Scott Lax

 

I'm going to take some time off from writing my column, "First Time Father at Fifty-Eight," for THE FATHER LIFE: The Men's Magazine for Dads.

I've loved writing the column, but now I'm going to concentrate on my book about Finn, and being a first-time dad. For those of you who are authors, you know how time-consuming writing a book is; and in any case, I do other things with my professional life -- producing a TV pilot, writing for corporate clients, teaching and coaching writing, writing fiction.

Still, the most important thing in the world to me is my family. So something had to give, and the column was it. I hope you'll all still read THE FATHER LIFE, and should you want to read my archives, just hit the link to the left.

Thank you to Ben Martin, and all THE FATHER LIFE people who made it so special to write this column. I'll see you back in their (Web) pages again, I'm sure. Meanwhile, please check back for news of the book, advice on writing, and, of course, photos of our beautiful and wonderful son, Finn Scott, who, as you can see, is happy in the world. Read More 

Today is the first week anniversary of our son's birth. This isn't a food blog (to be sure) but we had soup and good bread, though Finn had his own menu. Finn did join us for dinner. This is him in his little chair - it was his first meal around the dinning room table. (And ours in a while.)

I think he was very comfortable, even if he doesn't quite reach the table yet.

Which brings me to Cicero on first efforts in writing: "The beginnings of all things are small."

If you're writing a novel or anything else and feel intimidated, write one sentence. That's what I did - I wrote the last sentence. Then I wrote the first, on the advice of a friend, and I considered my novel nearly finished. I simply took a few years to fill it in.

As for Finn, he's seemed to enjoy the family meal in his own drowsy way.  Read More 

When I became a professional writer, the first book I bought was one that contained the speeches and writings of the man whose words and deeds had such a large effect on my life, Dr. Martin Luther King. For Finn and children everywhere, Dr. King said:

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Martin Luther King, Jr.  Read More 

I've been writing in between being with Finn and his mommy, as well as his loving brother and sister.

Finn is my first child, as you might guess from the title of my column, "First-Time Father at Fifty-Eight." As I've mentioned, it would be easy for me to say this experience is far beyond words; yet that, as I've told my students, is not acceptable for a writer to say. So I'll keep trying to put this experience into words, and they'll be posted again soon.

Meanwhile, here's a photo of Finn on his fifth day in the world, dressed up and awaiting a visit from his cousins. (To see an interview with Finn's cousin Tyler, click Tyler's image on my home page.) Read More 

The Father Life (click to the left) will be posting my new column about Finn's birth in the next few days.

Lydia took this photo with my camera phone tonight. I'm holding my son, Finn Scott. All of us - Finn's brother and sister and I - drove happily through the snow to see them. Tomorrow Lydia and Finn will be home.

I have a lot of stories to tell about all of this, and will, in a book I'm writing and a column I write for THE FATHER LIFE magazine. For now, I'll just say that Finn's birth was the most profound moment of my life.

I tell students never to write, "words can't express my emotions," so I won't say that. Yet, it's going to take a while to express them.

Welcome to the world, Finn. I love you.  Read More