20 days into 2016 and it feels like we could call it the Year of the Dead – or the Year of Cancer. Alan Rickman’s passing reminds all Harry Potter fans that not only is professor Snape arguably the most complex, conflicted, and beautiful character in the series, not only is he indeed dead, but…
Category: relationships
So You’re A New Dad? Here’s Some Advice.
Your baby is here! Time to throw all expectations out of the window. As a father of 6 wonderful human beings, I would say that the easiest thing about adding another family member has been adjusting to the feeling of being a father – or being a father again. I can’t say much that most…
How My Son Suffers Because of Rape Culture
by Anonymous I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t prepared as a mother for the insidious impacts of rape culture on my son. I was prepared for its impacts on my daughter. I knew all about them. I lived them. But, my son? A privileged white boy? I was prepared to counteract the privilege. I was prepared…
To Rape or Not to Rape
At what point is it ok to abuse or rape your spouse? When is it acceptable to abuse or rape the people you claim to love? There seems to be a bit of confusion about this among people I have known in recent years. More than I thought possible, considering how obvious the answer to…
When Character Building Tales Are Damaging
Good news for all parents: I have come up with a design for a school that would offer our kids the character building opportunity of having to walk uphill to AND from school. I know parents everywhere are going to jump all over this idea, because none of us want our kids to be wimps…
Teens: Will You Crush Them or Build Them Up?
I’m tired of how people complain about teens. And I agree with a lot of teens that grown ups can be so annoying and just don’t get it. Calling them entitled, incompetent, ignorant, and overly sensitive, many talk about how teens don’t think and just want to be entertained, so many adults I know complain…
Chicago Marriage Court Judge Amazes Couple by Keeping it Real
19 years ago today, I took “the L” to meet my fiancée at the Cook County Marriage Court on Clark street in downtown Chicago. We went to the lower level of the old building and waited our turn to stand before a judge to officially become what we had already pledged in our hearts: to…
Managing Atomosophallophobia – Men’s One Sexual Need
At the risk of ruining the effect of this slightly unconventional post, I need to spell out that this is a work of satire; meaning, that it isn’t to be taken at face value, or even seriously (though it does have some underlying serious issues worthy of an honest and world-changing discussion). It is a work…
My Perfect Stepford Family, or Why I Don’t Control My Children
“You can’t touch my body without permission! It’s my body!” “You can’t tell me what to do!” “You’re not in charge of me!” Great. We have deliberately and diligently taught our children that they are in charge of their bodies, and responsible for their actions and reactions. Now they think that they are therefore in…
Circumnavigating the Media Black Hole as Parents (part 4)
This is the fourth and final installment of this series on how to deal with the demand of electronic media in our kids’ lives. Part 1 acted as an introductory post based on the question: how are we as parents supposed to guide our children in an aspect of their lives that didn’t exist when we were children…