Triple The Dad

As the title of the post indicates, I recently hit the big 40. I thought I was old at 39!  What ever am I going to do? Go on vacation, for one. I turned 40 on vacation, which was awesome. You can learn a lot on vacation. Get perspective. But the first full day back really evaporates 90% of the benefit. The difficulties and struggles are all present, front and center, once again. It really is true what the studies find time and time again: couples with kids are less happy, and the kids are the reason, but you'd still go back and do it all again. Its a complex mystery how something that can be - is - so hard and at times misery inducing can also be something you yearn for almost the minute you leave it. A parents life is harder at almost all times, and yet more full as well. Crazy. As I type this, one of my kids is downstairs screaming for me. Screaming.  And I just saw him literally 2 minutes ago. When I was going away, I got it. He was upset we were leaving. Its under...

Some people get it; some people don't. I'm an Eagles fan and so Emmitt Smith was never my favorite player. I rooted against him and his team countless times. But he gets it. I'll bring up a sort of related point in a minute, but first: When asked if Smith would let his son play football - a big question that former players face these days - he said yes. Here is what he said: “ Why would I steal his passion from him ?” Smith said. “I never made him play football. He had many choices, options. I love watching him play basketball. Football, I get nervous just like any other parent. And I’m concerned for him just like any other parent. But his goals are his goals, and my job is to help him reach it and protect him when he needs protection. And so to take another kid’s passion from them is just not right. I don’t think it’s right. It’s like me taking your passion from you, telling you, ‘You cannot do this.’ When you want to do it. Especially if it’s right. It’s good for...