I’m still thinking a lot lately about death, about what we leave behind, and how all of it weaves into this wild, beautiful thing we call dad life. Two poems keep surfacing in my mind for my own hypothetical funeral: John Donne’s Death Be Not Proud (read my reflection on it here) and Percy Bysshe… Continue reading Ozymandias: A Dad Poem, but (Again) Not Mine
Tag: children
Random Musings #16
A dad realizes he’s stopped truly holding his older kids, vows to start again before it’s too late.
Thirty-Four: Chasing Change: A Dad’s Thoughts on New Jobs, Big Moves, and Holding Onto Home
(This one hits a little differently than some of my other posts. Fair warning.) Life as a dad of six is a whirlwind of chaos, messes, and noise, but it’s also overflowing with love. Lately, I’ve been grappling with the idea and possibility of some really big changes: my wife’s seriously chasing a new job,… Continue reading Thirty-Four: Chasing Change: A Dad’s Thoughts on New Jobs, Big Moves, and Holding Onto Home
Thirty: The Annual Back to School Rollercoaster
As summer fades like the last glow of a firefly, I’m sitting here writing this post, feeling the weight of back-to-school season settle in. The end of summer always hits me hard, with those glorious days of no alarm clock, filled with spontaneous adventures or late nights watching baseball games. Those moments of pure, unhurried… Continue reading Thirty: The Annual Back to School Rollercoaster
Random Musings #13
Let’s call this one, On Parenthood and Perspective I was scrolling through Instagram soaking in a few moments of me time when something hit me like a ton of bricks: why are so many parents out there using the platform to just dunk on their kids? It’s all rants about the messes, the tantrums, the… Continue reading Random Musings #13
Twenty-Eight: Summer’s Exit Stage Left: A Teacher’s Bittersweet Farewell
Summer 2025, you’ve pulled a fast one. One day I’m lounging with my six kids, basking in the glory of no lesson plans, and now it’s practically gone. As an English teacher, I get two precious months off to soak up family time, but this first summer as a family of eight? It’s slipped through… Continue reading Twenty-Eight: Summer’s Exit Stage Left: A Teacher’s Bittersweet Farewell
Random Musings #12
I’ve been sitting with these thoughts for several days now, trying hard to find the right words, but they slip through my head every time I try to pin them down. The pain and suffering of the parents who lost their children in the recent central Texas floods is a weight I can’t fully grasp,… Continue reading Random Musings #12
Twenty-Seven: A Day of Faith, Family, and Fun: Our Catholic Retreat Experience
Last Saturday, our family embarked on a soul-nourishing journey at an all-day Catholic outdoor retreat, the first one we’ve ever attended as a family. It was certainly a day to remember! From praying together in the presence of Our Lord to a serene rosary walk with a stunning replica of the Our Lady of Guadalupe… Continue reading Twenty-Seven: A Day of Faith, Family, and Fun: Our Catholic Retreat Experience
Twenty-Six: Reflections on a Restaurant Compliment
Last week, my family and I visited a historic local restaurant, an amazing old-fashioned delicatessen with lots of natural light and the comforting aroma of fresh bread and pasta wrapped in a century old building. The kids, as usual, were their lively selves, chatting and giggling, but mindful of their manners. We’ve worked hard to… Continue reading Twenty-Six: Reflections on a Restaurant Compliment
Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Our house is small, much smaller than most people would probably believe. I know people with half the kids I have who live in a house that’s literally 3.5 times the size of our house (not a joke or an exaggeration either) because they “outgrew” their previous house which was only twice the size of… Continue reading Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House