In a world of Trump as an existential threat to Democracy, it’s a joy and fun to read about the experiences of a creative and loving Dad (and of course Mom) like yourself.
Thank you! I try to mix it up and practice gratitude because, like you, I'm really concerned about the impending death of Democracy. Hopefully common sense will prevail and blue will not only win, they embrace the popular progressive policies that the public actually wants. Thanks for the comment!
Who ever thought that we would be seriously contemplating “the death of Democracy” largely driven by a fifth column of right wing Fascist loving Billionaires?
Yet, here we are. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement.
Love this! A sweet and fun read, so needed by me today! Love the details, the flow, the banter between you and your disapproving - then won-over - wife. Made me smile and reflect on my four grown kids, and a piece I wrote years ago about letting my kids dress themselves when my kids were little and able to do so. Some of my daughters' choices were as adorable - and questionable - as your Chewbacca suit - mismatched, fancy and casual, cowboy boots and pajama gowns...and my son would always layer two or three shirts and two or three shorts - I have no idea why - and by the end of the day he would be down to his drawers! The neighbors always looked a little sideways at us for this, and the fact that we allowed them to play in the dirt - but they grew up to be responsible, caring adults and citizens! So it all worked out in the end!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane for me! And the great writing model, as always!
When we are young we feel that the path should be clear with no obstacles in our way. The only environment in the natural world where this would hold true is in an arid desert, devoid of all life. So the path disappears again and again from view. There will be many times when we simply do not know how to proceed, where to go. Again, these are the times when we push through despite the fact that we do not know where the path will lead us. These are the times on the journey of life where all we can reasonably do is to simply stand in the ground of our own life, our own being, without trying to abstract ourselves into a strategic future so that we don’t have to deal with the heartbreak of our lives; a vain attempt to escape the reality of our life. Life is complex. Each of us must make his or her own path through life. There are no self-help manuals, no formulas, no easy answers. The right road for one is the wrong road for another. The journey of life is not paved with blacktop; it is not brightly lit and it has no road signs. It is a rocky path through the wilderness. But, if we know exactly where we are going, exactly how to get there, and exactly what we’ll see along the way, we won’t learn anything.
And as we get older, there comes a point in our lives when all we can reasonably do is simply stop and stand where we are and realize that we, ourselves, are the journey- that the mere fact that we sought a path, a way through the darkness is enough. There is beauty and courage in that; the fact that we tried to seek a way through the wilderness. The most important lesson here is that the journey or path, itself, is really the goal- not some faraway abstract destination in the remote future or lofty ideas of becoming ‘enlightened’.
That's awesome. I think dads should all have first dibs on Halloween. I'm a mom who did the dad thing with my kid. It's been years ago but I got to dress up as a pirate with her and go trick or treating. She lent me her light up mine craft sword.
I think kids should dress up like pirates and space men and sasquatch until they're 18. We have the whole rest of our lives to wear "respectable" clothing. Moms too!
Me too, I've been planning to dress that way all the time once my kids graduate from college. When my own kids grow up and start having kids of their own, I expect to show up and bang on the door with my staff and say, "Who is interested in going on an adventure?" Hahaha!
This is like a Reddit AITA post, only we we only ever enable you and say you are NTA for dressing your daughter up.
Our kids wore PJ's 99% of the time for ease, but both boy and girl wore a mini tuxedo onesie, a knight costume, and Cthulhu knitted masks.
I also sign off on adults wearing costumes as much as possible. True story: I am an emergency physician and once wore a devil's wig on Hallowe'en, with horns.
Yes! Ha, good point, are there people in the world who dislike Chewbacca? Like the cat people of some weird planet? They should form a facebook group for people who hate chocolate, bacon, and Chewbacca.
A lovely story! I wish my grandchildren lived in this country and I could dress them up and take them trick-or-treating! Unfortunately they live in a non-Halloween-celebrating country.😕
I love this story. Your daughter is the cutest Chewbacca I’ve ever seen❣️
Thank you :)
Haha, to the choice of character.
Little girl human becomes massive boy wookie warrior.
The beauty of Halloween!
In a world of Trump as an existential threat to Democracy, it’s a joy and fun to read about the experiences of a creative and loving Dad (and of course Mom) like yourself.
