There are certain threads that weave in and out of a Father’s Path, pockets of space in time that connect and transform. These are the moments when both familiarity and change get along just fine and remind us that nothing stands still. With the boys, so many of these rituals have centered on passions that […]
A recent radio ad encourages fathers to “take the time to be a dad” and a 15-second flurry lists ideas to help the connection. I’ve heard the ad three times now and its message is clear and worthwhile. Now I know you can’t list everything in 15 seconds, and the ad’s brevity speaks to both […]
I grew up in a time when thumbs had the power to convince someone to give you a ride. Hitchhiking is a rare sight these days, replaced by Uber, the reach of cell phones, and the widening grip of “stranger danger.” Concerning the latter, we seem to have become more fearful of those beyond our […]
It’s been 17 years and as with all traumatic experiences, time defies the sense of it all. 9/11/2001 is a part of our country’s fabric and each year we remember not to forget all those who suffered and still suffer. In my family story, I remember the day and how young the boys were, ages […]
I’m not one for nostalgia but I do love the beauty of a sweet memory. Space has imprints of the past and I find myself time traveling when I pass certain places. There’s an old café in the bones of what is now a Hookah lounge not far from NC State University. What Darwin would […]
The contradictions along the father’s path have not failed to tickle my funny bone in a way that eludes understanding. Of course, when they are presented in the original form the confusion is not so funny. Going way back, on some level I have always known I was going to be a father, always wanted to […]
In the world of search engines and smartphones, we’ve become somewhat conditioned as a culture to trust the offerings on the first page. No different when it comes to parenting as a simple search of advice yields 220 million results. But go no further than the first page where you will find “50 Easy Ways […]
On a Father’s Path, there is a lot of learning as you go. Between your own stations of life, the uniqueness of your children, and their evolving needs in each successive developmental stage, there are a lot of slack-jaw moments spent at the crossroads of Uncertainty and Wit’s End. One of the many valuable lessons […]
Over the years the mischievous nature and unique flavor of boy humor has been a constant, from the early days of pull-ups on through stubble-faced grins. The brand of humor is both inevitable and unpredictable, from subtle tones and impromptu comments, to carefully crafted pranks, to a wordless and house-shaking physicality. One testament, a group […]
Years before fatherhood—and I’m talking many years—it seemed that everyone in my neighborhood had a nickname. The skill of nicknaming appears to be on a downtrend and it makes me wonder. Back then, nicknames were earned and for the most part endearing. The nickname was carefully considered and spoke to something singular in a person’s […]
