On the Beam

Imagine hulking dads displaying the gravity-defying gyrations of a teenage girl on the (work-life) balance beam. It would certainly be a comical sight.

But in real life, somehow, fathers stay on that beam. They work overnight so they can coach their son's team and be a regular part of their childrens' lives as volunteers in schools and communities. Of course, just like those flying teenage gymnasts start out with trapezes attached to them as they practice and have mats on the floor in case they fall, so do the fathers flourish outside of work when some infrastructure is in place.

For most men, work is not as much fun when compared to the fun and fulfillment to be found with their kids. But there still has to be work and, as with all conflicts today, dads are faced with legislation and court systems making and breaking the rules by which they live.

Here come the judges' scores ...