Kevin Keck has written a funny and poignant essay for Babble called "Daddy's Drawer," in which he recalls the objects he found stashed away in his father's nightstand and how they helped him get acquainted with a secret side of his dad that he never knew existed. Kevin also bravely reveals which of his possessions he'd prefer to keep hidden from his children. (Evidently those items include penis paperweights and pot paraphernalia. Good call, Kevin. Good call.)

As contemporary, open-minded parents, all of us like to think we'd share virtually any part of ourselves with our kids. But the truth is, we moms and dads still need to keep certain segments of our personalities, and perhaps certain objects, tucked away from prying fingers and curious eyes. All of which leads up to this fun little question: What do you hide from your kids?

My son is still too young to truly start digging into my dirt, so to speak, but I know what I definitely don't ever want him to see: The journals I wrote in high school and college. Honestly, I can't even read some of those entries silently to myself without dissolving into spasms of embarassment. If my little boy ever knew what went on in my head at age 18, his respect for my authority (assuming he has some) would fly right out the window.

So what would you rather keep on the down-low? All those dog-eared copies of Maxim and Playboy? That secret stash of cigarettes? Love letters from old boyfriends and girlfriends? Come on, you can tell us. We'll keep it a secret. We swear. 

Image: Adam Weiss/Getty Images on Babble.com