When parents welcome a baby into their lives, it can take them a long, long time to recognize that they haven’t just welcomed a cute little bundle of needs and smiles into their lives; they have allowed a whole other person to be a part of their daily lives. It is so easy to…
Flexible Parenting
Flexibility may be one of the most important qualities for a parent to learn. Flexibility with when they get to places, for instance. Last weekend gave me the perfect opportunity to work on this skill with my children. I recently wrote about going to a birthday party with SquiggleBug (7) and Smunchie (5) and how…
Sound Relationship Advice – Father To Young Son
Yesterday, I took SquiggleBug (7) and Smunchie (5) to a friend’s birthday party. While another dad and I were struggling through our first tentative and awkward interactions, he abruptly called out to his son, as parents rudely but appropriately do when they spot their child doing something they probably shouldn’t. His son bounded over, brandishing…
8 Ways We Celebrate Valentine’s Day As Feminists
As many of you know, Jessica and I consider ourselves feminists. You may wonder: how do feminists celebrate Valentine’s Day? As two people who have the utmost respect for each other, and are also still deeply in love with each other after 18 years together, we have developed a few thoughts on the matter. Here…
Yoga Pants: Every Man’s Kryptonite
The old debate of what is appropriate for women to wear around men has once again been making waves on social media; questions of modesty and protecting men from their own uncontrollable thoughts, that whole ball of yarn, all because of the popularity of what may be the most comfortable article of clothing known to…
Children Must Break Their Parents
Every parent faces the reality that their children have a will of their own, which I think most would agree is a good thing in and of itself. But parents also face huge external pressure to control their children; the way your child behaves is after all a direct reflection of how good a parent…
How to Be a Supportive Partner
The single most desirable quality in a partner today is perhaps that they be a supportive one. But who actually has such a gem? Are they a myth? After 18 years with the same partner and so many ups and downs with her and our now 6 children, I believe that having a supportive partner…
A Conversation With My Younger Self
“Thank you for your concern. My name is Jeremy, by the way.” he said as he extended his hand. “That’s interesting.” I said as I shook his hand. “My name is Jeremy too.” We exchanged a friendly smile and parted ways. As I walked away, my mind was whirling with questions: Did our conversation…
Trampling People in the Spirit of the Season
Decorating our house for the Holidays has long been a staple of the post-Thanksgiving weekend for our family. Jessica and I have rarely had a year when we haven’t been involved in some kind of artistic production, be it a musical, choral performance, recital, a concert, or some other type of show. The Holiday…
Of Teenage Dreams and Towel Pics
Our Storyteller (13) had a dream that she shared with us just a couple weeks ago at breakfast. She was clearly perturbed by it, and being a verbal processor, she really needed to share it with us. In her dream she was in our house, sleeping in her room in the basement, when she woke…