When I was a child I had a pet rabbit named Lightning, one of a succession of rabbits. One was run over by a car. Dad didn’t tell me until I was twenty-three. He always said, “I dunno, he just …
4 Ways I Responded to My Daughter Turning Twelve
One meaning for the name McKenna is “Out of The Fire.” This is the name I chose for my daughter. Being twelve is the current fire I’m trying to help her get to the other side of. This age is …
Stop Asking When We’re Going to Have Kids
This is a public service announcement. Call it a good deed if you’d like. Here we go: PLEASE STOP ASKING MARRIED COUPLES WITHOUT CHILDREN WHEN THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE KIDS. I’m begging you. Pleading. I’m on my knees. My wife …
Kindergarten Sucks
Blonde hair poured over the top of the purple, floral-covered backpack that swallowed up most of the rest of her, until her legs peeked out from the skirt she had laid out with precision the night before. This would be …
The Best Toddler Advice I Ever Received
I don’t want to sound melodramatic, but there’s one piece of parenting advice that changed my life. It came from an infinitely kind, Jewish woman in her 70’s named Miss Toby. She runs the playroom at our local community center. She’s a …
Father’s Love
My Father used to buy cars. A lot of cars. Broken down, busted up, P.O.S. cars. Usually VW’s. Always on the door of the great rusting field in the sky. He’d park them on the side of the house in …
A Final Conversation on Football and Life
The brisk October wind tickled the back of my neck as Dad and I strolled inside a small pizza restaurant located in downtown Sandusky, Ohio. A lone bartender nodded his head, sprayed Coke into a glass, and handed it to one …
Doc Shaw
Back in the 60’s, Dr. Byers Shaw built an A-frame cottage up the hill from Catfish Hollow on Rocky Fork Lake. He had three young kids and this new getaway would be their wooded oasis. It was close enough that they …
The Bible’s Example of Fatherhood
Happy Father’s Day! The Bible is full of stories of fathers. Here’s a quick look at the example they left for us: 1. Adam was the first father … and he screwed up the whole universe for his kids. 2. Noah …
Is Love Really Enough?
I once had a brother. His name was Sean. He was incredibly cool—like, really cool. This was due in part to being part of the mid-80’s punk movement. This included ripped jeans, a black leather jacket, a half-shaved head of …