Raging Dad

The birthday girl.

On Thursday Connie turned six years old.

Six years ago, Raging Mom soaked in a bathtub, intending to go in to the hospital in the morning to have labor induced for our first child. Amazingly, she went into labor that night and we made the long drive from northeast Minneapolis to downtown St. Paul. I remember (as does Raging Mom) that driving over the many sets of railroad tracks never felt as notable as it did that night.

Raging Mom is a birthing machine, and was only in labor for a few hours before passing our daughter—unmedicated—from her body into this world. My favorite memory is of the nurse’s reaction, upon realizing that my wife was actually fully dilated, rather than only being at a few centimeters. She looked at us and told us calmly not to worry, that she’d have a doctor in the room in just a moment. She then walked to the door, opened it and cried out with great volume and alarm, “We need a doctor in here NOW!”

That was six years ago. Connie was our one and only for two years before her brothers joined her and our lives changed again. She had to grow up very quickly, in order to compete for attention from her needy brothers, and she loves her brothers completely. What lucky boys they are to have such a sister. She is an amazing girl.

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Connie demonstrated her ability to spell words to us the other day, drawing this picture.

Connie spelled these out on her own.

I couldn’t help but realize how similar it looked to Radiohead’s 2003 record Hail to the Thief. I think she is telling us something. I have noticed that she is developing some political positions. I turned the television on the other day, and Connie pointed out that Barack Obama was talking on the screen. She informed me that “Barack Obama believes in doctors for everyone, and John McCain believes in guns.” Me thinks that Raging Mom is at work here, but you know, a child can only speak the truth.

Radiohead's "Hail to the Thief"

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Going in to check on how clean the boys’ room was this evening, I found evidence that they boys’ interest in comic books and knights is actually a cover for their vodka drinking habits. I knew there was more going on in those sippy cups than we realized. I always hoped they’d be Grey Goose kids…

I knew you wanted more than happy meals and s'mores.