One of the tools Melisa and I have used since pretty much Day One of parenting our three young hooligans is using a safe word to signal each other when we are in need. Not just in need, but in desperate need of help. Like, drop-everything-and-get-here-NOW help. Luckily we really haven’t used it more than once or twice, but it is a reassuring tool that is very easy to communicate.

What word or phrase did we choose? Nick Nolte, of course! It was a simple decision, because at the time of creation we felt a lot like some of his bat-shit crazy photos, like the one above and his infamous mug shot.

We got the idea from our good friends and neighbors, the Creeds, who thought of it while watching the Will Farrell/bear fighting scene in Semi-Pro. So a big thanks to them.

Anyway, I thought I’d pass the idea on to new parents or other families who are as crazy as us (three under two years old.)