally, I crashed and was CRUSHED when Daniel kept saying “no.” I thought I had created the ideal learning environment. I knew I had failed this aftern00n. And I had finally met my match in self-will and stubbornness.

Hey, I’m dealing with a six-year-old who would rather watch video games (you know, Minecraft) than spell words and do math. And compared to Minecraft, all this education stuff means nothing to him.

daniel with 3 letter words
“No. I don’t want to do homework.” – Daniel

No amount of M&M’s (candy bribery) or …

… false encouragement and excitement about education would change Daniel’s mind.

Well, the next day, Friday morning, I was trying to understand where I had failed.

Where did I FAIL ?

Here is the 3-point assessment of my faulty (MBA) thinking.

Every Child Wants an EPIC WIN
Daniel’s brain cells were saying, “Enough is enough.”

My first FAILure was …

… the obvious – thinking about me and that I had failed. I had provided the right environment and the right processes. But Daniel had a tough week and had reached an invisible emotional peak (or valley). He had reached some sort of educational saturation point.

Daniel’s brain cells were saying,  “Enough is enough.”

Daniel is six years old.

Every Child Wants to be a SUPER HERO
“Play is the ultimate SUPER HERO learning tool.” – Captain Daniel America

And I’m, well … real old. Daniel had reached the six-year-old limit for doing homework on a routine. He had reached the six-year-old maximum number of days in row for doing homework on time.

  • That’s all.
  • Simple.
  • And out of MY control.
  • This was all about Daniel. And HIS limits.

Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not listed in some education manual that I could predict. Daniel’s maximum limit did not fit into my linear way of thinking.

Second FAILure …

My expectations were t00 high.

  • It was like pushing a string.
  • Like stopping the wind.
  • Like trying to put t00thpaste back into the tube.

No amount of “grandpa super powers” would work.

My expectations of my perfect plan combined with intellectual super powers were unrealistic.

Crazy thinking on my part. To try to compete with a six-year-old’s thinking. 

My unrealistic expectations were MY RECIPE FOR FAILURE. Or a recipe for feeling like I had failed.

“A six-year-old’s super powers for resisting homework will always trump this old man’s thinking about what’s gonna work for Captain Daniel America.” – America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa

Third FAILure …

… WAS keeping score. Trying to think in terms of black and white. Wins and losses. Thinking that when Daniel gets to win, then grandpa must loose. I forgot that …

I forgot. The goal is to help Daniel to enjoy learning. Not just complete another math problem.

Teach the way he learns - Daniel
Daniel and his learning maZe crEation – complete with a Lava Lake and a Kangaroo Wave Park

 

“If Daniel doesn’t learn the way I am teaching, then maybe I should teach the way Daniel learns.” – America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa

If Daniel doesn’t learn the way I am teaching, then maybe I should teach the way Daniel learns. (Simple. Profound and true.)

Try some new things.

  • Teaching on the computer, the iPad?
  • Taking our homework class to Panera Bread and mix in some double chocolate brownies with math?
  • Or (for a six-year-old) just SKIP HOMEWORK one night? WOWzer !!
  • Or do homework AFTER SUPPER instead of ALWAYS BEFORE supper?
Teach them the way they learn - America's GRUMPiest Grandpa
“Teach them the same way they learn.” – America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa

I need to remember the goal is to sell the learning process – not just to do one more math problem.

The end result …

… of Thursday evening was: Daniel did finish his math and spelling – peacefully – with his mom AFTER SUPPER. With no drama.

And then Daniel happily showed me his completed homework.

Ya gotta admit it.

Moms and six-year-olds are so smart.

Mission accomplished. 

moms and six-year-olds are so SMART
MOMS and six-year-olds are so SMART – Daniel and Libby

5 Fun Things for Your Kids to Do This Summer – for less than your last trip to Disney World

Fun Things for Your Kids to Do This Summer …

… or anytime.

fun things to do with your kids
Let’s have some fun. Create some memories. Do some reaLLy cool things this summer.

Create some cool memories. 

Let’s have some fun and do some reaLLy cool stuff this summer.

Or anytime. Why wait til summer to do fun stuFF ?

1.) – Build with MarshmaLLows …

… and t00thpicks.

Yes, I know we’ve already talked about this last week. But Lucas wanted to show you pictures of his creations.

fun things for kids to do
Hey ! Be nice.  It’s a WORK IN PROGRESS. That’s the fun. It’s NEVER finished.

Just marshmaLLows and t00thpicks …

… and skewers and stirrers and Gummy Bears and some Legos for effect.

And the Finished MarshmaLLow and GuMMy Bear Tent Circus …

fun things for kids to do
Over 32 triangles made of marshmallows and t00thpicks and BBQ skewers

If you use your imagination, you can see the Lion Cages and the Trapeze Artists. And when you listen closely, you can even hear the Carnival Barker. 

