When I was a kid, my dad used to carry a small, red squeeze change purse. You don't see many adults carry these around much anymore. I guess he didn't like the loose change in his pockets. At the end of the day, he would routinely go through his change and give me his extra... Continue Reading →
Do it again Daddy!
I push my cart in the grocery store. I'm looking over the oranges and second-guess myself, "Did my wife say to pick up oranges or bananas?" I look down at my phone and consider sending her a text. And then I hear it. A little girl of about 4 or 5 cries out "Daddy!” I... Continue Reading →
Survivor: The Parenting Edition
The U.S. television show Survivor first premiered on CBS in May 2000. The show places a group of people in an isolated location, where they must provide food, fire, and shelter for themselves. The contestants compete in physical, mental, and emotional challenges. They're progressively eliminated from the game until only two or three remain. The... Continue Reading →
A brave new world
It's that time of year. Local high school kids are celebrating their graduations. Every time I look on social media the past week or so I keep coming across graduation pictures. There's one of a mom and dad and the man or woman of the hour. Gotta get one in there too of grandma or... Continue Reading →
Living with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
(I ran version of this story in July 2016. I've updated and made a few changes to the piece.) When I was young kid, I loved to watch my dad carve an old sea captain or a duck from a block of wood. Or maybe a hound dog or grizzly bear. He carved anything that... Continue Reading →
A boy and his toys
I cranked the red launcher. I revved it as fast and as far as it would go. The seven-inch tall Evel Knievel on his red, white, and blue stunt cycle flew across the porch and onto the ramp. I had created the ramp using an old piece of wood that I had "borrowed" from my... Continue Reading →
What’s it going to be?
The father in front of me look frazzled and was losing his patience. He had given his son a choice of Matchbox cars to buy for a birthday present for a friend. It was almost time to put the toy on the grocery store cash register. "Which is it going to be Max? The red... Continue Reading →
Lessons from mom
When I was a kid, my mother was a treasure-trove of folksy sayings. When I failed to make the varsity basketball team, she told me to "stop crying over spilled milk. When I was chomping at the bit for Christmas morning, she told me to "hold my horses." Some of her sayings and colloquialisms came... Continue Reading →
Trying to keep off the naughty list
My mom never had the chance to go to college. She never took a Psychology class and she never had a chance to sit in on a seminar on “how to win friends and influence others.” She grew up on an Amish farm and was forced to quit school after the eighth grade. Despite her... Continue Reading →

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