I felt awkward writing down narrative descriptions of things my young kid did, but somehow it spurred me to write poetry, for the first time in many, many years. I also used to write down found poems of the words that spilled out of my kid when she was young. The babbling was so much like poetry to me.
Good suggestion: the notebook and notes, however banal our kids cuteness may seem. I wish I'd done it: my youngest of three sons is 32. But I have a second chance with grandkids and I'm gonna do it.
When it's your kids, it's cute, perplexing or novel. But when it's your kids kids, and you're rested, and will be rid of them in three hours, it's precociously cute or head-scratchingly perplexing or Einstein-level novel.
I'll write you something about it. I'm a little jaded since I had such a challenging time with my boys for 10 years after HS. They all became addicts and scared the shit out of me that they'd be lost forever. They've all returned to normalcy, married, great jobs, kids... and things are beyond amazing now (feel like I'm stealing fire from heaven) but man do I feel like I've been through the ringer; I'm damaged goods as a dad. But maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's a gift. Maybe the humility that comes with having seen the darkness is the ultimate blessing. Dunno yet.
I finally got round to doing this when my son was 4 yo, recording anything and everything from Birthdays & Christmases to the cute things he says and what he eats for breakfast. They seem like small things but over time the small things become the big things.
I felt awkward writing down narrative descriptions of things my young kid did, but somehow it spurred me to write poetry, for the first time in many, many years. I also used to write down found poems of the words that spilled out of my kid when she was young. The babbling was so much like poetry to me.
Good suggestion: the notebook and notes, however banal our kids cuteness may seem. I wish I'd done it: my youngest of three sons is 32. But I have a second chance with grandkids and I'm gonna do it.
Oh the grandkid notebook. Now there’s an idea.
When it's your kids, it's cute, perplexing or novel. But when it's your kids kids, and you're rested, and will be rid of them in three hours, it's precociously cute or head-scratchingly perplexing or Einstein-level novel.
Lovely insight. Quite fascinated by how life as a grandfather feels to that of a father. Worth an essay of its own (or more) I’d wager.
I'll write you something about it. I'm a little jaded since I had such a challenging time with my boys for 10 years after HS. They all became addicts and scared the shit out of me that they'd be lost forever. They've all returned to normalcy, married, great jobs, kids... and things are beyond amazing now (feel like I'm stealing fire from heaven) but man do I feel like I've been through the ringer; I'm damaged goods as a dad. But maybe that's a good thing. Maybe it's a gift. Maybe the humility that comes with having seen the darkness is the ultimate blessing. Dunno yet.
A very touching piece.
I finally got round to doing this when my son was 4 yo, recording anything and everything from Birthdays & Christmases to the cute things he says and what he eats for breakfast. They seem like small things but over time the small things become the big things.
Indeed they do. Lovely thought.
I LOVE this Ira Glass quote. Ever since I first heard it.
I come back to it every few months. It’s the gift that keeps giving.
Well done Kevin.