Yes, you do need to buy some extra marshmallows to feed the animals – the home crowd – brothers and sisters – watching and “helping.” We were loosing some marshmallows – to a younger brother, an older brother and mom.

Here’s a secret grandpa tip about working with marshmallows. Open the bag and let the marshmallows dry a little.

When the marshmallows are fresh, they’re a little sticky and messy hard to work with.

Another grandpa tip: Remember to eat ALL of your mistakes.

2.) – Create a Super Hero Lego Village.

And take some pictures.

It’s as simple as it sounds. Use some Lego characters and random toys from the house. Get creative and take some pics with your phone to create Lego scenes.

fun things for kids
Really ! Legos ARE fun for EVERYone.

This is a great time to teach your kids how to use an image editing app. Use Snapseed. It’s FREE and easy to use. FREE for iPhone and android.

3.) – Take a Trip to the Dollar Store …

… and spend $10.00 or less.

Make this trip your IMAGINeering time.

fun things for kids to do
Disney Imagineering – create the never before imagined.

And become a Disney Imagineer.

Use your imagination and ask yourself how you are going to use what you buy. Don’t be so structured and dependent on some website or pre-packaged kit to give you directions on how to build and what to do.

Just buy some cheap stuff and get creative with …

  • sidewalk chalk, and
  • (draw outlines of bodies like a crime scene and let your neighbors wonder what happened last night)
  • play dough, and
  • paint, and
  • n00dles, and
  • … ???
fun things for kids to do
Wow ! Super fun in the backyard with n00dles from the Dollar Store

Check out these 29 Dollar Store Ideas at 29 Dollar Store Ideas – thanks to my PINTEREST-ing daughter, Lindsay (at Pinterest).

Here’s a Grandpa Challenge.

Go to the Dollar Store and become “Disney IMAGINeers” and create the “never before imagined” in …

  • in your minds,
  • in your bathtub,
  • in your kitchen, and
  • in your backyard.

4.) – Fly Paper Airplanes

Easy peasy. Buy a Paper Airplane Book kit from Amazon right here.

Or just find a quality website – like Fun Paper Airplanes – and use your printer.

Tell grandpa which method you liked the best (in the comments below.)

fun things for kids to do
Paper airplanes are AMAZING.

Lucas and I found this website – Fun Paper Airplanes. We downloaded the FREE paper airplane designs and became instant experts.

Lucas liked this website because the folding directions were very clear and visual.

I liked it because it was divided by different skill levels.

From easy to medium to hard. To novelty paper airplanes.

We haven’t tried the novelty airplanes yet. We are very happy building the easy and medium skill designs.

5.) – Go on a Kayak Adventure

fun things for kids to do
It’s GREAT to have a COOL UNCLE for kayaking.

… and discover a new island.

For the kayak cruise, you will need some time AND some money, but it still costs less than your last trip to Disney World.

Watch the video of Drew’s and Levi’s kayak adventure.

What a fun day in the sun and on the water !!!

And it helps if you’re athletic or have a cool athletic uncle. Or aunt.

And take some pictures of these great memories.

Remember no one gives you a grade on these adventures.

Just do it.

And Create a Memory.

Because NO ONE  – EVEREVER reminisces about the Friday that they worked late.

because no one ever reminisces about the Friday that they worked late
… because no one ever reminisces about the Friday that they worked late

But every kid remembers kayaking with their cool uncle.

And every kid remembers the TIME you spent with them.

Just do it. Create a memory. 


fun things for kids to do
Tell us which project you did and HOW you did it. We want to know …

In the comments below, tell us about one cool thing you did / or are planning to do this summer.

9 Fun Things for Your Kids to Do this Summer (for under $10,000 – or less than the price of your last trip to Disney)

9 Fun Things for Your Kids

  • to do this summer and
  • all of them are under $10,000 or
  • less than the price of your last trip to Disney.

Did ya hear about the fun things for kids ?

Did you hear ? Grandpa made a list of fun things.
Did you hear ? Grandpa made a BIG list of fun things.

Grandpa Made a List of Fun Things to Do.

For summer. Or anytime.

And he’s gonna share some of them.

Here they are:

  • 9 fun things for your kids to do this summer.
  • They are all super easy to do.
  • And they all cost less than a trip to Disney.

1.) – Build with Marshmallows and …

… toothpicks and gummy bears. And add some coffee stirrers and skewer sticks from your kitchen pantry. Build and …

Build with marshmallows and toothpicks.
Build with marshmallows and toothpicks. All for less than the cost of a trip to Disney. 

Create something – big or small – with toothpicks and marshmallows.

For this project, you may need to dedicate your kitchen table for one or two evenings.

And when you’re finished, let your kids eat it ALL.

Then send your “sugar high” kids to grandma’s house.

