A while back L. from Homesick Home answered some questions that were posed to her by Andie from Grumppopotamus. I thought it might be fun to answer some random questions about me so L. sent some over to me a few weeks ago. I have finally finished her questions and now I share them with you…

1) Being a father obviously comes very naturally to you, as evident on your blog. Did you always want kids? How old were you when you realized you wanted kids? (Sorry — that was two questions, but they’re so related.)

I don’t know if there was ever an “AHA!” moment where I realized I wanted kids. I think it’s been something that’s just been understood that someday I would marry and have kids. I think I really started to think about it after I started my first job after grad school when I began working at a non-profit youth center in San Jose. Being around kids reinforced how much I enjoyed being around them and that I was pretty darn good at relating to them. After that it was just convincing my lovely wife that we needed to have kids. She made me wait five years and for that, I am convinced, is why we have twins.

2) Your kids are still small, but do you already have educational goals for them? Why or why not?

Oh, there will be no question that the expectation in our household will be an undergraduate degree and graduate school will be greatly encouraged. I graduated from a prestigious university and I can honestly say that my college education is one of the greatest influences on my life today – not to mention what I learned in the classroom.

As for immediate education, I’m a big believer in public schools and the school district we currently live in is a good one. Having said that, I could see a time down the road where private school may be the way to go. We have a Catholic High School opening near us soon and it would definitely be an option when the time comes. Of course, I’d have to be earning more money than I am at the moment.

I also think for me, personally, my goal is to be really involved in my children’s education. I am convinced that the number one indicator of a child’s success in the classroom is parental involvement. I will know my children’s teachers. I plan on volunteering as much as I can and I will always be available to check homework and answer questions. And while they may get sick of me being so involved the older they get, to me, being involved is one of the greatest gifts I can give my children.

3) Do you always expect to live in the same part of the country where you’re living now?

Yes. I could live anywhere. But my lovely wife is from a place on earth where cold white flakes descend from the heavens and accumulate on the ground in large enough proportions to make life generally miserable. (Or so I’m told.) So, I don’t think we’ll be leaving this warm, beautiful climate anytime soon.

4) Do you think the fact that you lost your own father when you were very small make you less likely to take chances, now that you have children?

I’d be lying to say that I don’t think about that. As I’ve stated before, one of the main reasons I started this blog was that I wanted my children to know me and how much I love them in case something were to happen to me. So, to answer your question, I do take less chances. I drive a bit slower. I take my time shaving. I wear shoes in the garage.

5) If you could someday take your kids (when they’re old enough to appreciate it, of course) to any one out-of-town baseball park, which team would you go see, and why?

My plan is to one day see a game in every major league baseball park. I would especially like to take my children with me as I hope to pass my love of the game on to them. Having said that, I’d love to take my kids to see a San Francisco Giants game at Pac Bell SBC AT&T Park (or whatever name their stadium happens to have at the time) because that was the team I grew up rooting for. And while I haven’t seen a ton of games there since I’ve moved, that is the stadium where I feel the most at home.

Anyone want to participate? Let me know in the comments section and I’ll put some questions together for you. It might be a few weeks though so be patient!