Daddy Daydreamer
This story will make you question manhood
Being only tough and strong prevents boys and men from discovering their authentic selves
Photo: Freeimages.com – Josef Faustbeck
Take it like a man.
How often have you heard this expression? Or maybe one of its cousins: Man up. Don’t be a sissy. Be a man. Don’t cry.
When I played university football, emblazoned at the top of our dressing room, in huge, black lettering, read the words: INTIMIDATE AND DOMINATE.
I . . .
Maybe I don't want to stop this feeling
(Even if it hurts)
Photo: Freeimages.com – Mignonne Meekels
Maybe I don't want to stop this feeling
(Even if it hurts)
ball of emotion
compact, sweet
undercurrent
pride
wistful
DNA extension
how do you elicit this
range
bass to treble
8va
octave
crescendo of love
dolce
molto vivace
sometimes anger
but always
intense
hard to detach
maybe i don't want to
stop this feeling . . .
My son broke his collarbone and my heart skipped a beat
A morning in Urgent Care reminded us to slow things down
Photo – Freeimages.com: Jacque Stengel
The pain must have been excruciating upon impact. I cringe at the thought of my seven-year-old's collarbone snapping.
The call came in at 11:03 a.m. The school secretary said he fell playing soccer. They put his arm in a sling; after tears, he returned to class. She said he seemed okay. Nobody . . .
Posted in: emotions
It takes a child to make the man
A poem
It takes a child to make the man
Dandelion seeds
land on our noses.
Slide down the hill,
check out our poses!
Wiping out in the mud,
Ribbon Bear laughs
at J's mouthful of slop
and S's tumbling flop.
Let's do it again!
all three of them yell,
it's obvious to tell
laughter and friendship
are innate and true
and watching these
kids and a bear
make Dad . . .
Posted in: ribbon bearkid storiespoetry
How my mom inspired me to be a writer
She fostered a love of reading and writing through her diary
Photo: Freeimages.com – Sue Anna Joe
When I was a kid, Mom encouraged me to keep a journal. "Aw, do I have to write?" I often complained.
She said I'd thank her as an adult.
My mother documented her experiences and viewed things from my kid perspective. The diary, sometimes written in the second person, was like a pre-internet blog.
She . . .
Dealing with the stigma surrounding lice
The critters are unsightly, but not a health hazard
Our family dealt with head lice for the first time, back in March. Lice are unsightly but don't carry disease. Other than a bit of scratching, they're harmless and don't pose a health hazard. But there is a stigma attached to them.
When we found the critters in our sons' hair, I admittedly was digusted.
I did a lot of research . . .
I was exhausted after volunteering in my son's class
It's challenging to get a bunch of kids on the same page
"Dad, can you come in for our scientists workshop?" second-born asked.
"You want me there?" I queried.
"Yeah," he answered, with that smile of his, eyes scrunched.
"You know I can't come in all the time," I said, "now that I'm working."
"I know."
"But I can still come in once or twice, maybe."
He smiled.
**
I have huge respect for . . .
Posted in: scienceschoolsimple machines