Homemadedad
During these days of sunshine and warmth in the Californian desert, I have opportunities to do things that I don’t do at home. Like, read things other than blogs. And drink a bit more than usual. And write. First things first. What’s my favourite cocktail poolside? A tall glass filled with ice, 4 ounces of …
Renting a house with a games room that features an original 1982 Galaga console and scoring over 140,000 on the first day. Turning your kids on to a video game made in 1982. Finding a grapefruit tree in your backyard loaded with heavy, ripe fruit. Wireless access, poolside on the new MacBook Pro. Coming from …
I’m not going to pretend I’m an expert in vacations, but it seems to me there are a few simple rules that will serve you well and help you enjoy them more. For me, the whole point of vacations is relaxing. If I don’t relax and get downtime, then what’s the point of spending all …
A vehicle and an open road. A destination without a fixed itinerary. Why does this excite me so? I think I know the answer. From an early age, driving was the definitive form of freedom. I got my learners permit – also known as a ‘365’ in Ontario back then because of the number of …
I have a minor skin irritation on my back and need to apply cream to it nightly. It’s a tricky spot to reach, so I ask one of my kids to help me. The teen rolls her eyes – but that’s par for the course. It’s the 7 year old’s reaction that triggered this post. …
As a primary parenting dad, I often find myself puffing out my chest about how I can do whatever mom can do. And, in large part, this is not hubris. I shop and cook, I clean and straighten, I provide discipline and/or a cuddle, as the situation requires. As part of my duties, when the …
We’ve spent the last two weekends shoveling snow into increasingly massive piles that line our driveway, watching movies and reading. And when we got bored with all that, we turned to a simple and fun craft: making ice candles. I’m not so much of an arts and “craps” (as my daughter used to call it …
I’ve been spending some time lately in a local coffeehouse while my boy takes a Kung Fu class. I have a skinny latte and try to squeeze in an hour of work before rushing out the door to pick up the boy. It just so happens that this coffeehouse has XM Radio on all the …
I woke up last weekend and came downstairs to find Ben watching YouTube videos. Usually he sticks to Bakugans and BeyBlades, but on this morning he was watching a guy use a laser to burn a Popsicle stick. Then he showed me another video of how the guy converted a Bic lighter into a the miniature laser …
One of the trickiest parts of being a primary parenting dad is the moms. I mean, I like moms and sometimes it feels like I have more in common with them than other dads. Yet, this is precisely the tricky part. On a typical day, I see more moms than dads around the school and …