I was talking with a fellow dad at a Halloween gathering yesterday. I asked him to tell me something about himself. "Tell me something about yourself," I told him.

He proceeded to tell me where he worked, how many kids he had, where he and his wife met, and how long they've lived in the area. Ok, that is definitely information, but it doesn't tell me much about this person. What are his hobbies, what are his interests, etc...

And it got me thinking, and led me to post here. Is this the way we introduce ourselves to others? Are we merely identified by our familial relationships and employment status?

Wouldn't it be interesting to hear "married with two kids and yeah I work but on the side I enjoy carpentry (or playing piano, or whatever)"

Something to think about - are we enabling this gross overgeneralization of men by society by conforming to some hidden expectation that we stay shallow in our interactions with others? It seems that it would be harder to do this if people saw a little more of the rich lives that all men live, or want to live.

Next time someone asks me about myself, I may go off the rails a little bit. Talk about the piano I'm trying to learn with my kid or the games I've been playing lately. Something....different.

Anyway, take care of yourselves, and don't be afraid to be the real you in your interactions with others. At least you won't just be "dude with two kids and works in finance."