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Author Archives: Jeff Allanach
How losing a job is like losing a tooth
I’m unemployed. I haven’t said those words since Nirvana and Pearl Jam tapped a bulging vein of teen angst 20 years ago and bled it to platinum record sales, but I’m OK with it. Really, I am. Granted, back in … Continue reading
The beginning of something new
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. Oh, I’m sure I’ve made one or two in my 43 years wandering this planet, but I gave up such folly so long ago I can’t remember ever making one. It’s not because I’m … Continue reading
A beautiful daughter gives me plenty to worry about
I recently discovered a Dove commercial that, as a dad to an 8-year-old girl, gives me pause. It’s called “Evolution,” and shows the 60-second transformation of an average-looking woman with straggly hair and a blemished face into a billboard knockout who … Continue reading
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Lessons in losing for a 5-year-old
No one likes losing, but the way we handle loss says almost as much about our character as how we behave when we win. I find teaching that concept to my 5-year-old son more difficult than draining a bathtub with … Continue reading
A reminder from my daughter: Pets are part of the family
I often wring my hands over what gift to buy Karen no matter the occasion, mostly because no gift I buy could ever truly represent my feelings toward my wife of 12 years and the mother of my two children. … Continue reading
Teaching ‘personal safety’ is my job, but schools play a role
I will never understand how some adults can be so void of morality that they sexually abuse children. In fact, I loathe the thought that my kids could one day fall prey to such a heinous act. Our pediatrician surprised … Continue reading
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Teaching a child to ride a bike is easy when they do it themselves
I loved riding my bike as a child. Feeling the wind flow through my hair as I pedaled as fast as my wiry legs would allow gave me the first sense of freedom I can remember. I want my children … Continue reading
Book review: ‘First-Time Dad’ is a keeper for all dads
More than 10 years have passed since I learned I would be a dad, but I will never forget the mix of joy, excitement and trepidation that came with the anticipation of becoming a father. It’s the cliched feeling we … Continue reading
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My date with my daughter
Few dates of my life stand out as memorable, but I hope the one I had on May 14 ranks up there with the first date I had with my wife 15 years ago. Of course, the differences between the … Continue reading
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A date with my daughter
I remember staring down at a plastic stick resting on the bathroom counter waiting for a pink line to appear. The line itself was small (no more than an inch long) and barely visible, but it represented a huge change … Continue reading
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