Dad: Scott Tennent
Kiddo: Cooper, 2 1/2
Gig: Executive Director of Communication, LACMA; Author of Slint's Spiderland (33 1/3)

What has fatherhood taught you?
"A lot of parents talk about firsts: First word, first step, first day of school. I like all the firsts, too, but the best thing about being a dad is all the fifths, tenths, and hundredths. I love watching Cooper learn. I loved hearing him say all the words to 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,' and I loved it even more when he figured out the melody. I was happy watching his vocabulary grow, and even happier when he started making sentences. Seeing him grow — not just physically, but mentally — is the true joy of fatherhood."

What's your favorite bonding activity?
"I really enjoy teaching Cooper about music. We were all about guitars and violins a few weeks ago. Now we're into horns. He has a book that shows a brass band on one page, so I taught him the names of the horns — trumpet, trombone, tuba. Then I showed him videos of people playing those horns, and played him songs, and we started making the noises together — long sliding sounds for trombones, oom-pahs for tubas, high tweets for trumpets. When we listen to music, I point out the horns, then ask him to tell me which ones he hears. For weeks now he's been playing my tennis racket like a tuba, while we walk around the house like we're in a marching band. When he hears a horn now, he identifies it, and starts making the sound."

Photo: Courtesy of Scott Tennent