Anxieties
Gardening accident or, That was a week, it was
In which, after far too long an absence, Papa Zesser returns to his documentary duties, reporting on childhood illness, a bad fall of his own, and the fragility of la vie quotidienne. Read more …
Imply, infer or, What! Me worry? (Letter #043)
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 …
Papa’s Diary – Monsters! (Monsters?)
In which Papa Zesser finds that the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is starting to wear on him.
And worse, that it is start to affect his daughter’s development.
Yes, I’m angry. Read more …
Ass-holes (Letter #040)
In which Papa Zesser confessens to behaving badly, in the face of anti-maskers out in public.
Should he swear at people while out with his daughter? Almost certainly not! And yet, he did …
Monster! Part III (Letter #039)
“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 …
Monster! Part II (Letter #038)
In which Papa Zesser returns (at last) to report on how he and Mama Raven dealt with Baobao’s new-found terror of tower fans. Read more …
Monster! (Letter #037)
In which Papa Zesser explores a new, and difficult, phase in Baobao’s development — fear!
There was a monster in Baobao’s bedroom!
If any of you have had experience dealing with a small child’s “irrational” fears, please read on and feel free to share your experience!
Meanwhile, whether or not you do, read on (if you dare!)
Papa’s Diary – January 28, 2021
No means no!
I’m sure most of us have unpleasant (or worse) memories of aunts or uncles who insisted on smothering us with unwelcome hugs and kisses when we were small. And too many of us had parents who insisted that we not “be mean” to that relative.
Recently, Baobao has been, playfully, saying No! to me. What’s a Papa to do?
Papa’s diary — January 22, 2021
In which Papa Zesser looks back with pleasure and relief two whole days later, when Baobao decided that – yes! – she would have a second helping, please! (And a third, and … well, find out for yourself!

