fathers

Death Over Peppermint Tea

What would I be bold enough to tell death if I invited him to join me for a chat over a cup of warm peppermint tea?

As soon as I walk into the gym I feel as if all eyes are on me saying, “You don’t belong here with your chubby belly and flabby frame.” Like Harry Potter, I wish to hide beneath an invisibility cloak so I can go about my workout unnoticed. Since these cloaks only exist in magicalContinue reading “What Do You See?”

Building Bravery

Sam had both arms wrapped tightly around his mother as she opened the door on his first day of preschool. He took a quick peek at the classroom before seeking refuge behind her again. Sam knew his mom was going to leave. She’d been telling him for weeks how much fun he would have atContinue reading “Building Bravery”

My Lap

Tonight my daughter crawled into my lap. I could tell something was bothering her, but I’d learned that prying often led to her withdrawing like a turtle deep into a protective shell where I could not reach her. But tonight when the house was silent and dark she crawled into my lap. She is nineteenContinue reading “My Lap”

These Hands

These hands with veins like aged snakes and wrinkles gray are getting old But once these hands were small and smooth and held a father’s hand. These hands have blocked the blows of man and faith that tried to confine. But the vastness in these hands cannot be caged. These hands have let go untilContinue reading “These Hands”

I See You

“Mom, come watch this video that’s going viral,” my daughter said. I watched the video of Chris Ulmer, an enthusiastic teacher, speaking directly to each student in his class. He had the youthful energy of a teacher still fresh with the notion that teachers can change lives. “You are funny.” “You are an amazing student,”Continue reading “I See You”