As part of my ongoing struggle to balance being a good father with being a good husband, good employee, and not going stark raving bats, I’ve recently begun taking the kids out individually once a month for a “Daddy Date.” It has been a load of fun for me to have the one-on-one time with each of them, and is proving helpful for strengthening family bonds and communication.

It’s interesting to see the various things that the kids are excited about doing. Though some of them, like trips to Mr. Gatti’s or the local arcade, are things I would have expected them to enjoy, others have taken me completely by surprise. Abigail has recently developed a rabid enthusiasm for car washes. Our last date, accordingly, included going through the LaserWash and then catching Treasure Planet at the local $2 theater. Emily really likes Chinese buffets, so we’ve been trying out various eateries. Liam has decided that miniature golf is one of the best things in the world, so we’ve gone golfing a couple of times. Maggie still presents some challenges. It seems there are very few things to do after dark with a two-year old. I’ve been taking her to the library a lot, and when it was warm enough, for nature walks down by the river. If anybody has any ideas, please let me know!