How my son dealt with smelly comments about his lunch
Classmates made fun of his seaweed sandwich
"Dad," youngest said quietly at the dinner table, "some people made fun of my food today."
All the memories came flooding back. I told him when I was a kid, sometimes A-Ma packed cold chicken legs in my lunchbox. Although I loved chicken, I felt different from those with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (back then it was okay to . . .
Failing as a teacher was one of my greatest life lessons
In dealing with depression, I have become a better, stronger person
Photo: Freeimages.com – Elliot Jordan
Teaching grade school and parenting are very similar. Both involve educating children, and both require great patience. My first foray into teaching wasn’t successful, but it helped me become a stronger person and prepared me for eventual parenthood.
In May, 2000, I . . .
Posted in: depressionfailuremental illnessschooltoronto
I stumbled answering my kids' questions about sex
A Sexapalooza billboard prompted some curious inquiries
“Oh! That sign says ‘Sexapalooza!’ ” my boys giggled, as we drove past a billboard advertising the consumer sex show. After calming themselves, my eldest son curiously asked: “What’s Sexapalooza?”
I glanced at my wife, both of us temporarily unsure what to say.
“It’s a show . . .
Posted in: sexsexapaloozasex education
Click Clack
A poem
I wish I embraced Taiwanese culture as a kid
Rejecting my ethnicity exposed a childhood insecurity with being different
“Dad, why do you look different from us?” my son asked, over dinner.
“Whaddya mean?” I replied, glancing at some stir-fried bok choy.
“You're darker than us,” he said, comparing my skin tone to his and his brother’s. “Why is that?”
“Um,” I stuttered, “the ingredients that A-Kong and A-Ma made me with . . .
Boys' Night
A poem
Boys' Night
When Mommy goes out
it is our favourite time,
for it is our time—
it is boys' night.
Crack open the chips,
turn on a flick;
what shall it be?
Doesn't really matter—
it is boys' night.
Daddy, sit beside me!
No, Dad, sit beside me!
. . .
Posted in: bedtimemovie nightpoetrypokemonrituals
I wanna be a stay-at-home dad and a writer when I grow up
Helping my son write is quality time together
Youngest makes his way downstairs and asks: “Dad, can I help you?”
“Help me with lunches?”
“Yeah.”
“I'm done. I did them while I made supper.”
“What are you doing?” he inquires.
“I'm writing.”
“Can I write a story?”
“Sure!” I answer. He cuddles up beside me. “So, . . .
Posted in: kid storiesrobert munschstay-at-home dad
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