Comfort is king when coping with a pandemic. Just look at the nostalgic family activities that have returned to so many homes: arts and crafts, card and board games, cooking and gardening. As we all continue to nest against our will, our Zoomed-out brains and bodies crave non-virtual, low-tech, familiar experiences. Fortunately, one of the retro family experiences that has been coming back (or at least holding steady) has been the pleasure of reading print books. Anecdotally, I can confirm this by the increased use of our family’s Little Free Library in the front yard. As a writer and … [Read more...]
Family Stories, True or Exaggerated, Create Legends, Legacies for Kids
My family has a lot of stories. Happy, sad and funny stories. Whether they’re true, apocryphal or greatly exaggerated, I’m sure a lot of families have their stories that come up when everyone gets together. My Uncle Steve always used to refer to the “Spaghetti Incident” as something hilarious that happened when my mom was a teenager. One of my favorites from when I was a child is how my brother and I, along with all our little friends, would easily and regularly climb up on the elementary school roof. There were concrete blocks sticking out about ½ inch in intervals that looked like a … [Read more...]
Camper Journal Offers Glimpse into Family’s Past, Future and Growth
I am going through a long and sentimental (bordering on mawkish) ending of sorts that involves a 20-year-old Coleman pop-up camper. My wife and I bought it new just after we were married, well before we had the twins, well before I ever dreamed that was on the horizon. It’s old and worn now, ravaged by time and memory, many miles and many backyard sleepovers. I am trying to figure what to do with it as it’s barely roadworthy. We were so delightfully young and naive when we were purchasing it. We spent weeks looking at floor plans, considering size and amenities, finally deciding on a … [Read more...]
Which Father Mows Best? The 3 Types of Yard Dads
Help! I just bought a lawn edger. I blame the pandemic, which has resulted in so many of us spending more time at home and in our yard. I’m requesting help because I’ve always associated lawn power tools with old-timey dads. Specifically, one of my childhood neighbor dads who would regularly spend hours perfecting his yard with a host of noisy contraptions. Am I becoming that dad? But I’m a new-timey dad who spent many years as an at-home caregiver! Maybe that doesn’t matter when it comes to yard work. Granted, I have seen a growing number of moms who mow their lawn. But dads seem to … [Read more...]
‘Life and Death’ Talks: Parents Must Have Honest One with Kids
“I’m not going to lie to him,” my wife said, turning to me on an evening that now seems so long ago. “He should know what’s going on.” She seemed to expect a different reaction from me but I wasn’t going to argue. It was better for my son to be told the truth. I didn’t want to cover it up and have him start wondering what we were hiding. He didn’t need every detail but he deserved enough information to understand. “I agree with you,” I said. “He should know where we are going.” Our family's destination that evening wasn’t exactly a secret. We were paying a shiva call to a relative whose … [Read more...]
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