Press O' The Day
Radar online interviews me, and I emerge looking only semi-moronic. To clarify: I DO know what an "Alternadad" is. I think the current generation of parents is redefining the cultural notion of what it means to be a parent. Boomer parenting culture of the 80s and 90s sprung up wholly around a strange notion of the child's needs that manifested itself in a plague of lame "Mommy And Me" classes and French flash cards for three-year-olds. The current wave of parents is still child-obsessed, but also trying to retain a shred of pre-child identity. Their efforts are sometimes pathetic and stunted, but I still think it's an important cultural shift. That was the era of Barney, and this is the era of Dan Zanes. I don't even really like Dan Zanes all that much, but he represents, in a lot of ways, a saner approach.
Comments
Neal! I picked up my copy of Alternadad yesterday and if the laughs I've already gotten from the first few dozen pages are any indication I'm going to love it and I'm sure tons of others will too. Congrats and good luck!!
Posted by: Kris | January 11, 2007 11:20 AM
Thank you so much, Kris. Spread the word!
Posted by: Neal Pollack | January 11, 2007 12:01 PM
Okay, I'm convinced. Husband is getting Alternadad as a present.
Flash cards for 3 yos do have some use, e.g. throwing them down the stairs, using them like skates and sliding on them over hardwood floors, ripping and chewing fun. Great tool to unleash that creative potential.
Posted by: mamanista | January 12, 2007 7:26 AM
Oh My God!!!
Anyone thinking of, or anyone who has had kids- has to read this book. For our generation Neal nails what is going on in our heads and that of a two year old.
I wish I had this book when my kids were younger. I would have felt more normal. I can't wait to read about the teenage years.....
Posted by: sue | January 16, 2007 5:03 PM