Climbing Lessons

<p>When Doc Bascom tries to show his grade school sons how to climb a huge sycamore, he ends up dropping 12 feet flat-out on his back. Stunned, he finally gasps, &ldquo;So that&rsquo;s how it&rsquo;s done.&rdquo; And in that moment, he becomes an emblem for all fathers&mdash;trying to lead the way, failing, then getting up and trying again.</p><p>This &ldquo;climbing lesson&rdquo; is just one of 40 playful, sometimes poignant stories by award-winning author Tim Bascom, who illustrates the special bond between fathers and sons&mdash;and how that relationship must change with time. When&nbsp;Tim takes his own turn at fathering, he realizes that his devoted toddlers are turning into unimpressed teenagers. No longer the hero he had hoped to be, he must accept a new, flawed version of himself, not unlike his father before him.</p><p>These brief inter-linked stories show that abiding affection can still prevail, bringing fathers and sons closer, even as they tackle the steepest parts of the climb.</p>