Good morning...well, I tend to think Mr. Steyn does do this tongue in cheek. Why else would you keep a diary and constantly put things in there that are uncomplimentary to your son whom you love very much?
I think Ben Steyn is a good, kind, loving man and I KNOW he LOVES his dog and I would be quite surprised if this wasn't all just some diary chatter. Besides, he is very funny with that voice of his. I think Tommy will be just fine. He's got a great dad....
You asked, "Why else would you keep a diary and constantly put things in there that are uncomplimentary to your son whom you love very much?" I have a conjecture for you: I went through Jungian analysis more than a dozen years ago; the analyst had me keep a diary of thoughts and dreams. Ben may be keeping this diary for that purpose, but it is not at all a bad thing to keep a diary that the son can read many years down the road, when facing similar problems with his own children. kapish?
Why would an honest man; a writer; whose appeal is in his authenticity as a 'man' - ie a 'humble' man (one who realizes he is not perfect nor is life. . .nor his son, for that matter. . .) make 'tongue in cheek' in his diary or just 'lie' - and for the sake of what. . .pretending he has a son who has yet to learn or accept. . .a more mature level of responsibility. . .so that he can 'pretend' parental angst??
No. . .I would suggest that people take this offering for what it is. . .
No one HAS to like it. . .or like Ben or his writing for that matter. . .but there is little sense is trying to 'make it something - it is not'; to make it fit more easily in one's own scheme of things.
Ben is honest about everybody/everything. . .which is why is just 'tells it like it is'; whether his life or Tommy's. . .whether he writes abut his Mother/Father. ...his marriage. . .his friends; his latest commercial. . .job; his failure/success. . .it is genuine - from the heart.
Could be that Ben feels safer in 'print'. . .writing; many gentle writers do. . .might be his best way to communicate with Tommy.
Either enjoy it or not!