Raising Voters
When my youngest daughter turned eighteen last month, my mother asked me if I was going to “drag her to the polls” in November. She remembers when I turned eighteen a long time ago and voting was not exactly top of…
Is That the Boy?
It seems we’ve come here to see her dance a hundred times before. The girls get older, the routines get smoother, and, well, a dad can’t help but notice that the little girl who once had all the grace and…
Can Your Kid Help a Bullied Kid?
My 9-year-old daughter has told me there is a little boy in her class who is getting picked on because of the kind of shoes he is wearing. It’s quiet and mean, and this boy is not responding, so the…
All Hail Halloween Dad
So here I am again, standing at the end of the walk with the flashlight in my hand. Up at the front door, past the jack o’ lanterns on the stoop, the monsters, superheroes, and fairy princesses crowd around the…
Partners in Life and in Business
by Tarah and Damon Harris Going into business with anyone is risky. But when that business partner is your spouse, there is a whole new level of risk. No matter the business, happiness in your home life must be a…
Positive Pregnancy Vibes
When you’re pregnant, a very large share of your energy is expended getting ready for the baby: doing nursery things, choosing a pediatrician, lining up childcare, and maybe – if you have the time and resources – taking classes about…
The Waiting
The summer of 1986 meant riding my Schwinn Thrasher eight blocks to Lafayette Pharmacy where I cashed in my nickels for a bag of assorted Jolly Ranchers. The loot cost me $1.67, and the trip took a solid twenty minutes…
Expert Parenting Advice
We had some fertility challenges and used donors (egg and sperm) for both our children. Consequently, our two kids – ages three and almost five – look nothing like me or my husband. Body type, hair color, eye color –…
6 Big Ideas for Connecting with Kids
I remember a life in the not-so-distant past when my children were my constant companions. Their grubby-palmed grips and lap-time chats bound us together. But like hourglass sands, my companions are steadily slipping away. Some days, our quality time is…
