My recollections of sitting around the dinner table at Thanksgiving are filled with potent memories, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins galore. Eventually, the table configuration added my own family; a wife and children. As the passage of time added people to the table, it also took some away. In my mind’s eye, there are … Continue reading Empty Chairs at Thanksgiving
We seem to live in a society where fathers are optional and irrelevant. It is not uncommon for children born out of wedlock to be raised alone by a mother. Many women are choosing to start a family without any intent of having a relationship with the child’s father. Children born into a home where … Continue reading Absent Fathers
Dear Dad, Happy Father’s Day! On fifty-three occasions you have celebrated this day as a father. I wonder what your memories are of our very first one. For the record, my memory of that occasion is a little fuzzy. Over the years, my respect for you has grown, not because you are more worthy but … Continue reading The Joy of Parenting: Dear Dad
Several years ago the Supreme Court of Michigan made a monumental ruling declaring, in essence, that parents are responsible for the education of their children. Although the court case was primarily about the rights of parents to educate at home, the ruling gave notice to all parents to take responsibility for the process of how children are educated and what they are … Continue reading Spiritual Milestones for Youth
Happy New Year! It’s 2013. Out with the old and in with the new… Wait! seriously? I’m pretty comfortable with some of the old, maybe even a lot of it. Besides, new makes me itch! Itch or not, there is no way around all the new in my life. It seems that it’s part and parcel … Continue reading Widowered Fathering: Figuring Out Our New Traditions
Today screamed for banana nut bread and a little father-son bonding time. The bananas were far too gone to eat and I can’t remember the last time I baked. It is strange to go through the cook books and written recipes and see Carrie’s handwriting. It is a pleasant reminder that she was once here. … Continue reading Bake Like A Man
Today is the day; I’m setting up the Christmas decorations with the boy. It’s been our family tradition that mom and the boys would decorate. Mostly because she was better at it and my less than enthusiastic desire to participate was secondary or maybe even way, way, way down the list…. Really. I love the … Continue reading Trimming the Tree
One of the things I miss about not having Carrie around is always having a ready date. I am aware that this doesn't sound too romantic but stay with me a moment. For nearly 30 years (I’m including dating and rounding a little) if I wanted to do something with someone she was my first … Continue reading A Ready Date and Social Substitutes
It is late Sunday evening as I begin this post. I am relaxing on my reclining leather coach. It is quiet. No television. No music. The only noise is the clicking from my wireless keyboard and the hum of the refrigerator from the kitchen. I’m staring at the walls that I painted a few weeks … Continue reading The Ambiguity of Life
As a reader of this blog you may or may not know that my wife died of pancreatic cancer earlier this year. So it has been a year of firsts, including, at least mentally, recognizing the monthly anniversary of her passing. I almost missed yesterday; it was the 10 month anniversary. Interestingly, it didn't dawn … Continue reading Boom!
think relationally... 