From the category archives:

son

The Promise of a Father

I was sitting in my office when my sister called.
“Dad will be in town next month,” she said.
“Why is he coming to town?” I asked. My father and I hadn’t seen or talked to each other in years. He gets the obligatory Christmas card, but I rarely communicate with him otherwise.
“He’s never seen your son, [...]

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Did You Hear the One About Underpants?

My 6-year-old son, N, is a master of the one-liner. He keeps my wife and me in stitches with his witty observations. He hasn’t realized that his wit and charm naturally draw people to him. He is convinced that telling jokes is his key to developing friendships. Unfortunately, he is no Chris Rock. Here is [...]

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The Live-in Boyfriend, The Monkey, and The Books

For much of my life, we had no TV. When we finally got one, it was a tiny black and white set with a wire hanger antenna and broken knobs. Therefore, my main form of entertainment was reading.
I loved going to the comic book store with my cousin. We’d spend hours perusing the boxes to [...]

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Lover and a Fighter

My 2-year-old son X packs a punch. His older brother, N, and teddy bear, Tex, both found out the hard way.
N was X’s first victim. X doesn’t suffer fools well and N was doing something that displeased him. X tried screaming, but N wouldn’t stop his annoying behavior. After a while, X could take no [...]

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Small Talk

“Bibul Kool”
Those words touch my heart whenever my 2-year old son, X, says them. Let me translate for those who don’t speak X. It means “bible school.” These two words give my wife, K, and I hope that our son will be able to speak.
K and I have been concerned about X’s speech since he [...]

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From the Mind of a Six-Year Old

As summer ends and fall begins, my family has many special occasions to celebrate. My wedding anniversary and my 2-year old son X’s birthday have just passed and now it’s time to celebrate my son, N’s turning six.
N is a precocious child who keeps my wife, KayEm, and I laughing and scratching our heads in [...]

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Fear and Loathing and the First Day of School

“I’m scared!” My daughter Nee shrieked. “I’m scared!” Tears poured down her face as her body trembled. My wife K tried to console her, but nothing worked. It was as if Nee were in a fear-induced trance.
“What’s wrong, Nee?” K asked again and again. “Tell, Mommy so I can help you.” After several more minutes [...]

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On Purpose Accident

One day, my wife, KayEm, called me at work to inform me that I needed to talk to my 5-year-old son, N. Whenever I need to talk to a child, one of three things has occurred:
1. The child is sad/disappointed and needs some encouragement
2. The child misses me because I’m away on business
3. The child [...]

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Father’s Day 2009: The Day I Became a Father

Being a father is the most rewarding and challenging job a man can have. God blessed me with my first child eight years ago. I was frightened and inexperienced and stumbled through the first few months until I gained my bearings. Since then, my wife, KayEm, and I have had two more children and I [...]

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Building Boys by Building Toys

For Christmas, my 5-year old son, N, received a Lego Coast Guard 4WD & Jet Scooter set. It had been languishing in his closet until he rediscovered it.
“Daddy, Daddy,” he screamed. “Can we build this?” I was a bit reluctant because what he really meant was, “Daddy, will you build this for me while I [...]

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The Graduate

Where does the time go? It seems that only yesterday my son, N, was a mere infant in my arms. Now he is a preschool graduate.
His school even had a graduation ceremony for all the students who were entering kindergarten next year. I find the notion of a preschool graduation to be a bit silly. [...]

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Authentic Manhood

Walking through my old neighborhood, I noticed one of my old friends, Vando, walking toward me.
“What’s up, man,” he said as we shook hands. A few years had passed since I had seen Vando, but his weathered face made it seem as if it were decades.
“Nothing much,” I replied. “What’s been up with you?”
“Same ole, [...]

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For Momma

Here is a Mother’s Day poem that I wrote for my mother:
For Momma
For Momma’s eyes when they made me behave
In a way words never could.
For Momma’s hands that could rub the hurt
From my heart.
For Momma’s heart, loving me
Unconditionally, covering
Me in a warm glow that said everything
Would be all right even if she did have
To catch [...]

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Happy Mother’s Day: Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

Last week my wife, K, and son, N, went shopping for Mother’s Day cards. While K searched for the perfect cards for her mother, godmother, and sister, N decided to browse further down the rack. A few minutes later, N returned looking confused.
“Mommy?” he asked handing her a card featuring a picture of a dead [...]

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Mocha Dad Goes Camping

Okay. I did it.
I went camping. Not the air conditioned cabin type of camping. I’m talking about the sleeping on the ground in a tent kind of camping. I know you’re surprised. So am I. But when my five year old son, N, looked at me with those big brown eyes and begged to go [...]