Metrics for Successful Parenting

Monday, January 30, 2006 0 comments
In my new job at a new company, there is almost an obssesive concern over having specific metrics to measure the level of success (or failure) of projects. These, apparently, can even be applied to such subjective and nearly intangible qualities as customer satisfaction. (I'm not saying that this isn't important, just that the data often seems as contradictory as it is useful.)

I've seen similar methods applied to education and, in various periodicals, parenting. There is a long laundry list of items they try to measure, but in terms of my son, it has always come down to this.

When he's older and out on his own, preparing to raise his own family, do I want him to remember me as the father that made lots of money and could shower him with toys? Or do I want him to think of me as the Dad who took long bicycle rides with him, played video games, and journeyed out on imaginary adventures on the playground?

The choice has always seemed simple to me.
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Making a Long Story Short . . .

Friday, January 27, 2006 0 comments
My current writing project began as a short story for a project at Josh's school. They had scheduled an event where family members and students were to create a short narrative—real or fictional—and read it to the other families. The goal behind this exercise was to alleviate some of the fear students might have about expressing themselves through their writing. It seemed like a fine idea to me!

I chose the option of taking a real-life event and adding fictional elements to it. My original plan was to develop a short, 2000-word or so short story with humorous touches and a Twilight Zone-like twist at the end. It started out so well . . .

The writing presentation event was scaled back significantly (re-scheduled from the evening to during the day-making it more of a challenge for working parents like myself to participate) and Josh has now changed schools. The former was probably a good thing because currently the story is nearly 15,000 words long and will probably be close to 20,000 words when it's completed. Once I got started on the general story concept, it kept taking interesting directions and I know better than to tune out my muse when she's on a roll.

I had originally hoped to edit a 2,000-word version out of it for reading at the presentation, but now I don't need to. I still think that sometimes, though, the muse just doesn't know when to shut up!
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Writing as Work Therapy

Wednesday, January 25, 2006 1 comments
I have been writing since my elementary school days. I'm the kid who, when asked to write a 1- to 2-page short story would turn in a 8- or 10-page opus. Things just progressed from there.

Lately, I have turned my attention to novel-length works, with the occasional foray into teleplays. Most of my recent fiction projects are thinly-disguised tales that I like to refer to as "writing as work therapy". It's amazing how you can sluice off stress-filled situations by casting real-life heroes and villians alike into the roles of starship captains and alien beasts!

I highly recommend it--and it's much less expensive than traditional therapy methods. The added bonus is that, should you sell the story, it can make money for you as well. Suffering might be good for your soul, but it can also be good for your bank balance!
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