Comments on: Notes to a young man contemplating fatherhood

By: mig

mig — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:51:02 +0000

How to make tiger pudding: make a batch of vanilla pudding, and a batch of chocolate pudding, and layer the pudding still hot in a large bowl.

Serving tip: flop chilled pudding onto a plate, place it in the middle of the table, give everyone spoons and go for it.

By: j-a

j-a — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:02:05 +0000

forgot to ask: what is tiger pudding?

By: j-a

j-a — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 10:01:15 +0000

well if you have such a great day…it must be worth it, eh?

your daughters are just so cute. be careful they don’t get taken away by the sugarplum fairy. i cannot believe gamma actually drew dolphins way in advance.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:55:46 +0000

What, Father’s day is not the same day everywhere around the world? Quick, fly to the states and you can have another one this coming weekend.

Isn’t the United Nations supposed to keep these Holidays straight? Or the United Greeting Card Manufacturers?

I was just looking at pictures of my kids earlier Birthdays and noticed some pictures of Beta, back when she was in single digits, she was such a sweet girl, and now a teenager. Oh well, still sweet I’m sure, but not in the same way at all.

When you started out about notes to someone contemplating fatherhood it reminded me of my favorite analogy about having children (also works for the engagement period of marriage). The period while your wife is pregnant is like that time on the Roller Coaster where you are being pulled up that first big hill. The ride hasn’t really gotten frightening but there is no getting off the ride and the ups and downs are unavoidable in your future.

And as time goes on and you’ve had your kids for awhile, you see, that also like a roller coaster the ride goes by really quickly once it starts.

I just had this sudden flash, this roller coaster analogy, that I’ve always liked, perhaps I have lifted it straight out of the movie “Parenthood” with Steve Martin?

Crap, I now recall they actually have those scenes in the movie (I googled it and it’s true). Oh well, I refuse to give up the analogy even if it was thought up by some screenwriter…

Well, I came from the Suburbs, my chances of having deep thoughts were never that great…

By: Julia

Julia — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 00:20:42 +0000

And…if you are a lovely Dad like I was lucky enough to have, you’ll change all the well known stories to include silly, funny and sometimes surreal images which will help to develop your child’s sense of the ridiculous. To use the 3 bears example a little further…my favourite version of it involved Daddy Bear saying..Who’s been sleeping in MY porridge?!

..and all manner of home made Jabberwocky.
It’s special. Dads are special.

By: R J Keefe

R J Keefe — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 19:19:29 +0000

Thanks for the great post. Using words that we all share, you compose your own distinctiveness.

By: TH

TH — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 18:07:52 +0000

Or you might just forget about father’s day completely, which in itself is not a problem at all, except maybe for the missing card to open, and no painting of walls, because you havent finished doing the ceiling yet, because you need to buy the styrofoam first.

And anyway, you didn’t even drive out of Vienna, but simply be home and have fun. And you find out that your daughter is no child anymore except when you get really silly and tickle each other and dance to whatever music is handy.

Happy father’s day.