2.) – Bubbles, of course. 

You can't go wrong with some bubble summer fun.
You can’t go wrong with some bubble summer fun.

What list would be complete without bubbles.

Anything with bubbles is fun. Where to buy – Dollar Store, Walmart or save all the hassle by buying from Amazon Prime.

Commercial Break and Life Hack for Moms

I believe Amazon Prime is a great time saver and life hack for moms and dads living in this crazy busy world.

Amazon Prime has (almost) unlimited selections and delivered to your doorstep. So you spend NO WASTED TIME in a crowded parking lot only to accumulate one more “door ding” on your car. And you don’t have to deal with rude employees.

3.) – Spend Some ELECT-ronic Time at Panera Bread

Just some designated electronic time away from home. Take your lap top, tablets and phones with head sets and chargers.

Have some fun electronic time at Panera Bread.
Have some fun ELECT-ronic time at Panera Bread.

And just let your children watch their favorite Minecraft videos.

And play their favorite apps and games. (Headsets required: it’s a courtesy factor.)

We like to go to Panera Bread. And even McDonald’s has some quality wi-fi speeds.

4.) – Go to a Butterfly Garden.

April 15 is coming soon.
Go to a Butterfly Park. And find the most UNUSUAL BUTTERFLY.

Yes, go to a butterfly garden.

And find the MOST UNUSUAL butterfly.

Take pictures and post a Butterfly Photo Album to Facebook.

And let your children write about their butterfly adventure in the album description. In their own words. No editing.

Challenge your children to a contest to see who can get the most “likes” on their best picture.

5.) – Climb Trees.

This is Lucas climbing a BIG SCARY tree.
This is Lucas climbing a BIG HAIRY SCARY tree.

We have a great tree climbing park near our home. And Lucas loves to climb the trees.

Remember to take your first aid kit.

Take pictures. Of course, you can always wear your best super hero costume to the tree climbing adventure.

Every Child Wants to be a SUPER HERO
“Take your favorite super hero to a tree climbing park” – Captain America  

And don’t just watch your children climb trees. You climb too. That’s a good “selfie” opportunity. 

6.) – Talk to a Police Officer. Intentionally.

Not while you’re getting a traffic ticket. Instead stop and talk to a police officer. Intentionally. And make a new friend.

Daniel (in red) spending time with his new friend, Paul.
Daniel (in red) spending time with his new friend, Paul.

On a hot and humid Florida summer day, Daniel took an ice cold sports beverage to Paul (from Canada), a former police officer and the security guard at the entrance to our community.

Paul made a new friend.

And Daniel made a new friend and learned about all of the cool stuff on Paul’s belt. Daniel now has a healthy opinion of who a security officer is.

7.) – Do a Make Over.

I mean a complete Make Over with your daughter.

Do a Make-Over with your daughter.
Do a Make-Over with your daughter.

Dads, if you do this, you will learn a lot. And you will get connected at a different level with your daughter.

Do this today. While your little princess will still let you touch her hair. You WILL be “walking her down the aisle soon” enough. And that “walk down the aisle” WILL cost more than a trip to Disney. 

8.) – Pet Some Puppies.

Go to a pet store. And pet some puppies.

Pet some puppies.
Pet some puppies. But leave your wallet at home. 

The puppies are so cute.

And your children are so persuasive. So be careful. “Leave your wallet at home.”

9.) – Study Eyes. And Ears. And … ?

Study eyes and ears AND mouths. And take some pictures.
Study eyes and ears AND mouths. And take some pictures.

Learn about eyes. And ears. They’re kinda weird when you just look at them by themselves. Especially your ears.

Learn how they work. Search the interWEB and see what you can learn.

Then take some unusual pictures of eyes and ears.

Now A Challenge for You. 

Here’s America’s GRUMPiest Grandpa’s challenge for you.

What Others Think No Longer Matters
Pick ONE idea. Do it. Or set a SPECIFIC time to do it. 

Hey, pick ONE idea.

Just one idea.

Do it. Today.

Or set a specific time – SOON – to do it.

Then Tell Me What Happened. 

Or your plan to make it happen.

In the comments below, tell us.

What will you do to make it special for your children ? 

Different ? Memorable ?

And make memories this summer. 

Why? Because NO ONE EVER reminisces about the Friday that they worked late.

But your kids will remember that day when you

  • went to a BUTTERfly park, or
  • talked to the POLICE OFFICER, or
  • climbed a BIG HAIRY SCARY tree, or
  • built a sky scraper with MARSHMALLOWS and t00thpicks. 

But NO ONE NEVER EVER reminisces about working late !!!

because no one ever reminisces about the Friday that they worked late
… because NO ONE EVER reminisces about the Friday that they worked late

Tell grandpa what you did. Better yet…

… let your child write the comment below.

And don’t correct their spelling.