Chip Off the Old Block

Context

Published on 1 July 2026, this piece observes the strange, mirror-like experience of watching a child inherit not just eye color, but specific, idiosyncratic obsessions. The observation moves from the shock of biological recognition to a comparison between toddler negotiations and medieval feudalism. It frames parenting as a series of delicate treaties and shared rights, moving beyond the idea of a simple power struggle. The result is a meditation on how the past repeats itself in the nursery, often in ways that are both funny and slightly unsettling.

Show notes