Halloween. Highly divisive among adults, universally loved and adored by children ages ~12 and under. I used to LOVE Halloween. Being a chubby child with a hyperactive imagination, Halloween was the absolute best! It was the one day of the year when everybody else gets…
Yes, yes, I know. We’ve been having a blast watching the Mets get to the World Series. Cheering on home runs, outs, calling balls and strikes, yelling “Thor” whenever the camera caught his blonde mane. It’s been a good run. It still is. The Mets…
A Long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, a University Chicago auditorium opened its doors in the late dusk to admit a gaggle of parents, children and students. It was the early 80’s, perhaps 1981. Ronald Reagan was the President. My young…
It’s up to you to be a superhero. -Cat Power Sebastian spots Spiderman among the costumed characters and caped crusaders. We’re mingling with Elmo, Despicable Me, Woody and Buzz. There’s a grimy Batman who’s making the rounds and then I spot another Elmo. That’s two…
What is it about Superheroes? Kids just LOVE them. What’s not to like? How cool would it be to have super powers? Super strength, X-Ray vision, incredible healing capacity, the ability to fly? You could do what you like, with no fear of repercussion. You…
Yesterday Sebastian turned six. What a ride so far. When he was born we were subjected to a torrent of baby gifts and greeting cards. One of the cards stood out to me at the time. “Have a magical childhood, Sebastian!” it read As I…
Plenty of digital ink has been spilled on the subject of helicopter parents, free-range kids and the general overbearing nature that modern parents bring to the task of childcare. I am interested discussing one small discreet moment within this larger macro: when your kid falls…
I’m not the kind of guy who has altruism down and unconditional love in the bag. There are millions of people who have a better grasp on these virtues. I’m working on it, though, but for now I’m a little bit jealous as I’m sitting…