It was just over a year ago, around 11:30pm on March 3rd, when our daughter was born. I remember walking in the rain with my sleeping son in a stroller. We headed to the birth house desperate to make it one time. I made it just as she was crowning. It felt as if they … More Welcome to One
Thursday evening. I was just starting to relax at home after a full day of teaching when a message came in from a supervisor. Apparently Prime Minister Abe had made an announcement that schools should be closed. I work at a private school, which means we are technically exempt from following such an order. But … More Love in the Time of Corona (1)
Last fall I was helping run a youth camp training. The focus was on preparing new staffers to be camp counselors for a short term camp here in Japan. During one of the down times one of the other organizers and I got into a discussion on what I’ll call “active parenting.” But that isn’t … More The Character of Babies
I’m pretty beat. Sure, part of it is work. But the better part is due to some pretty serious playing around with my kids. Basically from the time I picked them up until the little one needed to be out to bed almost two hours later is was just sheer fun but ones with daddy. … More Friday Night
It really is the small things that add so much delight. Our little girl, who is a few weeks shy of turning one, has seemed to know her name for a while now, but she picked up something new. Over the weekend we found out if we call her name she’ll raise here hands and … More A New Skill
I’m sitting on the train listening to blues. Gary Clark, Jr. if you are curious. Today has been a day. Long and tiring. It a bad day, although there were moments in it that certainly weren’t good. My four year old is having a difficult time that time moves in even when he doesn’t want … More End of the Day
I’m a little bit glowing today. My little girl is growing up so fast. She just turned 11 months, and now we have her first word. Earlier in the week we heard that she might be speaking from her teachers. It was nice to hear, but we weren’t really sure. Of course we trust the … More First Words
I’m a day early. Tomorrow my wee little lass will be 11 months old. Sometimes the cliches feel like the most accurate of phrases. The time has indeed gone by so fast. The amount she has changed in these 11 months is startling. Except I guess not. I mean, it’s all natural. But it feels … More 11 Months of Airi
Okay, so, we were at lunch. That’s me and Rika, my wife. We went to a curry place near us, one of those places that seems like every time you go I. There is a new crew working there so that each time the flavors are different. Today it was tasty, but what will it … More Opening Up
Like most families, the Mrs. and I feel like we are constantly in motion. Even the days that are supposed to be relaxing, are generally put to use letting us recover from the days previous. Both of us are forever filling in what little unstructured time we have with more work, especially the work that … More Sunday is for Family
Deadly Troubadour 