Avengers: Endgame opened in theaters across the world. Does it live up to the hype? I’ve seen it and I believe even the most fickle fans will enjoy this movie. But what struck an emotional chord for this viewer aside from the astounding visual theatrics were the personal stories. The ties that bind us all together remain deeply rooted in the idea of family.
Fatherhood
Incredibles 2 makes this Dad Feel like a Superhero
I walked into the movie theater expecting to be entertained by a new superhero story, Incredibles 2. After all, the hugely successful original movie, The Incredibles, presented a perfect blend of heartfelt storytelling, visually stunning animation, and delightful superhero adventure. Still, 14 years have passed since it was released in November 2004. During that time I was a single man about to be wed to my high school sweetheart. Flash forward to the present, I’m married and a father keenly attuned to family life. What’s the bottom line? Disney’s Incredibles 2 delivers all the innovative thrills of the original while exploring the nuances of modern fatherhood.
Being a Dad means Some Assembly Required
Being a Dad requires the assembly of assorted parts both figurative and literal. Relatively speaking, the procreation aspect happens naturally on the path to becoming a father. The transformation from independent man to Dad employs a radically different set of tools. Oddly enough, your own children hold the key to unlocking your heart and mind. There’s no manual available to guide your way. Your journey encompasses the unknown. Yet despite the encroaching fear, an expected truth emerges. We have an innate capacity for love.
Finding Zen in a bowl of Cereal
As long as I’ve been inhabiting this little blue planet, I’ve loved eating cereal. It nourishes me without requiring focus. I’m free to wander in thought. When I return from my mind’s journey the bowl’s empty yet I feel complete. As a Dad, I see this existential pattern forming with my children. They too will experience finding Zen in a bowl of cereal.
Fun Videos from around the Web: Accidents, Blunders, and Calamities
Accidents, Blunders, and Calamities, directed by James Cunnigham, is a black comedy short film by New Zealand’s Media Design School. It’s based on the Edward Gorey book The Gashlycrumb Tinies. A Daddy possum is putting his kids into bed. Naturally, they’d like to hear a story. He obliges by weaving a tale about the biggest danger to animals everywhere—human beings.
Kid Conversations #7
Conversation on the way to school:
7yo: Can we have a dog?
Me: Who would take care of it?
7yo: You I guess. You’re doing an okay job as a Dad.
Off in the distance, my 9yo nods in agreement displaying a rare moment of solidarity with his younger sibling.
The Reluctant Sleeper who would be King of Rest
Starting with the nascent days of my existence on planet earth, obtaining the appropriate amount of rest had never been a priority. Perhaps instinctively, I obsessed over missing out on something. As the years passed I became a father and developed into a light sleeper. Possessing Dad-fueled ninja-like hyper awareness, it would take little more than a child’s inadvertent step on a piece of spilled toasted oats cereal 2 rooms away to awaken me into a state of readiness. Whether I’d actually respond or not or simply go back to sleep is another matter, but I digress. Longterm though, I found myself wading deep in the parental waters of sleep-deprivation. Clearly a change was needed.
Autumn May Be The Best Season of Them All
The start of Autumn does not mean the end of play outside. Children of all ages charge the air with palpable excitement. In many respects, Fall represents the best season of the year in the Northeastern part of the United States.
Cinderella and Fatherhood
I had low expectations for Disney’s “Cinderella”. There was no urgency for me to see this movie. After all, it was just a live action retelling of a well known and some would say woefully anachronistic princess story. Yet there I was, seated beside my 6 year old daughter, inexplicably engaged in the story on an emotional level. The strong bond between Cinderella and her father drew me in sparking contemplation about my little girl’s future happiness. If the world around her comes crashing down, the likelihood of a magic savior seems remote at best. It will ultimately be her own strength that determines her fate. Indeed, she will need to “have courage and be kind.”