I Own All of These Things

Because there are an infinite number of Websites, there is, of course, the “Top 5 Worst Baby Shower Gifts.” My favorite: the peepee teepee. The one I wished I was shocked existed: baby high heels. The one I actually owned (blame the ex): the baby-wipe warmer. Anyone out there have stuff that should have made …

Viva the European Welfare State!

Life is no less complicated in Europe, of course: people die, divorce, and occasionally find themselves imprisoned in Austrian dungeons. But the German government is making at least one part of life a little easier: parenting. I just got back from a week in Berlin and beyond visiting friends with babies, all of whom rely, …

The Dad I Had: Nightmare Edition

I want you to know, first of all, that I hate dreams. In fiction, they’re too often used to convey psychological depth. And in reality, we stupidly rely on them to explain subconscious desires. But this one has stuck with me so long, and speaks to so many conscious issues I have, that I have …

‘The Favorite Model of Your Child’

Let’s not get into how I found myself searching the Internet for the phrase “child catapult.” I was. Deal with it. It yielded some rather interesting stuff: Freeplanstobuildacatapult.net. Interesting site. Links to how one might build paintball guns, bazookas, and land mines. Nothing on catapults. The Assembly Required Blog offers a link to a “free …