The great Mark Twain once said: "Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.". Well, the truth is when it comes to my son, I do mind. And it does matter. Or rather I did mind, and I thought it mattered. Today I'm trying to remind myself of this … Continue reading My autistic son turned 12 today. I need to catch up.
Category: Parenting
My Monday Metrical Musings #112
Starburst The night we sat'neath the starburst skyAnd looked upon the worldCloaked in midnight dark Everything hoveredPerfectly stillAs though in freeze frameLike a window sill We gazed, amazedUp at that vast celestial cloakAnd wondered if it was the same one That fateful night angels awoke The one that birthed a holy babyWrapped in hasty clothsThe … Continue reading My Monday Metrical Musings #112
As another year ends, two silver linings bring hope to one dad’s parenting journey
Sometimes it's hard to put into words how I feel about my sons. Though regular readers here have no doubt seen some of my humble attempts to do that in past blog posts. But this struggle has become even more pronounced as I watch my sons grow year after year and change in ways most … Continue reading As another year ends, two silver linings bring hope to one dad’s parenting journey
Disagree if you will, but it takes courage to be a teacher
Two days ago, I had arguably one of my worst experiences as a teacher in over 20 years. It was another hot and humid Thursday afternoon. After five weeks with them, I knew this wasn't exactly the most exciting class to teach. The students usually looked like droopy petals of a morning glory flower that … Continue reading Disagree if you will, but it takes courage to be a teacher
Parenting in reverse #3 — my mom and aging
Previously I had written about living with my 87-year-old mom and her various health issues. The latest has been her skin condition. For the past several months, we've seen her skin turn dryer, even scalier. And she's been scratching herself almost non-stop every day. Many times to the point of bleeding. To say we've sought … Continue reading Parenting in reverse #3 — my mom and aging
Daily living with autism #10: Science is hard!
Dear Patience I need a healthy dose of you this season. Because I'm not a good parent when it comes to coaching my autistic son during this exam season. Let me explain using just one of his school subjects by way of illustration. Weird Science! Photo by Wilawan Pantukang on Pexels.com The topic we revised … Continue reading Daily living with autism #10: Science is hard!
Father-son bonding #3 — Investing emotionally in children pays the “best dividends”
Yesterday I was sharing with a couple of friends how parenting is analogous to navigating open waters. For currents and weather are often unpredictable, even to the most seasoned of fishermen. The same goes for parenting. Babies don't stay babies. Neither do toddlers and prepubescent boys. They grow. They change. In ways not always predictable. … Continue reading Father-son bonding #3 — Investing emotionally in children pays the “best dividends”
Parenting motivations #15 — how can my sons mature faster?
Looking back, one of my regrets in life is that I didn't mature faster. If I did, perhaps I could have gotten more done before I turned 50 two years ago. So what brought on this sudden sob story you ask? For one, a lifetime of wondering what if I could have turned back the … Continue reading Parenting motivations #15 — how can my sons mature faster?
Parenting Motivations #14 — Am I still a stay-at-home dad? (Part 2)
It's official. Since my last post on this, I've decided: I shall not call myself a "stay-at-home dad" anymore! In fact, technically speaking, I probably couldn't from the very start when I stepped away from a full-time career in 2018. While I had several weeks and months without any work or income thereafter, I did … Continue reading Parenting Motivations #14 — Am I still a stay-at-home dad? (Part 2)
How “The Voice” stirs music and musings within me
TV's most happening music contest The Voice is back this month for its 22nd season. For me, the catchy ditty that ushers each episode says it all: "This Is The Voice!" The best part is I now get to watch it on the Star Channel via my Disney+ subscription. Before, I had to make do … Continue reading How “The Voice” stirs music and musings within me