Santa is gone, but dad is still watching

“Because I Said So” column for The Commercial Appeal

January 7, 2009

The Christmas holidays are over.

Do you know how I know this? Because the lights have been pulled down from the front of the house, the tree is lying at the curb, there are no sweets baking in the kitchen and the trash talking from my children is in full swing.

The kids got a Wii for Christmas. It’s the first appearance of a video game in our home in the 12 years we’ve had kids and they are suddenly competitive. They have quickly, in the malleable nature of smallish children, become expert runners, jumpers, skiers, bowlers and kung-fu fighters.

And experts at bragging and talking smack and, frankly, it’s beginning to hurt my feelings … (read more)