We’re the kind of parents that take our toddler everywhere, and we’ve always been that way. When Preston was just an infant we toted him to dinner all the time (he celebrated our first anniversary with us at the Cape Cod Room at The Drake Hotel, where we got married, when he was three weeks old), and we used to bring him to a popular neighborhood bar to watch football games on the weekends. Would we get dirty looks from other patrons? Sure. Did we care? Nope.

I’ve never been great at sports, not even a little. I had a short period of dominance in junior high ping pong but it ended quickly and I headed back to the band room with my flute. But I always wanted to be an athlete.

Halloween used to be my favorite time of year. I once postponed having back surgery (just a microdiscectomy) until after Halloween was over, because I didn’t want to miss out on all the parties and chances to dress up (serious dedication, I know). But ever since I had Preston 26 months ago, I haven’t dressed up or gone to any adult costume parties and—honestly?—something seems missing from my life. So to fill the void I put extra effort into thinking up the perfect Halloween costume for Preston, but it wasn't cheap.

I'm all for taking the high road and hugging it out and all of that. But I also believe that when you're at the end of your rope with the bullies and the teachers and parents who refuse to check them, you gotta let ‘em know you've got your child's back.