Dads Read Too

JER: “ LAWRENCE: the bunny who wanted to be naked ” by Vern Kousky is all about expectations, letting our children inhabit their own experiences, and letting go (see the Rupi Kaur poem posted 28 January 2019). There is an amazing scene in the movie “Truman Show” where Truman realizes that there might be another audience outside of his reality, which leads him to ask his spouse: “who are you talking to [Meryl]?” Whenever @americanhygge or I start to forget what or who is important in any given moment, we ask each other this question, as if to emphasize that maybe a really cute but uncomfortable outfit might be more about our own conspicuous consumption and pecuniary emulation and less about our kids being confident and happy in their own clothing decisions #keepingupwiththejoneses #veblen

JER: “ LEAVE ME ALONE! ” by Vera Brosgol is a book I have enjoyed for awhile, but it is taking on new meaning two weeks into COVID-19 required home schooling, teleworking, and parenting in close quarters.  Winter is coming, and the very important knitting wasn’t getting done: the grandchildren didn’t understand the importance of keeping the yarn rolled up, of keeping it out of the baby’s mouth, of not hitting it with a stick, etcetera.  On her way to finding a quiet place to finish her important work, she encounters bears, mountain goats who all agreed that the red balls of yarn were the best snack, and little green moon-men with handheld scanners that went “beep boop”, until she finally finds the perfect place to be ALONE. Stay strong parents of the world, find a place to be alone - if needed, we will get through this.