Arnold Crapacan is a Korean War veteran and member of the Woodfin
Lion's Club.
Every month, Arnold answers our readers' emailed questions about
raising children.
Dear Arnold,
How do you know when your child is old enough to be potty trained?
— Sincerely, Tired of Diapers.
Dear
Tired of Diapers,
It’s all about the subtle clues. For instance, I knew it
was time for little Henry to try the potty when he came up to
me and said, ”Dad, the diapers are giving me a rash when
I mow the lawn.” That was the sign that little Henry didn’t
need to change his own diapers any more. He had become a man.
Dear Arnold,
Our baby cries a lot. What’s a good way to sooth a crying
baby and make them stop.
— Sincerely, Tired
Dear Tired,
Duct tape, dirty sock, muzzle, glue... there's just too many to
mention. A question like that makes me think you're not really
trying.
Dear Arnold,
I’m wondering if our child is suffering from ADD - attention
deficit disorder. He's showing signs of inattention, impulsivity
and hyperactivity. What should we do?
— Concerned
Dear Concerned,
Let’s see here. You’re kid gets bored easily, likes
to do spontaneous things and has a lot of energy. That sure doesn’t
sound like any kid I know. He's probably just a little stupid,
and as far as I know there's no cure for that.
Dear Arnold,
My son's soccer coach refuses to play my son even though I know
he's as good as the other kids. What's the best way to handle
this situation?
— Dan
Dear Dan,
The best time to handle this is in the middle of a soccer game.
Pull a knife on the coach and tell him to meet you behind Piggly
Wiggly. If he refuses to go, show your son how to deal with any
disagreement by throwing a swift punch to his throat and doing
a Pekinese Groin Grab. (Look at his wife while you do this.) It's
a little emasculating trick I learned in Da Nang.
Dear Arnold,
What are some things to look out for when we’re buying toys
for our three-year-old son.
— Patrick
Dear Patrick,
Don’t get him anything gay. You don’t want to turn
your boy into some flaming ass hound because you got him a doll
or something pink. Nothing will turn a boy queerer faster than
a bunch of gay toys. Get guns, knives, things to teach him how
to defend our country from the boys who grew up with gay toys.
As far as girls, just get them some kitchen cooking tea-set crap,
so they can get started on learning how to cook for their man.