As a married guy with two kids and about as much fashion sense as a color-blind slug, it's unlikely that I would have EVER see a film about Coco Chanel.

The economy has not been kind to any of us but I'm finding it's been cruel to men in particular. The New York Times reported men to be far more likely than women to have been laid-off and this seems to be very much the case in Brooklyn. As such, men (whether temporarily or for good) are more at home than ever before and some of them - many of them - are actually taking care of the kids while the mom works.

Talking about 9/11 on 9/11 (or any other day for that matter) is not at all easy. It's especially hard for me for several: (a) I was in the World Trade Center at 7:30AM on 9/11; (b) I lost one of my best friends in that tragedy; (c) I live near the site and passed by it over 1,000 times since; and (d) I'm a father of two young & impressionable children who, at some point, are going to want to know my thoughts on the matter.

I've said this before: much like police officers, our duty as parents is to "protect and serve" our children.  It is in this realm of protection and service that "we" have created, at least for our sons and daughters in the Little League, the "Slaughter Rule." This rule is invoked in order to stop a baseball game that has become beyond embarrassing to the losing team - one who must be losing something in the order of 11-0.  Like so many rulings, I try to see both sides.  On one hand, it's nice NOT to to have the living tar beaten out of you.

When I was growing up in 1970's we used to call the parents of our friends Mr. or Mrs. [Last Name]. We wouldn't dream of calling them by any other name; we didn't even dare to dare one another to do so as the result would likely redden our behinds. The only exceptions were my parent's friends who were single. For them, is was somehow OK to address them by their first names and we were happy to oblige - but this, I remind you, was an exception, not the rule. These days much has changed.

We all know that all work and no play makes Johnny a dull boy. Apparently, it makes Johnny medically depressed too. In America and Asia, long hours are de rigor for fast-track executives and those who want to become fast-track executives. Law firms and management consultancies, who charge clients by the hour, encourage this behavior as it brings in more revenue and the more revenue you produce, the more the firm will like you and, presumably, keep you on if/when the going gets tough.

As parents, one of our jobs is to instill confidence into our children such that they feel both desirous and prepared to take on whatever challenges come their way. Sure, they'll feel the agony of defeat every now and again but by and large we want our kids to take things on without (too much) hesitation...  My two girls have two distinct approaches to taking things on. The 4.5 year-old is a beautiful, highly-animated worry wart. She takes things on only with a parental hand nearby and even then she needs more than a little encouragement.

With a kid in private school (and another on her way) I'm not exactly the go-to guy when it comes to homeschooling.  It's not that I'm not for it. I love the idea, the concept; I don't know much about it because with both me and my wife working > 60 hours/week (each) we just can't do it ourselves...  And, as with most things about which I know too little, I've allowed the stereotypes to color my impression of what homeschooling (and its practitioners) is (are) all about. 

A local family-oriented business owner whose store specializes in arts, crafts and education will be playing FAMILY MATTERS this Saturday from 5-7pm. If you're in Eastern Long Island, please swing by with your family. Feel free to call Lulu at (917) 414-6627 for more information. Hope to see you there! - David

Before becoming a game inventor and a marketing strategist for small/mid-sized firms, I worked for several big Fortune 500 companies.  One of them had a now infamous executive training program and during a not-so-rare moment of operational oversight invited me to join them out of b-school.  Among the purported perks was a contact with senior executives who peppered us newly-minted professionals with worldly advice.  The most haunting still haunts me to this very day: IN LIFE THERE IS WORK, FAMILY AND YOU - PICK TWO.  While by no means a rebel, I certainly don't like my