Many years ago, I remember pontificating there are a few times in life when a man is allowed to howl at the moon without judgment or reservation. One of those times was when he asks his girl to marry him. Another was when his first child is born. I think it’s safe to say it’s also allowed on the day he marries his bride and soon-to-be lifelong partner. For my son, and my oldest … [Read more...] about To My Son on His Wedding Day
Marriage & Parenting
Parenting In These Challenging Times – Five Practical Ideas For Dads
Let's face it, parenting in these challenging times can be hard. Admittedly, I have struggled as a dad during this pandemic. I've lost sleep over it even when I'm normally not a worrier or alarmist. I don't want to give in to the apocalyptic hype on the one hand. On the other, I can't pretend this is just a bad flu season. Our kids are now a little older, so we've had some … [Read more...] about Parenting In These Challenging Times – Five Practical Ideas For Dads
A Love Letter to My Wife (And Lessons Learned Over 25 Years)
This post is unlike any I’ve written before. It's a little raw and a lot personal. It is a love letter to my wife of twenty-five years. Today, Ann and I celebrate a quarter century of life together. In actuality, we’ve been together for nearly 29 years, but since we exchanged vows and said, “I do,” it’s been 25 years. Dang, that’s a long time! I have thought of this post … [Read more...] about A Love Letter to My Wife (And Lessons Learned Over 25 Years)
Courage Counts
Teaching Our Kids Courage A few weeks ago my high school-aged daughter approached me concerned. A friend of hers had relayed to her a social media message that inferred a student was going to exact violence upon her school. Sadly, this is a reality in today’s day and age. She was not overly concerned, but I could sense some uncertainty in her tone. I reassured her … [Read more...] about Courage Counts
Redefining the Normal Family
By now our kids know there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, or Tooth Fairy. What they have not yet learned is there is also no such thing as a normal family. Unfortunately, I think there are a lot of dads out there who still believe in this mythical creature. The problem with believing in such a thing is it can lead to doubt, frustration, and envy because we think our families … [Read more...] about Redefining the Normal Family