Television is spoiling me as a parent

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Daniel D.

Not in the way you’re thinking.

We now return you to your semi-regular, non-random-Harry-Potter-theory blog posts… for now. Television, screen-time, video games, they’ve all become a very hot-topic issue for modern parents as we struggle with the question of “how much is too much?” Attempting to balance entertainment and education through digital platforms which nullify interpersonal communication is often blamed for lack of cultural and situational awareness that (at least according to the media) seems to pervade many millennial behaviors.

And that’s really just a fancy way of “kids these days play too many video games. Grumblemumble.” Continue reading →

Death and Dumbledore.

Posted on August 8, 2015 by Daniel D.

As most folks know, I am what many would term a Harry Potter enthusiast. If you didn’t know that already, well, you will after reading this.

(It’s obviously been awhile since I’ve felt the desire to write about much of anything, so I took a ridiculous “Harry Potter Theory” that Becky sent me as a sign that it was once again time to think, reflect, compose, and write.)

Recently, I was made aware of a popular fan theory on the website Reddit that put forth the hypothesis that the “Three Brothers” story is meant to represent the characters Voldemort, Snape, and Harry. It’s not a real stretch, really; Voldemort craves power and the Elder Wand, Snape yearns for his lost love Lily (represented by the Resurrection Stone), and Harry desires nothing more than… his dad’s Invisibility Cloak? Continue reading →

Thank you, NFL.

Posted on October 5, 2014 by Daniel D.

Sometimes change is inevitable.

Being from Texas, Football (yes, capital “F”) is an important part of our culture. You notice when you’re young that churches let out so that folks have enough time to do their after-service socializing and studying and still make it home in time for kickoff. In middle school, there’s a good chance that your family and your friends’ families attend one if not more local high school games to cheer for your future educational home. Friday nights in high school START at the game… and end wherever and whenever highschoolers decide to end them. Continue reading →

Epic moments in teaching, Chapter 4

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Daniel D.

In honor of two former students’ engagement!

I first met my wife on the second day of seventh grade. She showed up in my 7th period study hall, blonde haired, blue-eyed, and covered in freckles (my eternal weakness). I resolved at that moment to do everything I could to win this new beauty’s affection, and although it may have taken me 6 years, she finally decided that I was worth spending time with.

I suppose that’s not entirely true. We did have a brief tryst our freshman year of high school that ended with my heart and soul torn out and stomped on and her self-esteem at an all-time high, but we don’t really need to go into that, do we? Continue reading →

Dear Central Market,

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Daniel D.

Open letters to corporate entities… an internet tradition since 1997!

Back when I was young and innocent, I used to enjoy my shopping trips to Central Market. I would slink and strut through the aisles upon aisles of organic produce and cheeses that I couldn’t afford, dreaming of the day when I would be able to afford to shop at a store that carried 3 different types of eggplant. Continue reading →

Take the quiz

Posted on August 15, 2014 by Daniel D.

Consider this a counterpoint to my recent Disney fluff pieces.

One of the stranger things that happened to me while on our cruise was that I became completely fascinated by the Disney Princesses. While on board our family took the time to meet Cinderella, Belle, Anna, Snow White, and Disney’s newest addition, Princess Sofia and her creepily oversized and nightmare-inducing head. Continue reading →

THE Vacation

Posted on August 13, 2014 by Daniel D.

Someone tell the Mouse to send me a check.

During my layoff from writing I’ve managed to neglect several of our major family events and milestones that have occurred over the last 12 months. My son has started playing soccer and taking swim lessons. My daughter is finally talking, thank goodness. We’ve begun and even completed several pressing house projects, including builing a playscape in our backyard. We’ve celebrated, cried, gotten sick and better, and watched the-movie-that-shall-not-be-named at least 50 times.

Perhaps the most impressive thing that we managed was to take a true family vacation (Mom, Dad, 3-year-old boy, 20-month baby girl, Nana, and Granddad) that didn’t suck the life out of all of us and make us hate each other for the rest of eternity. Continue reading →

The “F” word

Posted on August 2, 2014 by Daniel D.

The touching tale of how one simple word can run your kids’ lives.

As many parents know, there exists a particular word in the English language that, once uttered, cannot be put back into the proverbial word jar. In fact, the moment that this specific word passes over your vocal chords and out of your clenched lips, it becomes the sole focus of your child’s life and will be repeated over… and over… and over… until the end of time as we know it. If you can, try to imagine a CD player or iPod with just one track – a track is only 3 seconds long – that is stuck on repeat for all eternity.

Obviously, you never say the word on purpose; it just sort of happens when you’re not thinking. Continue reading →

Stay at Home Dan

Irreverent, Irrelevent, and Irrational Musings from a Stay-at-home Father