Everyone in our house has been dealing with different sleep issues over the last few weeks, and it’s high time for reflection.
For me, the issue is a lack of sleep; the very same guidebook that has kept me from blogging regularly also is keeping me from putting my head on the pillow for more than [...]

Yes, it’s been a while since my last post (don’t say I didn’t warn you). And yes, there’s much to report about that stretch, including a rundown of our trip to England, the baby’s foray into potty-training, and additional attacks on The New York Times Motherlode blog (read the comments).
But for now, I leave you [...]

Most of the time my daughter is utterly fearless, barreling into new experiences with unflagging curiosity. Recently, however, particularly after my Thursday-Friday work trip to Denver, the baby has exhibited a new personality trait, too: She’s getting scared.
Literally. As in, she says, “Scared, scared,” and clutches me for dear life.
I wrote about the very first [...]

L’s independence is growing as rapidly as her fingernails these days. Before we went to Vegas for the weekend (to see the resulting story, click here), she was going through a clingy phase. Now, however, she’s perfectly content doing stuff on her own.
When we “meddle” in her newfound solo-living, she’s also content expressing her frustration [...]

Just when I started to feel confident in my CPR certification, news hit wires today that the American Heart Association is shaking up the long-time strategy for dealing with CPR.
Previously, the approach involved opening the victim’s airway first, starting mouth-to-mouth breathing and doing chest compressions last. Now, however, the AHA says that cardiopulmonary resuscitation should [...]

For the first time in her young life, L got to ride in a shopping cart today, and (after Daddy furiously administered a wipe to disinfect every inch of that plastic thing) she loved every minute of it.
The scene of this milestone: Santa Rosa Target. The reason: I was too tired to carry her around.
Let’s [...]

I am honored to be today’s guest blogger on the “Motherlode” blog at The New York Times. The subject of my post: A recent experience with L at the local toddler reading group.
I won’t give away the farm here, but here are the highlights:

• On the day L and I went to reading group, I was [...]

You’ll have to settle for a quick post today, since I’m off to Las Vegas to speak at the annual Society of Professional Journalists conference. Instead of my usual musings, I’ve compiled some recommendations for reading on fatherhood:

• This piece by Todd Mauldin (courtesy of The Good Men Project) about why he blow-dries his son’s hair.
• Some [...]

At the ripe old age of 34, I’m starting to feel like a curmudgeon.
Today’s target: Another one of those parents who are such wild sloths that they simply can’t be bothered reining in their kids when the kids are invading others’ space.
Case in point: The scene this morning at our favorite local greasy spoon.
L and [...]

At this point in her young life, L’s vocabulary is growing exponentially every day. Among the highlights of today: Llama, crow and (most amazingly, considering I love whales) beluga.
Powergirl and I would love to take credit for all of these new words; I’d love to state in this public forum that I’ve read all the [...]