Roger McEwan's Blog, page 2

Cruel Optimism

 

You can’t change the past and you can only influence the future.

— A friend's wise words

A colleague/friend lent me a book with an interesting title – Penis Envy and Other Bad Feelings: The Emotional Costs of Everyday Life (reminds me I need to give it back!). It was a thought provoking read, if you like to have your assumptions about the world exposed. One term that struck a chord with me was “cruel optimism” (the book below covers it in more detail).

Check it out - www.dukeupress.edu/c...

Learning about politics

 

Politics is supposed to be the second-oldest profession. I have come to realise that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

— Ronald Reagan

As my children have grown (17 & 18) I have found it interesting what is and isn’t taught in schools. If my logic is correct, if it isn’t taught in schools then it needs to be taught at home if we don’t want our children to learn behind bike sheds or, worse, via Facebook and its diet of #alternativefacts.

Thanks to - http://veryangrybird.blog...

Devices are the new black

 

Places don’t matter to people any more. Places aren’t the point. People are only ever half present where they are these days. They always have at least one foot in the great digital nowhere.

— Matt Haig, How to Stop Time

It doesn’t seem that long ago when my children were too young to have their own device. In fact, it wasn’t that long ago when the world was too young and devices weren’t a thing. Now they are literally everywhere and the majority of young people have become addicted.

I sta...

Your Ex as a Facebook friend

 

If you are so happy with your life, go back to it and stop looking at mine.

— Random meme

To friend or unfriend your Ex, that is the question. That assumes you are friends, for many that will clearly not be the case. In that event, ask yourself what would you do if you received a friend request?

I should state up front that I am Facebook friends with Rose (my Ex) though it is a very one-sided friendship. I post twice a year (because I think Facebook is lame) when I’m outraged about somethi...

Packing and Capitalism

 

If you retain nothing else, always remember the most important Rule of Beauty, which is: Who cares?

— Tina Fey, from Bossypants

Here is a question to ponder – how old should children be before you let them take responsibility for their own packing? My advice – never.

My daughter, Liv, is 17 and can, at times, appear extremely adult and responsible. This lulls you into a false sense of security and you overlook the fact that if she forgets to pack something then the hullabaloo required to...

To be or not to be [there]?

 

This is your life and it’s ending one minute at a time.

— Fight Club

The Hasst river

I have just come back from a road trip with my nearly adult children – Rog (18) and Liv (16). We went to the beautiful South Island of New Zealand in the winter and were treated to amazing fun and scenery. I normally don’t put photos of trips on-line, it feels like skiting, but as you have found this blog to read, I think they work!

A road trip is a great chance to get out of your life and reflect about...

A Fait Accompli is another term for Manipulation

 

When you present you’re partner or ex with a fait accompli, you’re manipulating them into taking half the responsibility for your actions.

— Roger McEwan

Whether you’re together or separated, both parents need to operate on a level playing field. Parenting should not be a game that you play in order to get your own way at the expense of your partner, ex or children. That’s simply not how adults should behave.

In this blog I’m particularly focusing on that most frustrating situation – being...

Boys will always be boys

 

Boys will be boys - and so will a lot of middle-aged men

— Kim Hubbard

My son once again starred in his own classic ‘boys will be boys’ moment. Before I relate the story I need to set the scene for those who have yet to read my book. The following excerpt demonstrates beautifully my sons thoroughness (or the lack of it).

 

When Rog was fourteen I bought him a new school bag as the last two had each lasted barely six months. I gave him his new bag with the instructions ‘I’m tossing your old...

Is a "good enough" school enough?

 

I’m alright jack keep your hands off my stack

— Pink Floyd

This blog takes the “good enough” parent idea one step further and questions whether we are teaching our children what they need to know to be a part of, and create, tomorrows world. My son has just completed his school education (my daughter has a couple of years left) and I’m uneasy that the focus of schools in general has become increasingly narrow and focused on producing technically educated “workers” at the expense of a more...

Making an Audio Book

 

Someone needs to buy a radio station, then play nothing but audio books, with a different genre of book played at set times. That way we can always have something new to read, no matter where we are.

— Shana Chartier

This blog is a slight aside and instead focuses on my latest achievement, narrating my own audiobook - click here if you are interested in buying a copy! I always intended to turn The Single Dad's Guide to the Galaxy into an audiobook but time often overtakes intention!

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