Father’s Day Hangover Cure

Congratulations, you have done it! We can officially close the books on Father’s Day 2017! It looks like, once again, you have been crowned the World’s Greatest Dad, and you have the mug or t-shirt to prove it! But what now, what next?  The meat has been cooked, hugs  have been given, and the beer has now been drunk.  Oh, hello reality, hello routine!  You were hiding behind my tall friend, Father’s Day. How do we become the #1 Dad that the card on our table claims us to be?  When life goes back to normal, and the parade has...

Space in a Chair

Bodies being carried out of rubble pop up on the TV screen. The sounds of families wailing over the death of a loved one pour into our living room. I look for the remote in order to quickly change the channel to more age appropriate show. A cartoon – hell, even Jessie. Only I can’t find the remote, of course. My kids hungry eyes, thirsty for information, soak up this tragedy that is playing out on the screen. I stop looking for the remote and start staring at the gruesome scene. Those poor people. I stand up and turn the...

Big Girl

I sit watching my daughter struggle to put her shoes on. Why must she always pick the most difficult shoes to put on when we are in a hurry? “I can do it myself, Daddy!” Yes, you can do it yourself, but it will take forever and once forever is finally over, I will be horribly late for my meeting at school.  Just let me put the damn shoes on for you so we can get out of the house! “Take your time, dear, I know you can do it.” I continue to work on deep breathing and reminding myself...