Fatherhood

There are no shortcuts in grief. After a loss, every day hurt. Then each month. And then every special days of the year. 

The opposite is true of bringing up a child. Every day comes with surprise. Then every week ends with a Sunday when the parents find something new. And it is really, really, really funny. When I read the book of parenthood by Fredrik Backman, I can't stop laughing.

If you've read his novel Beartown, you might have remembered the dark theme of a hockey team in a small town. The book, Things My Son Needs to Know about the World, is very different. Whereas Beartown is heartbroken and agonizing, the dad-and-son memoir is stinky yet harmless. His own story of fatherhood is an absolutely hilarious one.

Backman's uncensored love letter to his son tells the honest jokes of being a dad. One letter about his secret wish for his boy to play football sums up the parenting experience pretty well. "I'm not saying you have to play football. Of course, you don't. I'm not going to be one of those dads who puts pressure on you and stands on the sidelines screaming and shouting."

Is that all? Pretty cool, huh? I know. 

"Fine. You might end up hating football. I'm afraid of what people will say if you don't play football. Afraid of the shame. The nicknames. The being left out. Afraid that they'll ... you know."