Bookmark
Joe Biden: Once a single dad
Whether you agree on his politics or not, Joe Biden made a statement tonight in the debate that rang true. No one any longer can insist that a mom can somehow understand what it is to be a parent. Moms and dads today find themselves in new situations, as Biden did when his wife and infant daughter were killed in a car crash in 1972. He was suddenly left with two young sons to care for by himself. Luckily, most dads don’t have to endure that kind of trouble, but more and more are staying at home full or part-time to be with their kids, and they do understand what role good mothering and fathering play to the develop of children.
Popularity: 1%
Home Alone Dad
Rarely do I agree with David Frum, of the National Review, but his Saturday column had me nodding in agreement.
Frum, in this column, examines what goes on in countless homes when the family, minus dad, goes on a vacation, if only for a few days. While some dads, take this opportunity to veer off into uncharted territory, the vast majority of us wallow deeper into the rut we likely already enjoy. In his case, it’s more time at the gym and night after night of rotisserie chicken. When my family goes away, it’s pizza and beer for dinner and a movie, or two, every day. The pizza is always the same, as is the popcorn, though, luckily, I do change up the movie for a little variety. As Frum notes,
You know the saying: “Moderation in all things, including moderation”? My variant: “Variety is the spice of life — and of the most flavorful of those varieties is repetition.”
Frum enjoys being able to be himself at least for a few days, which involves listening to audio books non-stop without being ridiculed by his teenage son.
It’s pointless to be ashamed of the natural man tendency toward habit and routine. We don’t need to move the couch around the living room every six months, or renovate the kitchen. Almost all things are better left alone and in their place. Consistency just gives us more time to do the things we like to do, which usually doesn’t involve long afternoons in furniture showrooms. You can’t say women are more aggressive or pushy; they just often push hard on the stuff they want, much of which might seem irrational to us.
Frum ends his observations with this gem:
A rewrite of a slogan often seen on kids’ sweatshirts aptly sums up the relationship between the male animal and his spouse: She’s not bossy. She just has better ideas.
Popularity: 1%
Spiderwick Chronicles – a good movie for kids and dads
Spiderwick Chronicles is out on DVD and a surprise hit in our household. When this movie came out last year, I thought it looked a little goofy and it seemed to be in and out of theatres in short order. Seeing it at home was the first time for us, and it was a happy surprise for both me and my eight year-old. We both enjoyed the story, the action sequences and the funny parts.
The story is an imaginative tale of a single mom and her three kids who go to live in a mansion they soon find to be under attack by goblins out to get a book that details the world of creatures ordinary people can’t see.
While the movie has scenes that make it a bit too scary for little kids (7 and under), my slightly older daughter enjoyed even the attack sequences at the end of the film without being frightened. Be aware that near the end (attention: plot spoiler), the kids’ dad arrives in what looks to be a sweet family reunion moment. However, the father is really an ogre in disguise, and the movie’s hero, Jared, stabs him in the stomach, much to the horror of the rest of the family. This might be a traumatic moment for small children (and some dads).
Here are a few of the date points my daughter (age eight) gave for the movie:
1. Movie is best for: Kids over seven and dads who are willing to enjoy some fantastical entertainment.
2. Favorite part: When the little elf is mad, if you give him honey, he gets nice again.
3. Favorite character: The little elf
4. Main character: Jared, the brother who discovers the Spiderwick Chronicles book.
4. Lesson of the film: Sometimes knowledge gets you into trouble, as Daddy says, “Curiosity killed the cat.” Knowledge can get you out of trouble as well.
Popularity: 1%
Books for kids to celebrate father’s day
Some times, rather than a present for themselves, dads just like to see the kids enjoy a new toy or book. Here is a selection of books for young kids where the dad is the star. I’m an old softie when it comes to books and images of dads spending good times with their kids. My daughter has two or three books that feature dads and daughters and it makes me feel very special that she reserves a special place on her shelf for them. While we have not read any of the titles listed in this article, I’m going to check them out before next Sunday.
Here’s an excerpt from the Seattle Times Article and the list of books.
One girl likens her dad to a dog. One dad is convinced he’s a bird. Another dad lives away and a fourth works late but has a great lullaby in a wide-ranging selection of children’s books for Father’s Day.
“My Father the Dog” by Elizabeth Bluemle and illustrated by Randy Cecil (Candlewick Press, $6.99, ages 4-7). He scratches, fetches and growls when startled out of a nap. He likes the window rolled down and the breeze on his face during a drive. He pees on a tree and toots on the couch. Yep, this clownish dad is a lot like a dog as his daughter observes, but he’s a loyal, loving one. Bluemle reassuringly promises in a postscript: “This book is not based on my own father. Honest, Dad, it’s not.”
[From Books | Father's Day books celebrate dads of all kinds | Seattle Times Newspaper]
1. 
2. 
3.
4.
5. 
Popularity: 1%
Classic wine book gifts for dads
With just a few days left before dads’ day, here are a few suggestions for wine books you can pick up at the local bookstore or order quickly off Amazon.
1. 
Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book 2008 – This is a classic little volume perfect for sneaky glances while out at a restaurant where you need a reminder on the best years for a French Burgundy. It has seviceable wine pairing suggestions and even a primer on wine glass selection. At $14.95, this is a good bet.
2. 
The World Atlas of Wine Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson – This is a good building block for a strong wine library, as are the following four books.
3. 
The WIne Bible – 19.95 paperback
4. 
Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia – $50.00
5. 
The Oxford Companion to Wine, 3rd Edition – $65
6. 
Oz Clarke’s Grapes and Wines: The definitive guide to the world’s great grapes and the wines they make – $25 paperback. Also writes an annual pocket guide to wine like the Hugh Johnson book.
With more data coming out all the time on the health benefits of wine, especially red, now’s the time to pour and toast, “To your health, Dad.”
Popularity: 1%
