Re-startup Dad

I didn't have a good frame of reference on parenting before embarking on this attempt to build a human from scratch. I never really had a pet, except an anole in the 8th grade that I kept on my shoulder constantly. Unfortunately the little lizard lasted only a few weeks as he was unable to hold on during a roller-coaster at King's Dominion. (I plan to treat Kaden a little more gingerly, and they wouldn't let me take him on the ride at this age anyway.)

So really other than that very brief encounter, my closest reference on what it's like to grow something, take care of it, and try to make it work are the start-up companies I've helped build. There have been four companies so far, and although managing a balance sheet is certainly different than raising a human, there are similarities. In both cases you can take the same set of founders (parents), they can have two kids, and life will somehow make them entirely different from each other. Also, by the time you get to your second or third, you are a lot more laid back about the whole thing.

But of course a company is just a company, and if the problems get intractable and you lose enthusiasm, you can leave a start-up. After four years building my last company, I've decided to move on to the next challenge. The first three companies I helped start were successful, and much like with a kid who leaves to explore the world my hope is they will flourish and grow more successful than I imagined. Then of course I can overstate my share of the credit for their great achievements.

Although I will likely be founding or joining another start-up momentarily, this is also a great opportunity to spend a little more time with the kid growing so quickly in front of me. I only hope some day to found a company that is 1/10th as engaging as Kaden is. Perhaps then I will be driven to grow it over decades instead of years, offering a place for a Kaden to try his hand at shepherding as he gets older.

Morning Glory

Kaden spoke this morning! He said "Da-Da" -- and not just once, I got him doing it over and over again. Yes I think this is incredibly cool, even though at this point it is more of a parlor trick than actual recognition of the contributions of his paternal side. For instance, although he does seem to like saying DaDa, it still ranked lower than his affinity to click his tongue.

I sat on the kitchen floor this morning and was saying DaDa, when he made a gurgling sound that had roughly the same rhythm as my oft-repeated phrase. Grabbing hold of that thin evidence of recognition, I of course started bombarding him with the phrase. After the three of four-hundreth try, the drool had effectively left his mouth for it's more familiar place (his shirt) and he let out a little "DaDa" again. Then again, and again. We're in business.

Of course, he has since refused to repeat this feat this afternoon, but that's not surprising. I've noticed that Kaden's abilities to do new things seem to spawn in the morning, and then take a few weeks to work their way to the rest of the day. There was probably two weeks when he first started smiling that he would only do it prior to 10am. I was convinced that this was because he was happily thinking of the fine evening of malevolenty destroying our sleeping habits, but the pattern has emerged with crawling, standing, and will probably be the same with chatting.

I wonder if this says something about how all our brains work in the morning? After we have had some rest (some more than others), and not yet filled with the event after event - maybe that's when we are best suited to learn, react, and be our most creative? Hmm.. maybe the Today Show and reading Metro aren't the best ways to spend the first few hours of the day.

I've found some of the lost shots I had of our trip to Vermont a few weeks back. I've added them to the original set here.

If you sign up for Flickr (the photo site I use to post these photos) make sure you add me as a friend. There are more photos of Kaden (like you need that) that only friends & family linked on Flickr can see.