Dear Reader,

I did a podcast last week. A grown up one. The host had read the book and asked me real questions, the kind you can’t deflect with a joke about laundry.

The book has been out long enough that my initial feeling of vomiting when talking about it has largely gone away. Almost like I’ve built up a tolerance for saying “dead mommy” without fainting.

The title of the episode is “His Grief Made Him a Better Father.” I didn’t pick it. I wouldn’t have.

It’s the kind of sentence that sounds clean. Grief in, better father out. A trade. Like I gave up something and got something back and now the books are balanced.

I know why he picked it. To soften the actual title: I’m Only a Good Daddy Because Your Mommy Died.

There was only one thing in the book he disagreed with. The idea that I’m not a good father.

My first instinct was to eviscerate him on his own podcast. I didn’t. He was being kind. This was supposed to be a friendly conversation about the book, not a live demonstration of why the title is accurate.

So I softened. I didn’t fully retreat. But I softened.

Baby steps for being a functioning human being.

Have you ever had a panic attack? What does your inner dialog say to you when it’s happening?

Now tell me my title is full of shit.

If you want to hear me talk about the book, here is the episode.

Be nice in the comments…

Or not. Maybe more people will find it if you are mean to me. I want engagement, right?

I will be very sad though. Keep that in mind.

Besitos,

Michael