Michael is officially taller than Grandma Barb. We suspect it's the first of many height-passings. Michael's namesake will be thrilled if someday he stands, pitifully diminutive, in the shadow of his hulking grandson. Michael is a big fella for his age. I wouldn't even classify his eleven-year-old feet as boat-sized, but like boats that have boats, like ships that need lifeboats or barges with tugs. As for the who-is-taller face-off with Grandma Barb, Papa conducted it with great build-up and commentary. The contestants stood back-to-back and Michael's arm was raised in victory. It seemed too close to call, and Grandma lobbied for a tie, but Papa was politician-like in his certainty that it wasn't close at all.
Parenting is a big job. One gets the feeling, as a parent, that your impact is immense and immediate, of course, but also delayed and lurking, if that makes sense, like any peculiarities perceived as adult-onset in my children will be my fault, too. And parental impact is nothing if not lasting, as in life-long-lasting; kids never recover from bad fathering, right? Every misstep, every outburst or overindulgence. Every time I ignorantly, selfishly, or lazily spoil them. It's probably hard to tell, but I’m gently mocking my self-important feelings about parenting. (Self-flattery feels good; it's why some people are so good at it.) But my insecurities and concerns exist, because parenting is a big job. In fact, saying so seems like a fantastic understatement. I know I'll analyze and retro-criticize the fatherly steerings or stances I took that contribute to future stumbles. There will be stumbles and blemishes, obviously; life is nothing if not flecked with blemishes. (I wear mine well, I hope.) So I’m mocking again, sort of, because I don’t really know how impressionable and unmolded M ‘n’ m still are, or ever were. There are other people in their lives. Quite a few, actually :) Thank you very much. And kids can be resilient, energetic, stubborn, and annoyingly confident. Some even have a knack for going out in the world and kicking ass despite crappy parents. Oh... now I’m wondering: Do those types need crappy parents? What a powerful way to stimulate that inner fortitude some kids discover and harness and use to conquer themselves and the world around them! I’m kidding again. I think.
By the way, IT'S MEGAN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY! Happy 9th to my baby girl. She was born on a beautiful September day, just like her daddy.
Parenting is a big job. One gets the feeling, as a parent, that your impact is immense and immediate, of course, but also delayed and lurking, if that makes sense, like any peculiarities perceived as adult-onset in my children will be my fault, too. And parental impact is nothing if not lasting, as in life-long-lasting; kids never recover from bad fathering, right? Every misstep, every outburst or overindulgence. Every time I ignorantly, selfishly, or lazily spoil them. It's probably hard to tell, but I’m gently mocking my self-important feelings about parenting. (Self-flattery feels good; it's why some people are so good at it.) But my insecurities and concerns exist, because parenting is a big job. In fact, saying so seems like a fantastic understatement. I know I'll analyze and retro-criticize the fatherly steerings or stances I took that contribute to future stumbles. There will be stumbles and blemishes, obviously; life is nothing if not flecked with blemishes. (I wear mine well, I hope.) So I’m mocking again, sort of, because I don’t really know how impressionable and unmolded M ‘n’ m still are, or ever were. There are other people in their lives. Quite a few, actually :) Thank you very much. And kids can be resilient, energetic, stubborn, and annoyingly confident. Some even have a knack for going out in the world and kicking ass despite crappy parents. Oh... now I’m wondering: Do those types need crappy parents? What a powerful way to stimulate that inner fortitude some kids discover and harness and use to conquer themselves and the world around them! I’m kidding again. I think.
By the way, IT'S MEGAN'S BIRTHDAY TODAY! Happy 9th to my baby girl. She was born on a beautiful September day, just like her daddy.