Thank you! I try to mix it up and practice gratitude because, like you, I'm really concerned about the impending death of Democracy. Hopefully common sense will prevail and blue will not only win, they embrace the popular progressive policies that the public actually wants. Thanks for the comment!
Who ever thought that we would be seriously contemplating “the death of Democracy” largely driven by a fifth column of right wing Fascist loving Billionaires?
Yet, here we are. Thanks for your kind words of encouragement.
No kidding.
Love this! A sweet and fun read, so needed by me today! Love the details, the flow, the banter between you and your disapproving - then won-over - wife. Made me smile and reflect on my four grown kids, and a piece I wrote years ago about letting my kids dress themselves when my kids were little and able to do so. Some of my daughters' choices were as adorable - and questionable - as your Chewbacca suit - mismatched, fancy and casual, cowboy boots and pajama gowns...and my son would always layer two or three shirts and two or three shorts - I have no idea why - and by the end of the day he would be down to his drawers! The neighbors always looked a little sideways at us for this, and the fact that we allowed them to play in the dirt - but they grew up to be responsible, caring adults and citizens! So it all worked out in the end!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane for me! And the great writing model, as always!
Thank you Rae!
When we are young we feel that the path should be clear with no obstacles in our way. The only environment in the natural world where this would hold true is in an arid desert, devoid of all life. So the path disappears again and again from view. There will be many times when we simply do not know how to proceed, where to go. Again, these are the times when we push through despite the fact that we do not know where the path will lead us. These are the times on the journey of life where all we can reasonably do is to simply stand in the ground of our own life, our own being, without trying to abstract ourselves into a strategic future so that we don’t have to deal with the heartbreak of our lives; a vain attempt to escape the reality of our life. Life is complex. Each of us must make his or her own path through life. There are no self-help manuals, no formulas, no easy answers. The right road for one is the wrong road for another. The journey of life is not paved with blacktop; it is not brightly lit and it has no road signs. It is a rocky path through the wilderness. But, if we know exactly where we are going, exactly how to get there, and exactly what we’ll see along the way, we won’t learn anything.
And as we get older, there comes a point in our lives when all we can reasonably do is simply stop and stand where we are and realize that we, ourselves, are the journey- that the mere fact that we sought a path, a way through the darkness is enough. There is beauty and courage in that; the fact that we tried to seek a way through the wilderness. The most important lesson here is that the journey or path, itself, is really the goal- not some faraway abstract destination in the remote future or lofty ideas of becoming ‘enlightened’.
Cute story..lol
That's awesome. I think dads should all have first dibs on Halloween. I'm a mom who did the dad thing with my kid. It's been years ago but I got to dress up as a pirate with her and go trick or treating. She lent me her light up mine craft sword.
I think kids should dress up like pirates and space men and sasquatch until they're 18. We have the whole rest of our lives to wear "respectable" clothing. Moms too!
Yeah I wanna dress up like Gandalf. I'm not a guy but he's one of my favorite literary characters. I'm a LOTR nerd.
Me too, I've been planning to dress that way all the time once my kids graduate from college. When my own kids grow up and start having kids of their own, I expect to show up and bang on the door with my staff and say, "Who is interested in going on an adventure?" Hahaha!
You should do it! I would have been over the moon if Gandalf had knocked on my door.
This is like a Reddit AITA post, only we we only ever enable you and say you are NTA for dressing your daughter up.
Our kids wore PJ's 99% of the time for ease, but both boy and girl wore a mini tuxedo onesie, a knight costume, and Cthulhu knitted masks.
I also sign off on adults wearing costumes as much as possible. True story: I am an emergency physician and once wore a devil's wig on Hallowe'en, with horns.
:) More costume wearing in our society would be a great thing!
Han would approve.
Chewie! He's such a great costume for everyone.
Yes! Ha, good point, are there people in the world who dislike Chewbacca? Like the cat people of some weird planet? They should form a facebook group for people who hate chocolate, bacon, and Chewbacca.
A lovely story! I wish my grandchildren lived in this country and I could dress them up and take them trick-or-treating! Unfortunately they live in a non-Halloween-celebrating country.😕
Well, I guess a lack of Halloween is probably made up for by affordable health care and quality education :)
They do have that in spades!
:) That actually makes me very happy!