http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Tue, 5 Feb 2008 22:35:14 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/02/01/133235.php#comment-693404 That ought to wear you out, Phillip. Dave 693404@blogcritics.org Tue, 5 Feb 2008 22:35:14 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/02/01/133235.php#comment-693375 Thanks, Dave. I have three kids, actually, so I'll go through all of this three times. 693375@blogcritics.org Tue, 5 Feb 2008 21:18:45 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/02/01/133235.php#comment-693372 Nice article, Phillip. The answer to your dilemma, of course, is to have another kid. Then you can go through it all one more time. Then again, after you go through the adolescent years you may realize that there's a natural balance to life. Dave 693372@blogcritics.org Tue, 5 Feb 2008 21:15:58 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/02/01/133235.php#comment-692334 Thanks, Josh. I can report mission accomplished: she was surprised by the announcement that I'm taking the afternoon off to reassemble her and her sister's beds into bunkbeds, as she's been wanting. No, no competition at all. It's somehow radically different when it's your own child, but I do think you can get an idea of how it all works. Amazing stuff, life. My wife says I ought not to write such sad things. I say life ought not to be so sad. 692334@blogcritics.org Fri, 1 Feb 2008 16:11:34 EST http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/02/01/133235.php#comment-692293 My niece turns 10 in a few months and while I won't pretend that being an uncle comes within 10 leagues of being a father, it's doing weird things to me for a host of reasons, not the least of which is because I met her aunt (now my wife) within 2 weeks of her birth. It's also doing weird things to me because I'm witnessing a lot of what you describe from a safer distance but close enough to feel pieces of this. It doesn't compare, but this isn't really a competition then, either. Phillip, this is a marvelous piece and you've done a remarkable job of giving voice to something that isn't easily expressed. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Ms. Grace. 692293@blogcritics.org Fri, 1 Feb 2008 15:01:56 EST