I was like a lot of kids right out of high school, no clue what to do and not trying too hard to figure it out. Growing a beard and playing video games had been the plan but about three months after graduation, my parents caught on. “Jeff, your mother and I are okay with […]
The last few months of the millennium weren’t exactly a lucrative time to be a real estate agent. At least, not for me. Too many of my meager commissions ended up going to bar tabs and cab rides. Dave, my best friend and longtime drinking buddy, had his own unique way of putting things into […]
Originally published as I Never Imagined Taking My Son to School the First Time Would Be So Brutal – Fatherly.com 10/15/18 My son and I stared down the long linoleum hallway at the horde of kids and parents rushing around in confusion. It was pandemonium: children crying, grownups stressing, and teachers’ assistants literally running around […]
(Originally published on Big Easy Magazine – 9/1/18) There was a commercial on the other day that caught my eye, which is surprising considering I never listen to commercials. They tend to induce a mild state of hypnosis while I wipe the drool off my chin. This one was different, though. It was about a […]
(Originally published on New Orleans Moms Blog – 7/24/18) “Hey, Super Dad!” A construction worker clapped and hollered in my direction as if The Lion King was wrapping up at the Saenger. For a moment, I was confused. Me? Super Dad? I guess if I saw a man carting around a toddler in a stroller with an infant in a […]
Recent studies show that yelling at children can have traumatic effects on their development and often leads to aggressive behavior later in life. However, there is overwhelming evidence that yelling can also be an effective tool for silencing an insolent child. So how does a parent keep command and still avoid those pitfalls? Dr. Barbara […]
Principal Marvin Jenkins Oakwood Elementary New Orleans, LA Dear Principal Jenkins, My son Shane, a student in Mrs. Brown’s Tiny Tots class, brought something to my attention that I find gravely concerning. It appears your campus is being overrun by rivers of what he described as “bubbly and super-duper hot lava!” I was aghast. How […]
I was out for a walk with my kids when I came upon this car parked across the sidewalk. The driver made sure to pull right up to a trailer in front of him, leaving only inches to spare. I thought Well, this is a challenge! No boring walk for us today. We have a puzzle […]
This is a photograph of the kid’s playroom. Not exactly, but pretty close. Toys have been buried so long they’re considered collector’s items. I’m going to dig until I find something worth throwing on eBay. Maybe a rare Beanie Baby or limited edition Transformer. The point is my kids will never know. They’re too young […]
One thing’s for sure, staying at home with a three year old and a nine month old is by far the hardest thing I’ve done in my life. The Bar Exam doesn’t even come close. With kids, life is a series of routines. Eat, nap, play. Eat, nap, play. On and on. At the same […]
Adam Dennis - Writer 