The Progress Report: Week of Mar 30-Apr 03
Looking back to move forward—our Sunday reflection.
This Week's Theme: The Stories We Tell
One of the best things about being a parent is the opportunity to tell stories, whether reading to your kids, making up stories for them on the fly, or telling others stories about them.
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
Weekly Recommendation
Something I read, watched, pondered, or prayed on that helped me make a little progress this week.
At the end of the day, friendships don’t need to be complicated. They just need to exist. A good friendship isn’t always about deep, soul-searching conversations every time you meet up. It’s about having people you can count on, even if it’s just to shoot the breeze or share a laugh.
So send that text. Make that plan. Friendships don’t just happen - they’re built.
This week, I connected with
, who writes . His piece from a week ago on the power of music spoke to me, as I've spent recent beautiful East Tennessee mornings with my family on our deck listening and dancing to Queen, Ray Charles, Father John Misty, John Denver, Kendrick Lamar, and quite possibly my favorite song of all time, among others.This isn't directly dad-related, but this week, my wife turned me on to the Hulu show Mid-Century Modern. It's a loving tribute to The Golden Girls, with Dorothy, Blanche, and Rose replaced by three gay men played by Nathan Lane, Nathan Lee Graham, and Matt Bomer. Sharp writing, great performances, and a deftly-wielded laugh track make this possibly the best multi-cam sitcom I've seen in at least 25 years. The icing on the cake is Linda Lavin, who plays the Sophia role through eight episodes and blows it away. Lavin died during filming, and the show's handling of her death in episode nine might be the best work I've seen adjusting to the death of a main character in a TV series.
If you like The Golden Girls, make time for this one. If your kids are young, make sure they've gone to bed, as this show is rated TV-MA, mostly for language and probably a little for subject matter.
One more thing...
A preview or parting thought to carry you into the coming week.
This is my third month writing Paternal Progress. I started in February with a loose plan to share relatable, helpful stories about my experience as a dad. With the demands of fatherhood, I wasn't sure I'd be able to keep it up, but so far, so good. The newsletter is steadily gaining a following (32 subscribers as of this writing), and I'm finding my voice with it. If you happened on this post and are not already subscribed, please consider a free subscription. I haven't paywalled anything yet and have no immediate plans to do so. I now offer the option to drop a $5 tip if you would be so kind, and hopefully, I'll have a few perks for paid subscribers soon.
I'd like to keep this going as long as possible, so I'd appreciate any support you can provide, even if it's simply sharing the newsletter with a friend.
Thank you so much for reading.