Even though I was the spouse stuck working in this “dead week” of the year, my wife still worked harder. As we remember whenever our two little boys are home for longer than a weekend, parenting is a real and really exhausting job. We long ago realized that looking after kids and conducting any kind … Continue reading On who is more exhausted
Category: Parents & Children
On wrapping with some care
I've never been one to care about wrapping presents. I've long viewed it as an arduous and paper-wasting activity. They're going to rip it off and then ever think about it again? So, why bother? But the things happened to me this gift-wrapping season that changed my mind: I watched a YouTube video whose basic … Continue reading On wrapping with some care
On an introduction to alcohol
My introduction to alcohol was one of prohibition: Thou shalt not drink. My parents, more than a little Protestant in them, decried the temptation of alcohol in stern terms even as they—wait for it!—imbibed themselves. The nerve! But this is less about their imposed teetotaling attitude—which was really not the worst mindset to have in … Continue reading On an introduction to alcohol
On The Polar Express at the Colorado Railroad Museum
We went in knowing that The Polar Express event at our favorite Colorado cultural institution—the Colorado Railroad Museum—is a BIG DEAL. Mostly, because of the not-inexpensive ticket prices. But, honestly, we were impressed. More than just another train ride, the staff of the museum—supported by a bevy of volunteers and an actual acting troupe—transformed the … Continue reading On The Polar Express at the Colorado Railroad Museum
On forgiving myself
I reflected not long ago where I mentioned the patience you gain as a parent. I framed it as perhaps the only benefit in the hard slog that is early childhood of one’s kids. But there’s another: Self-forgiveness. It took me a while to see the distinction between self-forgiveness and its close cousin—making excuses. Both … Continue reading On forgiving myself
On the joy of the anapest in reading The Cat in the Hat
To my bewilderment and delight, my toddler has of late been completely taken by the classic The Cat in the Hat. The book, if you’ve never had the pleasure, is extremely silly and also a complete roller coaster to read aloud. Some children’s books let the adults off easy—read them enough times and you can … Continue reading On the joy of the anapest in reading The Cat in the Hat
On hard things that have no reward
I try not to complain about it, because it’s boring. I know this, but I can’t help myself from thinking about it all the time. And because this blog is a repository for thoughts, I figure I might as well do a little carping—boring as it may be. I’ll begin with a hope: I would … Continue reading On hard things that have no reward
On wondering what education is for
An article that's been floating around my head a lot over the past week is David Brooks's recent cover story for The Atlantic—"How America Got Mean." The article covers a lot of ground, but there's one thing that jumped out at me: the question of what education is for. It got me wondering: Why did … Continue reading On wondering what education is for
On what last names tell us
As a parent, it’s a wonderful thing to watch your friends have kids. As a name and word enthusiast, it’s a fascinating thing to watch your friends make decisions about their kids’ names. First names are interesting enough—there’s more than I could say here about that. (It’s another post.) Last names hold their interest, too. … Continue reading On what last names tell us
On the excuse of having kids
“My kids” is the best excuse. Don’t want to go to that networking event? You’d prefer to skip the evening at a friend’s house? Feel like moving that meeting? It’s amazing, really—the status of parent is a get out of jail free card. The amazing thing is how well it works, with so little I’ll … Continue reading On the excuse of having kids
Taylor Coe 