I have these friends, Ron and Jennifer Tigges. They own Video Creations and WebSavvy, which are local video production and Internet design and hosting businesses they run out of their house. Ron also works at McGraw Hill. One visit to their basement and you’d realize, however, that this is no ordinary house. I think Ron may be able to launch missiles from there, but I haven’t asked. They are both technology geeks and I mean that in the best possible way. As you probably inferred, they are married. Jennifer loves to play with the technology to make things. I think Ron just loves to play with the technology, perhaps to take over the world. Again, I haven’t asked. He seems to know the model number of every thing Sony, Canon and everyone else has ever manufactured. I usually get fairly lost somewhere in the conversation.

You may see Ron at tons of area events with his camera. He seems to shoot everything. He posts his photo galleries to DigitalDubuque.com, but with the hundreds of photos there, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. If 365 is ubiquitous, then Ron is uber-ubiquitous. They’re also a ton of fun. They host great themed parties, where they make incredible food from sushi to a spread of smoked meats (I was in heaven). Needless to say I somehow shockingly missed the raw food party.

They also travel a lot on the weekends and take in events and sites that most Tri-Staters drive past on a daily basis. In itself, this is impressive, but there’s something I left out. They have kids. Boys. Two of them.

So I’m writing about Ron and Jennifer because I think they are about the coolest parents I know. I know a lot of people with kids, and on occasion, I see people go through life with their kids acting as anchors. They’re always too tired to do stuff or worried about what to do with the kids. Essentially, they don’t do things because of the “kid variable.” And some are just way overprotective and never want to expose the kids to experiences where they can get lost or hurt or whatever. The solution is either not to participate or to get a sitter.

For Ron and Jennifer, I see a healthy balance of better options. The biggest thing I see is inclusion. They seem to do it all, and through it all, they include the boys. Festivals can be a nightmare for a parent, but they really seem to take it in stride. The boys have a level of freedom to have fun and somehow always come back alive at the end of the event. No, they don’t run amuck and cause trouble as I often see some kids doing (usually at much younger ages than shouldn’t be unsupervised). Their boys generally stick together and make their own fun. I think that is definitely a product of good parenting.

I hear all the time about the trips they take on weekends to nature areas in Wisconsin and festivals in Illinois and, of course, around Iowa. They participate in and enjoy their surroundings and because of it, I think those boys are getting an education that a lot of kids miss out on when they stay home with the sitter playing Xbox. They do get sitters, by the way. They know when to draw the line where kids belong and don’t belong, and it looks like they find ways to make time for themselves. They came over for New Year’s Eve at my place. (Jennifer, I’m eating the last of the caramels you made as I write.) And I think they take turns being with the kids so the other can take part in activities that interest them. Well, I know Jen lets Ron go do fun stuff on his own here and there. We’ll assume Ron reciprocates, and if not, Jen can use this article as guilt ammunition ... or just roll up the issue and smack him with it.

I just see a wonderful balance that does not often stick out to me with other families. Now Ron and Jennifer will probably read this and say, “Thank God he’s not here when all hell breaks loose.” I mean, they are kids, after all, and I’m sure every parent is convinced at least once a week that they have completely failed as a parent because little Johnny just tried to microwave the cat. I, by the way, would not have a huge problem with that. But I think when you step back and look at the big picture there is a model there to follow.

I don’t have any kids ... yet. But I hope to one day. (Christy just started to sweat.) And I hope that I find the energy and balance to include my kids in my adventures ... strike that ...make our own adventures together, from the simple catch in the yard to the nerve-testing ride that is a night at Dubuque ... And All That Jazz with two boys amongst 8,000 partiers. And get in the car and go places, see interesting things and take lots of pictures.

So to Ron and Jennifer, if you’re wondering if you’re doing everything right, from my perspective, you’re the parents I aspire to be. For the rest of my good friends reading this who are also parents, if you are wondering if the fact that I’m pointing them out makes you a bad parent in relation, the answer is yes. You suck as a parent and might as well give up.