advice
Ask DadandBuried Fall is finally here, and for me, that means the kids are back in school, jeans are back in the rotation, and football is back on TV. For my wife, it means visiting farms and finding pumpkins and forcing my kids to smile for photos. Help? —Dave, New Rochelle
I SAVE THE DATE
"Not So Scary" Grace-ful Halloween WALk and More! Including: A Halloween costume walk/parade to raise money for Autism Awareness (have your friends and family sponsor you)
Trunk or Treating Inflatable Rides Food trucks and vendors
When: Saturday, Oct 30, 12:00pm to 3:30pm Where: The GRACE Foundation grounds- 460 Brielle (near Community Board Building) All outdoors Go to www.graceofny.org to be part of the day 718-983-3800 ext. 223
feel your pain. Fall Family Fun, as my wife calls it, is a scourge. It turns one of the best seasons into a crucible, and should you survive, the reward is 4-6 months of snow. As soon as Labor Day hits, my wife starts claiming weekends. We have to go apple picking and pay $75 for 30 apples that cost $5 at the grocery store! After arguing over Gala or Empire, we’ll have to navigate our way through a corn maze in 85-degree heat. It may unofficially be fall, but September has other plans, ensuring it’s as hot and humid as possible for Fall Family Fun days! Next up is pumpkin picking, which is an even bigger deal. It isn’t just about pumpkins, it’s about Halloween, and the only person who likes Halloween more than my kids? My wife. (P.S. Don’t trick-ortreat at my house unless you want an apple—we have tons left!) So, in October, we head to another farm—maybe even the same one that had apple picking, only instead of cold apple cider it’s hot, and sometimes they play “Thriller” over the loudspeakers. While there, Dad can aggravate his back by repeatedly hoisting pumpkins for inspection only to put them down because there’s a slight mark on the bottom. Then, back aching, we hop on a hayride. Then, back still aching, we cram behind one of those photo stands where you stick your head through a hole and pray the 5-year-old is smiling and no one gets a splinter while posing as jack-o’-lanterns (which you’ll be carving later, alone, while the family watches Halloween specials and occasionally wanders by to complain the eyes are too far apart). And make no mistake about it, that photo is essential. Because Fall Family Fun isn’t about fall, family, or fun. It’s about making memories. Years from now, you won’t remember that you missed Zach Wilson’s first multi-touchdown game. You’ll look at those photos, see your smiling kids, and laugh about the fact that they’re gonna get roped into this someday too. There’s no escape. Because when it comes to Fall Family Fun, the “family” part is non-negotiable, even if the “fun” is non-existent.
Our advice column features the wise and humorous commentary of Mike Julianelle (aka @DadandBuried), a 40-something influencer with a popular podcast who lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids.
HAVE A QUESTION FOR DADANDBURIED? 14 October 2021 • siparent.com
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