Don’t Panic. Affirm, celebrate, and support.
I am a father, writer, marathoner, and teacher. Each title uniquely describes my experiences, and I especially enjoy looking for patterns between these roles. I believe these moments open a window where people can be brought together.
My son nearly died at birth. I realized that everything I did from that point forward would start and end with him in mind. So, thank you for reading about our wonderful way of life.
Where I Come From
Rather than describe my background in a typical fashion, I will gladly share by stating, “ I am from…” statements. …
Drop-off and pick-up time are like scenes from the ‘Twilight Zone’ Monday through Friday. A few blocks from daycare, I slowly wind down the volume to our quickly aging Kia. If you pulled up next to me just a few minutes prior, you would’ve caught a glimpse of me matching the lyrical flow of several 90’s rappers. I’m likely to park near a matching his/her Audi or Tesla on any given day. I remind myself, “your family deserves to experience the same privileges they do.”
Who are “they”?
They are marketing agents, consultants, lawyers, and associate professors. They are predominantly…
Someone has to give, and that someone is me.
My son is screaming at the top of his lungs. It’s as if I’ve ripped away all that matters to him in the world. In reality, his “Hickory Dickory Dock” song was glitching on Spotify.
Who knows? Maybe that is all that matters to him.
We’re making our way home, and it’s been a great day. No major tantrums come to mind and the kid turned out to be a natural ice skater. He’s barely halfway to three, and I can’t stop bragging about the little booger.
But this ain’t one…
Ten years ago, I set out for a timed mile run. The sky was clear of West Texas dirt, but the road was paved straight to torment. By the time I finished, I collapsed in front of my college apartment. My elapsed time was 10:08.
At 19 years of age, I was unable to break the ten-minute barrier and I almost earned myself a trip to the hospital. In fact, I recall hearing sirens in the background, hoping an ambulance felt my body’s distress call and was on its way to rescue me.
Why I Timed Myself
My running career…
You are the difference-maker.
One by one, cameras slowly awaken, and bright-eyed faces await on the other end — some excited, others bordering anxious and reluctant. I close my eyes softly, inhale deeply, and press the video button. With a glued smile, I happily greet each student by the first name. The class has officially begun.
If my camera were on 15 minutes earlier, you’d see me rushing to open my front door, feeding the pets, and glancing over our learning plan for the day. For the last hour, I’ve been playing chauffeur to our one-car family, driving my son…
My biological dad died in a bizarre accident, which some believe was an attempt to commit insurance fraud. My single mother raised me the best she knew how, but I had no real-life male role model to reference. That can be particularly challenging for a Latina mother. Mr. Feeney from Boy Meets World was the closest I ever had to a mentor. And I made sure to check-in with him every school morning around 6 am throughout elementary and middle school.
Fast forward twenty-nine years.
At the ripe age of two and a half, my son has a real affinity…
When I was growing up, my stepfather used to refer to me as “boy.” “Boy, go get me a beer” or “You’re gonna learn real quick, boy.” And while I absolutely despised my name being replaced by a lesser, more so, I hated being told that I knew better. In fact, the only truth I knew was to trust his words and actions. He was the type of man whose word had to be taken with a large shaker of salt.
So, what’s the big deal anyway?
I’ve seen or heard this saying weaponized with such ease among parents, and…
