If you are a stepfather, you know the difference between the legal definition of father and the real one. The real one shows up. He learns the allergies, the fears, and the names of the friends. He drives to the practices and sits through the recitals and knows which child needs quiet when they’re upset […]

There are two kinds of fathers. The first kind coaches the games, makes it to the school plays, stays up late helping with the projects, and loves his family in every visible way. He thinks about what would happen if something happened to him: maybe during a long drive home, maybe after a close call, […]