In this weeks’ Nickell’s Bag, Missoulian arts and entertainment journalist extraordinaire Joe Nickell describes how his 3-year-old son landed a role in “Madama Butterfly.”

And thus, a star was born. Break a leg, Julian!

- MM

No Comments »

What I was trying to say about my daughter’s muffin man, syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. says much better in today’s column. It’s also available in the print version of the Missoulian, on the Opinion page.

- MM

No Comments »

One of my daughter’s great joys in life is to help her dad make muffins. As they bake in the oven, she will spread a blanket in the living room, and when they are ready we will have ourselves a late-evening picnic of tea and oven-fresh muffins.

Whenever she hungers for this special time with her father, she will dance up to him in that half-skipping way she has and ask, ever so hopefully, “Dad, will you be the muffin man?”

And I will suddenly feign deep interest in whatever I’m reading as I furtively watch them over the top of the page.

I can see his struggle. He can’t be the muffin man tonight. He has 101 things to do and they all need doing before he can rest. He worked at full tilt all day long; he is tired. He is constantly pulled by the needs of others, and needs a minute to himself before he can give more.

And yet.

It never fails to stir my heart to see my weary husband dig deep within himself and respond to his sweet, shining daughter in a terrible French accent: “Tonight, we hava ze bloo-bear-wee muff-eenz.”

Then he will change out of his uniform and wash the grime of the day off his hands. I will put on some tea and find the tiniest cups in the house. And we will have a muffin party late at night in our living room.

It never fails to remind me that many men, and fathers especially, feel tremendous pressure to be bullet-proof. Even during a recession, they are supposed to be great providers. At all times, they are expected to be more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. It seems like they strive to be Superman.

But my daughter never asks for a superhero. She loves her muffin man.

- MM

1 Comment »

The Children’s Museum in Missoula regularly hosts a “dad’s night” that invites fathers to spend an evening socializing with other fathers – and let their kids mingle, too.

And if that’s not enough incentive, take note that it’s a totally free event – and food is provided.

The e-mail from Families First promises plenty of “interactive entertainment and good old fashioned playtime,” with food from Mackenzie River Pizza Co. and entertainment provided by Tangled Tones Music Studio’s Matt Nord and Caleb Van Gelder.

But you have to sign up before you show up. The next Dad’s Night is tomorrow night (Thursday) from 5:30 to 7 p.m., and word is that there are still a few slots open. Call 541-7529 to register to attend. The Children’s Museum is located at 225 West Front Street.

Any moms needing a night off might want to make sure this info makes its way into the hands of the dads in their lives.

- Missoula Mom

No Comments »

I may not be an expert on fatherhood, but I think four and a half years of close observation qualifies me to make an authoritative statement or two about fathers. And while I may not know exactly what it takes to be a great dad, I do know a great dad when I see one.

The guy who never once balked at changing a fetid diaper? That’s a great dad.

The man who got a twisted neck and far too little sleep for years because he opted to nap on an uncomfortable couch with a sleeping baby on his chest? A great dad.

The fisherman who makes sure his daughter catches not one, but two fish of her own before he ever reels one in? A great dad.

The world is full of really great dads, but like Connie Schultz says, our appreciation of them doesn’t always match our Father’s Day efforts. This Father’s Day, I hope all the great dads out there are told just what they mean to their families. This Father’s Day, I hope all the great dads of the world know that, to us, they really are the World’s Greatest Dad.

Especially this one.

- Tyler Christensen

No Comments »