Rory’s Blog

Strong Opinions, Held Loosely

  • What Cordell Taught Me About Diversity

    Diversity: 1. ethnic variety, as well as socioeconomic and gender variety, in a group, society, or institution. 2. A cliché term used in mission statements, tag lines, sales pitches, and school websites to show that an organization is more than just a bunch of people who look the same. On the first day of first grade at…

  • Dear Friend Who’s About to Have a Kid: Life is About to Get Simple

    Dear Friend Who’s About to Have a Kid, As an expectant father, most of what you’ve been told is that parenting is really hard. Other synonyms: difficult, tough, challenging, life-altering, impossible, a grind. But “hard” seems to be the adjective of choice for the modern, unsolicited advice-giving parent, usually along with a sigh and a…

  • Swimming Lessons: A Microcosm of Parenting

    Last month I signed up my three-year-old son for swimming lessons at the local YMCA. One of my 2019 goals is to make sure both of my boys are semi-proficient swimmers, and I knew if I didn’t pay up front, it was never going to happen. Most of my friends are Goldfish Swim School zealots,…