That was the year that was: Reading 2021

Promises, promises …

In which Papa Zesser looks back at a remarkable year in reading to Baobao (and of Baobao “reading” to herself and, sometimes, us), and commits to reviewing 26 books in the very near future!

Will he really do it? Only time will tell! Read more …

Imply, infer or, What! Me worry? (Letter #043)

Make way for the Purple Toddler!

In which Papa Zesser finds an un-posted letter written back on July 29th, which looks at his daughter’s slow progress towards speaking — and her earlier long road towards walking — and doesn’t much worry about either.

Why not? you might ask. Well, simply put, it’s the other things she does so well, so remarkably well. Read more …

First loss: A friendship cut short (Letter #042)

Loss is loss, no matter how trivial it might seem from outside

In which Baobao made a new friend on Friday and suffered her first taste of grief in very short order.

Balloons have mayfly lifespans, and the thrill of discovering their joys on Friday afternoon turned to tears and heartbreak on Monday morning.

Papa provided as much solace as he could, but was it enough? Read More …

A papa’s delight is a toddler’s terror (Letter #041)

We'd have been *really* scared if we'd seen what was behind us!

Papa learned a valuable parenting lesson this past weekend: It’s really easy to over-estimate your child’s readiness for things.

We took Baobao to the Luskville Falls trail in Gatineau Park on Saturday, where the southern tip of Canadian Shield descends into the Saint Lawrence Lowlands. Our intention: to hike at least part of the Luskville Falls Trail.

In retrospect, a pretty dumb idea even if conditions had been idea. The National Capital Commission rates it as a “Difficult” climb, and we had a toddler in tow.

But it wasn’t the difficulty that made us turn around. Read More …

Monster! Part III (Letter #039)

And hast though slain the Jabberwok? Oh frabjus day! Calloo! Callay!

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
He chortled in his joy. — Lewis Carroll

In which Carl the Second becomes Carl the Hero! Red more …