I’ll admit it. I started this thing with grand delusions of peppering a skep-themed domain with well thought-out essays and articles on raising critically thinking kids. It’s not that such a blog is a bad idea — it’s still a great idea — but the concept of finding the time to do so AND still be a good dad is nearly contradictory. Besides, I’m no expert.

I’ve been slow in posting much since my initial few shots at writing, and that has been both deliberate and circumstantial; I’ve been busy raising a daughter, a task that allows little time for reflective writing but much for contemplative thinking. As a result, I’m going to take this blog in a very different stylistic direction from now on, and into the new year. And, seeing as I have a readership that could be counted on one hand, I don’t think that will be upsetting to too many people.

The Same Focus, Different Style

I’m not backing away from the ‘essayist’ perspective entirely. This is still going to focus on reflective parenting bent on critical thinking. But what I will be doing more of is:

SHARING ANECDOTES – My life as a dad is filled each day with interesting examples of parenting and opportunities for meandering contemplations on choices and decisions. I think most people would rather read real stories of the life of a skeptical dad, than more vague parenting articles anyhow.

UNDERSTANDING RESOURCES – Building libraries of books and software, examining new ways of engaging the imagination and creativity of kids, and getting them to think for themselves — these are all questions that I think I can try to answer.

COMMUNITY BUILDING – I’ll admit that one of the redeeming aspects of organized religion that I find myself missing when I don’t participate is the fostering of community. I want to see what I can do to integrate into a community of like-minded folks, for myself and for my kids, outside of church.

STYLE AND FREQUENCY – A more casual writing style and a commitment to writing more often will hopefully result in a more useful blog for myself and everyone else.

I apologize for the confusion. Really. But getting one’s mind wrapped around a new project like this is bound to result in a false start or two — and make me seem more disorganized and chaotic than I really am.

- skep/dad