You Get One Shot At This, Dad

hands

This isn't just for dads, of course. It's for parents. This one has been on my mind for a while. I thought better of it because I fear it will come across as preachy, but after having lunch with two great friends the other day, I was encouraged to … [Read more...]

Things You Can’t Really Say To Your Kids

my babies

Hey, I'm crazy about my kids. I wouldn't trade them or my experience as a dad for anything. I try to always keep them in the loop. I try to keep them informed, and make them part of what's going on in our lives. I try to be as honest with them … [Read more...]

What’s Important To My Kids – My Report Card

Report Card Cover

It's been a long time since I got a report card. I don't even want to think about how long it's been. But the other day, I received a report card as a dad. This isn't a metaphor for something. No, my 8-year-old daughter Abigail plopped a nicely … [Read more...]

What I’ve Learned From My Kids

family silhouette

At one point, I knew I was the smartest person in the world. I knew more than anyone else, especially my parents. I was about 14. It was at that time that I also decided I never wanted kids. It’s funny to see how much I’ve learned since then. … [Read more...]

Heart = Melted

hands

Some days, it seems as though the clouds can't get any darker. It seems as though everything we try, everything we pour our time and love into - it's all for nothing. It truly seems hopeless once in a while. I've seen that a collection of these … [Read more...]

I Don’t Understand My Kids

sidewalk

If you're considering having children some day, don't expect everything to be hunky-dory and self-explanatory. I've got three of them - two daughters, aged 8 and 4, and a 1-year-old son. Not a single day since Abigail arrived 8 years ago has been … [Read more...]

Another Brick in the Wall (Give Your Kids a Break)

Hey, teacher - leave those kids alone! Maybe the same could be said for some parents too. As always, my disclaimer here is that I'm not anywhere near a perfect parent myself. But I recently witnessed something that inspired this post. I was … [Read more...]

Don’t Underestimate Your Role, Dad

Given the opportunity, kids will raise themselves. This was me, holding my son, Andon, who was just days old.  I think this picture can represent the enormous responsibility we have as dads. But it also speaks to the enormity of the gift and … [Read more...]

Under the Chimney – A Christmas Story

This morning I set about translating this story.  It is an old story, from Germany.  It harks back to a simpler time, with simpler family principles, when folks had less money for gifts, and more time to celebrate tradition and likely to think … [Read more...]

The “S” word – the nasty one

sorry

I don't get why this word seems to be one of the hardest words to utter in our language.  I'm guessing that all the other languages in the world have a similarly difficult syntax around this word, because fitting it into any sentence seems to be an … [Read more...]