Rainwater harvesters, Berkeley, CA.
Plenty to write about, especially post-Dad 2.0 conference in Austin. Ultra-short version: the future looks bright, in the caregiving men working to expand and richly populate parenting discourse realm; I couldn’t be happier that dads writing their parenting experiences online are growing a community; and I was really honored to be able to participate in this inaugural gathering. I was particularly excited to have been able to connect with–however briefly–folks I really love reading, like Andy Hinds, Jeremy Adam Smith, Mike Adamick, and Jim Lin. And meet folks I look forward to reading, especially Jason Sperber and my panelmates (see ’em here). My whole sense of hopefulness for the future of boys and men was lifted immeasurably by a panel moderated by BlogHer Editor-in-Chief Stacy Morrison, and featuring Jeremy Adam Smith, Frederick Marx, William Pollack, and Alan Heisterkamp.
However! No time to wax descriptive, reflective, or analytical! I’m solo parenting this week (Mama’s off singing an oratorio in the Midwest, you know, the usual), so the little crumbs of discretionary time I have to pick at outside of work hours have been up and carried away by ants. Okay, not ants, these people, pictured above. Way better than ants.
Great photo! While this weather has been a real downer for our dog Toby, we’ve noticed a lot more parents out and about with the kids who seem to revel in the rain. Glad you enjoyed the summit. We got to meet Jeremy Adam Smith when he and his co-editor of Rad Dads did a talk at our shop. They too gave us hope for the future, and a few good laughs.
Bought me a copy of Rad Dad offa Jeremy in my last moments at the conference! Ate it up entirely before my plane touched down on California tarmack! Hope for the future: as restorative as rain, yep.
I love everything about this picture, but especially this: no matter how the adults in their lives have provided every sensible protection from the weather, young people are out to experience the world for themselves.
The pairing of conference report and rain catchment system also seems apt. There are individual drops of life-sustaining elements out there… a good conference can collect enough of them for a deep and quenching drink.
Hey, LD, it was lovely meeting you at Dad 2.0. I’m enjoying poking around here. I also thought the panel on boys and men boded well for the future.