by Bill LaBrie | Mar 24, 2015 | Parenting
Ahh, the sound of teaching kids skiing: “SKIS! YOU LISTEN TO ME! YOU DON’T LISTEN TO ME! AND I HATE YOU! AND I HATE . . . GRRR . . . SNOW!!!!” I sat on the bunny slope in my ski pants, watching from a safe distance about...
by Bill LaBrie | Feb 6, 2015 | Parenting
One drawback of growing up with “creative” parents: Being rebellious is hard work. But I found a way. My dad thought most manual labor was below him. He was a musician, songwriter, playwright, and occasional vacuum-cleaner salesman (No lie: You do what you...
by Bill LaBrie | Jan 26, 2015 | Parenting
I had an essential experience of fatherhood yesterday. For the first time my son and I rode bicycles together. But the experience was oddly bittersweet. My dad and I never rode together. I learned to ride a bike on my 7th birthday. Dad lifted the pre-assembled...
by Bill LaBrie | Dec 1, 2014 | Parenting
Typical conversation around my house a few days a week: Son: “Does an Uzi shoot .32’s?” Me: “I suppose you could get them rechambered for that, but stock they’re 9mm Luger–most of them. That’s close to a .38. Why would...
by Bill LaBrie | Sep 22, 2014 | attachment, Coping, Parenting, Poetry
“To My Son” Let no one make of you a thing to be prized, Nor cast off once inconvenient. Let nothing dim your curiosity, Nor bitter your intentions. Know that love and love alone Grew you and sustained you, And your father only ever claimed to be...
by Bill LaBrie | Sep 14, 2014 | attachment, Coping, Education, Essays, Parenting, Psychology, recovery, Therapy
The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self by Alice Miller My rating: 5 of 5 stars As a child I grew to shun and hate the label “gifted.” As I aged, I never really understood why. I had forgotten –or rather never understood —...