Boston won. The post-game ceremonies started. This was important stuff, so I made Ruby pay attention. We watched them award the Conn Smythe to Thomas, and she noted the maple leaf adorning it. Then they carried out the Stanley Cup and called Zdeno Chara over. The moment came, and he hoisted it over his head [...]
Archive for the ‘parenting’ Category
Ruby’s First Race
May 4, 2011
Last Sunday, Ruby ran in her very first race. We did the Top Pot Doughnut Dash 5k, with Ruby in the jogging stroller, and afterwards she did the Kids’ Dash 1k. We looked forward to ending the morning with a performance from Caspar Babypants, Ruby’s new most favorite band. When I was in high school [...]
Passionate Wisdom
April 27, 2011
UPDATE (June 13, 2011): The author of this story has come forward admitting that it is a hoax. Although the story loses some of its appeal without the lustrous shine of a “based on a true story” tag, I hope that the underlying message of my commentary still stands. An out lesbian in Syria is [...]
Papa Tips #5: The Explicit Handoff
April 20, 2011
Ah, family life. Just the three of you, gathered together, curtains drawn against the world, building your new little life together. Being wise parents, you understand the importance of continued personal development. You make sure that you have time together and apart — even if apart means being in the next room. So while one [...]
Papa Tips #4: Use Your Accent
April 18, 2011
You’ve had your baby. You’ve gotten through the first week or so, and maybe even a routine is starting to re-emerge from the chaos. It’s just you and your partner, building a little family in your little home, and all is sweet. Your partner deserves a little quiet time, so you take babbling baby into [...]
Taking a Five-Year-Old to Paris
April 13, 2011
Ruby and I returned yesterday from a 12-day trip to Paris (with a dogleg to London). The vacation was amazing: Ruby is an energetic, enthusiastic, resilient and amiable travel partner. Planning a trip like this with Ruby was a little daunting. I was excited to take her away to a foreign culture and experience it [...]
Who We Are
November 7, 2010
Ruby and I stand on the warm sand beside the ocean, the sweet swells breaking mildly before us. I crouch before her, get her attention, and tell her this: When you enter the water, walk straight out. As that first wave swirls around your knees reach down and grab a handful of that foamy stuff and [...]
How To Explain DADT to a 4-year-old
September 22, 2010
This morning, in response to a story on NPR, Ruby asked me what “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” means. Never one to shy away from an opportunity to explain extraordinarily complicated issues to a young child, I dove right in… First I started by explaining that the people in the army and navy don’t have as [...]
Offbeat Papa
September 2, 2010
Welcome, Offbeat Mama readers! Today I was the featured DILF at OffbeatMama.com: http://offbeatmama.com/2010/09/single-dads-are-extra-dilfy. Maybe with all the attention I’ll get around to adding some new entries to this here little blog.
The Transparent Parent
May 22, 2009
A few weeks ago, I was walking to lunch with a coworker who has a son about Ruby’s age. He mentioned that he and his wife have been trying to avoid using spelling or oblique references in their son’s presence. For example, if there’s a debate about whether to have ice cream for dessert, they [...]