Chaperone /ˈSHapəˌrōn/

noun - a person who accompanies and looks after another person or group of people.

verb - accompany and look after or supervise.

We went to that Band/Orchestra Night that was being hosted as a "get to know your instrument" night for upcoming fifth graders. It was split in two with orchestra (string instruments) and band (brass and I think a few woodwinds) holding sessions in different places. We wound up going to both.

With The Flash, the final movie in the soon-to-be defunct DCEU, coming out soon in theaters and given the fact that Nathan and I watched Suicide Squad this weekend, I decided I wanted to counter the negative stigma from Ezra Miller and their portrayal of Barry Allen and Flash by introducing him to the far superior versions played on television from 2014 to the end of this month by Grant Gustin.

Next year, Nathan is eligible to start playing an instrument in either orchestra or band at school. And, yes, he's interested. 

Normally at this point of the year, we’re struggling to get Nathan signed up for park district classes for the summer because with so many two-working-parent families, those classes fill up quick.

Nathan had a project at school where he had to create a simple circuit board that would trigger an LED bulb when the correct leads, given several choices, were paired up.

Adidas has been a brand as long as I can remember. Shoes, clothing, sports equipment, whatever. But it was always a secondary or tertiary brand. Not one that we would think of as top of the line. Certainly not something we sought out or pined over.

Nathan seemed to have a happy Easter today.

Yesterday marked our now annual one-day visit to the three-day Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo, also known as C2E2.

Nathan wanted to get a preview of what the floor would look like at C2E2 this Saturday and he came across this YouTube video from last year’s event and started watching it.

I am so proud of Nathan right now. In a matter of less than 48 hours, he and I watched five of the Halloween films.

Today was Nathan's last day before Spring Break.

Katie is working through this weekend so she can have pretty much all of next week off with him.

My son has now officially been introduced to Swedish pop superstars ABBA and their hit single "Dancing Queen" thanks to Dipper Pines and his obsession with Icelandic pop superstars BABBA and their hit single "Disco Girl" on the animated TV show Gravity Falls. Yes, that last one is a joke from the gnarly mind of show creator Alex Hirsch. 

Nathan, being the YouTube Rat that he is, has come across videos of “Takis Challenges” several times. He wanted to try it.

Nathan has learned about Rickrolling.

That would be “Happy New Year” in Swedish because what better way to spend New Year’s Day than IKEA-fying Nathan’s bedroom a bit.

I'm halfway through my Kevin's 7: Video '22 list. Really! I am! I just can't type anymore tonight and I still need to steal some accompanying images. Yadda yadda yadda.

Nathan was watching a how-to video on drawing on YouTube and decided to hunker down with some paper and markers and create a chibi version of his hero Eddie Munson from Stranger Things 4.

I’m watching Raya and the Last Dragon with Nathan and suddenly I hear him, for whatever reason, start singing Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

We have a new family elf for this year’s Christmas celebration! Meet NatELF.

Today, I’m just gonna leave you with this and you make of it what you will.

Nathan has been trying to convince us that he doesn't need to take a shower every day (he does). It's a long-running battle.

Nathan wanted something, he worked for it, and he got it… he’s been selected to join student council.

It’s a special Double-Post Monday (TM pending… not really). Why the special occasion? Because today is Nathan’s 10th birthday!!!

My son looked at me earlier today and said, "Dad, you're not swearing as much lately as you used to."

Before…

Yup, we finished the costume. He looked great. And he and I had fun. Tons of it.

I have always feared conventions and festivals. I don’t like crowds. I hate them, in fact. So, other than the Pitchfork Music Festival, I avoid them.

So I had this conversation with Nathan just now...

Despite wanting to be a meteorologist, or maybe in spite of it, Nathan is terrified of the concept of tornadoes. I say “concept of” because he’s never actually seen one.

Nathan’s school had a Fun Run today. Basically you could run a lap around a park or a full mile which was four laps. Nathan opted for one. We’ll work on that.

Within the last half year or so, Nathan has become concerned about weather patterns. Well, basically anytime he sees storm clouds, he worries about tornadoes. I mean, we are in Tornado Alley, albeit the north end of it instead of the heart, so I understand the concern.

I’m not sure if these viewing stats from Netflix regarding Nathan’s preferred video themes say more about him as a kid or about me and my parenting of him.

Child art is always interesting, isn’t it? Just a total crapshoot as to what you’ll get vs what it’s supposed to be.

It would seem that Nathan is going to have a dual visit tonight from the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.