Dad’s dispatch

In a brief reversal, Miles Willing reads the Saturday newspaper while his dad, Jon, plays video games on a lazy weekend morning. Photo Credit Nicole Willing

Morning magic

The weekend warriors can keep their laundry lists of elaborate plans. Our Dad’s Dispatch columnist prefers to ease into his days off I admire families that can leave their homes before 9 a.m. on the weekend. As I look out my […]

Miles Willing, the writer's son, climbs on a giant beetle at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Photo Credit Jon Willing

History, repeated

It’s easy to overstuff yourself at the buffet of Ottawa’s museum offerings   Never forget we live in the capital of the country. What a ridiculous statement, right? How can we possibly forget? Federal buildings are plastered with the government’s official […]

Nicole Willing and son Miles read a real book at home...without the help of artificial intelligence. Photo Credit Jon Willing

Storybooks in seconds

Artificial intelligence can create personalized tales with the click of a button. Our Dad’s Dispatch columnist discovers it’s no substitute for the real thing     It felt icky the first night I turned storytime over to the robot. Shelves […]

Miles Willing eyes the finish line with mom Nicole cheering him on in the Hintonburg 1k race in July. Miles, who loves to run, is primed for one day joining a school cross-country running club. Photo Credit Jon Willing

After the bell

A robust school extracurricular program has much to offer children and their families   If kids are gloomy about being back in the classroom this fall, hopefully they find joy in the school’s extracurricular activities. We should urge our children […]

Nicole, Miles and Jon Willing during their first family "glamping" trip at Lac Philippe in 2020. Photo Courtesy Jon Willing

Just around the corner

Jon Willing’s most memorable family getaway? Good ol’ Gatineau Park The quality of family adventures should never be measured by distance travelled. Some of our best summer vacations with our son have been camping about 45 kilometres from our home. […]

Miles Willing helps with a post-dinner cleanup. Photo Credit Jon Willing

The allowance debate: Con

“Teaching a child to be a contributing member of the family is more valuable at a young age than offering lessons on financial planning” — Jon Willing I have developed a contractual relationship with my five-year-old son. The terms of […]

Riley Hunt enjoys the snow with his grandparents' mini goldendoodle, Charlie. Photo Credit Angela Jacques

Winter of discontent

Batten the hatches! You don’t need weather to experience a cold front—just a child in his pre-preteen years Winter is coming. In fact, it’s been festering within my walls since the summer. One of the subtle truths I’ve learned about […]

Jon Willing and his son Miles prepare to zip down the hill at Carlington Park in Ottawa. Photo credit Nicole WillingJon Willing and his son Miles prepare to zip down the hill at Carlington Park in Ottawa. Photo credit Nicole Willing

Winter chic

Outdoor family fun has Jon Willing rethinking his cold-weather wardrobe     I might get a second pair of snow pants this winter.  Oh, I’m sorry. Are snow pants uncool? Somewhere around middle school, snow pants became a fashion faux […]

Miles Willing’s first day of junior kindergarten in Sept. 2022, and his last day of JK in June 2023. Photo Courtesy Jon Willing

The kindergarten field journal

If someone in your home is starting school this fall, worry not My gosh, the sand. It will be everywhere. And just when you think every clump has been shaken out of your kid’s sneakers, an avalanche of tiny grains […]