Category: Adventures in being a dad

Education and Brown Sugar

 It seems inconsequential…my daughter needs brown sugar for her recipe and rushed out to get it.

What isn’t so obvious is that she needs it for an on-line school assignment that starts at a set time and will be broadcast to her teacher and peers. At this moment I am thankful to have the time and ability to rush out and get her what she needs so she’s in compliance with her school work.

But what if I weren’t here?

What if I was like the millions of people whose work or career or necessity takes them away from the home-school everyday and entrust their younglings to be accountable for all the hiccups that come in current education?

How do I convey to my children the relative privilege they enjoy because of how their family’s economy is structured?

Am I more patient with the tribulations of other families who, in spite of wanting to succeed, struggle daily with the reengineering of how we are teaching?

All from a $2.99 bag of brown sugar.

Podcast: Teach the Children Well – Hugo has a lot to Pass On

From the Simpsons to 12 Angry Men who has taken over the teaching duties at Casa Torres since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Can parents like him design a curriculum for their at home students. Hugo thinks you can.
Today on the Show:
YouTube – The Art Assignment –  https://www.youtube.com/user/theartassignment
Lisa the Beauty Queen (The Simpsons) –https://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Lisa_the_Beauty_Queen
Subscribe to the Podcast or you can find Hugo on Twitter at @hugosposts | Insta at @hugotorres | sangabrielvalley.blogspot.com

Podcast: Everybody Hurts – In a bad place but there is hope.

Earlier this week Hugo Tweeted; “I am tired, unmotivated, lonely and overall sad this morning. I have struggled to get out of bed and my body is resisting my pleads to move. I am not in a good place.” Lots of good people sent positive and uplifting messages that began the healing process. Hugo talks about how he got to be in the bad place and how he found his way out.
Subscribe to the Podcast or you can find Hugo on Twitter at @hugosposts | Insta at @hugotorres | sangabrielvalley.blogspot.com

Girl on Fire

It’s not easy to hit the high note but she still tries. From the backseat she fills up her lungs and becomes a one performer choir. The chorus comes and with full confidence pronounces, “this girl is on fire!” He voice breaks at the top of the line but she’s unperturbed and I stay quiet and amused. 
Then I remember how I too enjoyed singing in the car but I did not have the confidence to do it with anyone around. I sang in my room with the doors closed or in my car with the windows up. 
I live vicariously through her and enjoy the concert.

Podcast: Square Peg – When you no longer belong somewhere. Don’t force it.

After some meandering thoughts Hugo gets back to the business of telling stories. This time, he recalls some from his days in revelry and then the moment when he grew and matured. A discussion on moving past the good stages in life in order to live a fuller whole story.
Today on the Show:
The Broadmoor Hotel:  https://www.broadmoor.com/
Quote: “The best laid plas of mice and men often go awry.”
Subscribe to the Podcast or you can find Hugo on Twitter at @hugosposts | Insta at @hugotorres | sangabrielvalley.blogspot.com 

The Fastest Torres

Heading east and 37 feet past the dogie water fountain on the Royal Oaks trail a boy ran by a middle aged man. Huffing and puffing the stocky forty-something thought he could and thought he could catch up with the gazelle like kiddo to no avail. 
It could have been the extra 10 pounds, the aching knees, the mid-day heat or the heart palpitations that kept him from matching strides. In any case the baton has officially been passed and a new

Going on Thirteen

Funny how we decide to mark certain days. Today, for instance, I choose to mark this day as the first time my son’s gaze and mine met at the same level. Standing in front of him I looked into his bright birthday eyes and realized that come this time next year there’s a good chance he’ll be looking down at me. In that transitory moment I took stock of him and still registered his renowned goofiness, sweetness, confidence and happy attitude. He is still my guy to care for and teach. He is still growing and maturing. He is a better version of me in so many different ways. That all included in the mental mark I’ve made for myself on his special day. 
Now bring on the Teen-Age years!