Designer Daddy’s Top 15 Blog Posts of 2015

2015 was quite a year for me, for my family, and for several communities to which I belong. A flurry of sticky-note success; a milestone in equality; venturing into kindergarten; the return to a galaxy far, far away; the tragic loss of a friend — all of these contributed to one of the most eventful 12 months in my recent history. And it’s been exciting, fun, cathartic, intimidating, and inspiring for me to chronicle it all here (and a couple of other places) in word and doodle.

So if you’re a new reader curious to know what this site is all about, or a familiar friend sharing some moments of reflection, welcome. These are my 15 favorite blog posts of 2015.

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Sometimes I Wish My Son Was Gay

“I know by heart the script to dismantle gender stereotypes. My arsenal has long been loaded to fend off narrow-minded relatives or strangers who say my son shouldn’t want to dress up like Elsa or know all the words to ‘Shake It Off.’ If my son was queer or effeminate? Nerdy, reclusive or just plain shy? Piece of cake.”  Read full article

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Eulogy for Oren Miller: A Blogger, A Father, A Friend

“One of Oren’s greatest passions was for the words of modern fathers — regardless of the size of their audience or the strength of their voice — to be heard. Oren’s wife Beth asked me to speak at his funeral, and the flood of words finally came…”  Read full article

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Super Lunch Notes Fly Across the Internet & Around the World

“Over the last seven days, I’ve gotten a lot of wonderful feedback, praise, and ego-stroking. But my favorite comment came from the photo editor from the UK’s Daily Mail — a publication known for embracing the most sensational (and often terrible) news of the day:

I think what you’re doing for your son is really great. In this business I deal with a lot of horrible stuff all the time, so working on a story like this made my week.”  Read full article

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The 11 Most Annoying Bedtime Books of All Time

“All that remains is story time — then you can enjoy a few precious childless minutes before you pass out and things start all over again the next day. But then your little one pulls their selection from the bookshelf, shuffles over and plops it in your lap. That book you hate … because it’s horrible and you’re weary – and now the final few moments until sweet relief will be sheer torture. These are those books. Read them and weep.”  Read full article

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Know Your Movie Robots: From Cute to Crazy & Everything In Between

“With so much rich, robotic, cinematic history — and with so many different makes and models — I thought it would be helpful to create a graph categorizing some of the best known/loved/feared movie robots. …these are the droids you’re looking for.”  Read full article

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How Was Your Day? or To the Sun and Back

“Maybe it was the perfect weather — where the last cold evening had passed, but the first sweltering one had yet to arrive. Or perhaps it was the extra hint of eagerness (sweetened with politeness) in his voice. Or was I thinking of my friend, and how he’ll never again be asked, ‘Daddy, can you come play with me?'”  Read full article

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Welcome to the Party: Gay Men Have Been Appreciating ‘Dad Bods’ for Years

“Bears are the ‘real man’s’ alternative to the cliché of a smooth, sculpted Adonis. And as a gay bear and a dad, I am undoubtedly the ultimate expert on what constitutes a ‘Dad Bod’ …and how to make the most of it. So to my hefty, hetero brothers, let me offer you some of my unsolicited expertise.”  Read full article

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Sharing History: A Gay Dad & His Son Take a Field Trip to SCOTUS

“It struck me that for the first six years of his life, my son will have had an African-American president…and until he’s a teenager, perhaps a woman. He would grow up not remembering a time when two daddies or two mommies couldn’t get married. He would take these things for granted, and he will not have to fight for them.”  Read full article

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Loving Your Kid is Easy. Liking? Not So Much

“Of course I love my son. However, I find it nearly impossible to like him sometimes. If you’re a parent (and honest), you’ve been through this, too — times when you look at your child and wonder what the hell you’re going to do to survive the next 10-15 years. The next 10-15 minutes.”  Read full article

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The M Word: A Gay Dad’s Journey to Appreciating His Son’s Birthmother

“Many adoptive parents struggle silently with guilt and confusion over how they think they should feel about their child’s biological parents, versus how they actually feel. I’m sharing this for those parents — so they won’t feel alone like I did so much of the time. So they’ll know there are no right or wrong ways to think and feel about these complicated relationships.”  Read full article

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8 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Kindergarten

“Preparing your kid (and by ‘your kid,’ I mean you) for their first day of REAL SCHOOL is easier than you think. Just follow these few simple suggestions and everything will be absolutely, positively, one hundred percent perfect.”  Read full article

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What to Do When Your Child Says ‘I Hate You’ …or Worse

“They hate something, but it’s not you. They hate not having any control over their circumstances or other people or all the things they’re not tall enough to reach yet. By taking it personally you put yourself on their level, and makes you their peer. They don’t need a peer, they need a parent — one who’s tough enough to take all the rage and frustration they can muster, and then guide them back to sanity.”  Read full article

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Turning Hatred into Love: One American Girl & Her Forever Family

“In her own words [Amaya] shared the story of coming from the foster care system, becoming part of her permanent family, as well as the charity work she and her parents do in support of other foster kids. Not long after the magazine was published, One Million Moms called for a boycott of American Girl, warning parents against exposing their daughters to such a family. And such a family it is.”  Read full article

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For the Love of ‘Star Wars’

“As one generation of Star Wars fans ushers in the next, let’s take a break from the hype to explore some of these origin stories; to revisit the roots of our fascination with this galaxy from a long time ago and far, far away….”  Read full article

BONUS VIDEO:

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Thank you to all who’ve read, commented on and shared my stories this past year. It would be disingenuous to say that your interaction doesn’t make the writing of them that much more meaningful.

Love and bear hugs to you and yours in the New Year,
Brent
Designer Daddy