I confess that there are times when my kids ask to play, or for help, that I remain planted in the chair or on the sofa. It’s true that I have, from time to time, suggested that they go watch TV because dad is “tired.” Or “talking to Mommy.” Or “having a huge tumbler of wine.” I may have, on rare occasion, even put in a DVD and thrown around some Cheez-itz just to get them off my case.

But there are certain phrases that always work to get me off the sofa. And I’m not just talking “Daddy, how do you put out a fire?” My kids have memorized these phrases and use them often. My youngest, Coop, found a new one this weekend. It goes like this: “Daddy, will you do a puzzle with me?” The minute he asked, I recognized that this one would always work. How can you not encourage a three-year-old to do a puzzle? This has got to be good for his little developing brain. Cowboys playing the Vikings, so what.

I’m on the floor with him, dumping small pieces everywhere. The efficacy of this phrase was confirmed after the fifth puzzle of the afternoon – a jumbo floor unit from Melissa and Doug that featured fish. I was impressed by his taxonomy. The other one that always works is “Dad, will you go throw the [whatever] with me?” This is for me a fundamental dad obligation, and if I were ever to say no I’d have to go right down to Lake Austin and toss the key to the DadLabs in. Speaking of ball, I’m feeling badly for our friends at Cleveland-based BabySwede today.

We were with these guys during Game 4 of the Red Sox/Indians ALCS, and they were so excited they left teeth marks on the bar. Given the recent unpleasantness with the Patriots, it was easy for me to dump my allegiance to the in-laws and go with the Indians. After all, we were in the bar of the Georgetown Inn because of the BabySwedes. They invited the DadLabs crew out to a really cool event at the Swedish Embassy in DC. At the event, we heard from pioneering neo-natologist Av Fanaroff. Since Bubba was a preemie, I’m a preemie geek, and Dr. Fanaroff and the Rainbow Hospital have been leaders in the field. Av was one of the guys that helped bring Kangaroo care to the US. Kangaroo care changed my life. Bonded me with my preemie first-born and got me fired up about this whole co-parenting thing. We also heard from members of the BabyBjorn founding family (there’s Lisa Thoren, daughter of the founding Bjorn pictured with Daddy Brad above), and watched a no-kidding runway fashion show of baby carriers through the years. We shot the whole thing, so expect to see the goofy “DadLabs in DC” stuff soon. Did we embarrass ourselves? I almost went all George Bush (elder) on the Swedish ambassador. He’s tucking in, really enjoying his feed. I’m a little less jazzed about the traditional fare. The Ambassador asks me how I like Swedish food. I take a big heaping forkful of lutefisk. Almost boot in his lap. I smile and say, “love it.” Talk about international diplomacy. I expect a call from Condi any moment.