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Two Choices
Watching my two boys climb rocks a few weeks ago in Maine brought a profound sense of gratitude and reflection. Grateful to be their father. Reflective because I tried to understand how they see the world, specifically me, as their father, something I must admit I rarely ever think about. As adults, our lives, rightly so, are filled with significant responsibilities, so it is difficult to stop and see the perspective that our children have towards us. As a parent, we do what we do, day in and day out, and rarely think about the impact our presence has on our children. We are the caregivers, the ones in charge,…
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Let’s Dance
I have not done much dancing of late. I’m afraid my days of getting down doing the running man or moonwalk have passed by. That said, I couldn’t help but dance this week to a different tune. There is no secret how these times have been mentally taxing for so many of us. No role, occupation, or vocation has been spared. This week, we got some bad news regarding the health of one of our sons. Nothing serious, but heartbreaking for him nonetheless, as it will most likely prevent him from participating in his favorite sport for the foreseeable future. A participation that has been so critical for the mental…
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Hard To Be Human
It’s well documented that the pandemic has brought to the surface many challenges for millions of people around the globe. Not only physical illness but loneliness and isolation have sparked a wave of mental illness as well. The pandemic has affected all of us in some way. Like so many things in life, although the struggles we face are felt by many, they are unique. In other words, our experiences and struggles are our own. The pandemic for us has been about navigating being home with two school-aged boys every day for almost a year. On the one hand, I have loved it because I know this is a time…
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43
Random Thoughts on my 43 Birthday
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A Stomping Joy
Watching my middle school-year-old boy wrestle with his desire for independence while at the same time finding comfort in boundaries is entertaining, to say the least. The meltdown over cleaning up a granola bar wrapper combined with the contentment of knowing what is expected of him is a fascinating thing to watch. I mean really, is it that upsetting to you that you are expected to throw the empty box of Pop-Tarts into the recycling bin instead of putting it back in the pantry? Which by the way, is right below you? Being his father, I have found the answer to those questions to be a resounding “YES!” Of course,…
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Good Parenting
To act or not to act. To speak or not to speak. To intervene or not to intervene. It seems that these are the thoughts that consume the mind of a parent every day. It is said that parenting is the toughest job in the world, and I would think that most parents who are engaged in the lives of their children would agree. For although we get plenty of advice from others and we instinctively draw our own parenting styles from those who have raised us, at the end of the day, when we are face to face with our own children, there simply isn’t a blueprint. It is…
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Die Hausmann (The Houseman)
I have to be honest that the first time I was called it, it rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was because of the accent “HA-ous-Mah-n”. Or maybe because it was something that I never identified myself with before. I mean to answer a question posed by strangers, “Was tun Sie hier in der Schweiz zu tun?” (What do you do here in Switzerland?) with “Ich bin eine Hausmann” (I am a Houseman) is awkward to say the least. I mean on one hand it sounds way to formal for washing floors and toilets. On the other hand it sounds like I should be getting paid for this. And…
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The Call of a Father
There was a scene in the new Star Wars film The Force Awakens that captivated me. I must admit I am not a Star Wars expert or fanatic, but I grew up watching the original trilogy like most young boys of my generation and I loved it. So now being a father myself and watching the new film with my eight-year-old son made the experience that much more memorable. Without spoiling anything, the scene I mention for those who saw the movie is the one that left most of us gasping with a collective “WHY?” It was the scene in which Hans Solo confronts his son, Kylo Ren. For those…
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The Crumbs of Holiness
A couple of days ago, I had a bit of a temper tantrum over the ever-present crumbs that continue to find their home in our house. Some like to live on our kitchen floor. Some would rather stay on the countertops. And some like the view of our dining area from underneath the table. As much as I try to escort them out of our house with a ride in the vacuum, their friends seem to take their places immediately. It is a battle that is never ending. And one that triggers things within me that are not pleasant. Now, I don’t have to look very far to see who…
