Chloe improves this blog

Editor's Note: Snooze Button Generation founder and CEO Joe Stevens is insisting on including three quoted sources in each blog entry now. He is saying that three sources is the minimum needed in a basic journalistic story. While that convention may hold true for pithy sports reports, Stevens may have a conflict of interest with his so-called sources. For example, in this month's "journalistic" entry, he interviews his wife, mom and oldest daughter. I mean, come on!

Chloe Stevens is pretty amazing, and this blog does not have space for all of her over-the-top, pre-college accomplishments.

But what I can say is that she is so inspirational to this dad that the Snooze Button Generation (tm) blog will be changing its format — hopefully forever — to include at least three quoted sources in each entry.

Now, back in the day, having three quoted sources was the norm in certain journalistic pieces, but that's pretty basic. Journalists need to seek truth and balance, and the more sources in a story, the better. Presumably, having a formulaic, three simple-quote story isn't too sophisticated, but for the Snooze Button Generation blog, it may improve the first-person, Op-Ed type of stories that appear here.

Subconsciously, I believe Chloe had something to do with this. She has a modus operandi of leaving things better than she encountered. That happened with various aspects of high school. I believe she embodies such excellent traits, including persistence, integrity, honesty and empathy, that she inspires others around them to be better version of themselves — her dad included.

"Chloe is diplomatic and emotionally intuitive," said Dina, my wife and Chloe's stepmom. "She's a good soul and can be funny. She has a good sense of humor. She's a good kid. She understands emotion on another level."

Perhaps an unexpected benefit from having divorced parents is seeing how people live similarly, but also differently. When I grew up, as a youngster, I just assumed all families did things how mine did. Later, I realized the differences and wiggle room that people have in everyday living, from food to sleep to routines and more. Perhaps being in a divorced situation forces kids to be a little more resilient, open-minded and learn how to deal with different people.

Chloe and I are big proponents of routine. I like a set schedule, and then I like to bring out my creativity within the context of that schedule stability. However, I need to plan more spontaneity — joke intended.

Ok, so, Chloe — whom I used to call gumball as a baby and toddler— I just feel I've had a special bond with her from the day she was born. She's like a daughter to me. Well, wait, uh, she is indeed my daughter.  

"I probably live in her shadow," Sophie said of her younger sister. However, when pressed on what exactly that means, Sophie did not elaborate.

Chloe will be joining Sophie at UC Berkeley in August. Sophie is studying computer science, data science and applied math and will land on one of those for her major. Chloe will be in Berkeley's aerospace engineering program.

With these two daughters each valedictorians (perfect 4.0 GPAs) at Millikan High School, it could be easy to pretend there is a link between parental love and accomplishment. Absolutely not. Whatever these two do, this dad would support.

Contradictorily, it is nice to brag that Chloe was captain of her badminton team, got to play violin alongside the Long Beach Symphony this year, will have passed 13 AP tests and got a medal for being one of Millikan's top math students. Perhaps she's been elite when it comes to learning for a long time.

"Chloe astounded everyone when she began reading the Harry Potter books at age seven — with comprehension," Chloe's grandma, Anne Stevens said. "She was just such an easy child, and she always was, and is, such a pleasure to be around."

The other day, Chloe was saying that pretty much anybody can learn anything if they focus and try hard. Her dad agrees, but would add that there needs to be authentic learning conditions supported, first, by the parents and, second, the schools and teacher.

Nowadays, and even back when I was in school, I notice that learning is often performative or just short-term memory games and we're just pretending to read. Nobody really reads To Kill a Mockingbird. Right?

Honestly, as an educator, my best advice in raising kids would be 1) love them, yes, love them with all of your heart, and 2) read actual books as opposed to going through reading motions. The parent needs to read, too.

Chloe read with her dad every night before bed until the middle of middle school. She lasted until she was bombarded by homework. This dad is utterly proud of her, not because of her accomplishments, but because she is a responsible, empathetic and loving person.

"She's exceptional, unique and incredible," Dina said. "There are too many adjectives to fit in your little blurb, Joe."