Time to jump into the pool and swim today!

My exposure to organized sport swimming was limited to second-hand knowledge of my younger cousin, who is currently ranked very well in some regional division that I’m sure is very impressive to those in the know. He is an immensely good water polo player (if you don’t know what water polo is, it’s basically where you ride a bunch of horses through a public pool whacking the opponent’s balls Read More...

Strong, Weak and Vulnerable At The Same Time

by Kevin These past few months have been quite the experience of being a dad and plenty more unsuspecting roller coaster turns to come I am sure. I have written quite a number of posts relating to the struggles and the coping (lack of) of ET suffering from GERD, but I never actually started from the beginning as such. Have you ever been strong, weak and vulnerable at the same time? Read on to find out, why I felt Read More...

The Two Most Important Decisions Your Child Will Ever Make

by Barry Adkins “It’s just alcohol; at least they are not doing drugs.” How many of us have said this, heard it, or thought it? Often we think that as long as they are “just drinking” our children will be okay. The truth is, most illegal drugs are tried, for the first time, under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol kills more than all illegal drugs combined. Try using Google to search for the term “alcoh Read More...

Greater than the Sum of our Parts

I recently had a guys’ night out. I went to a sports bar with a good friend and watched college football while our wives hung out with the kids. I had a very good time, and while I was sitting there drinking a beer, I tried to remember the last time that I just hung out with the dudes. Apparently, it was a long time ago because I couldn’t recall it. I used to play golf fairly often with another guy, but that wa Read More...

The Dreaded Binkie

Before you actually become a parent, you do not realize the near mythical importance of the pacifier, also popularly known as the Binkie. The Binkie is not like other baby toys. You buy a mobile, your newborn stares at it for 20 minutes then pulls it down and gives it to the dog. He’ll slobber on a teething ring for a little while, then eat it or try to hide it in his butt. The Binkie is a whole other deal. A Bin Read More...

5 Jaded Tips For Choosing The Perfect Valentines Day Gift

After a few years (or any really…), Valentines Day loses its sheen for us guys.  While I started out with the hopes of writing some amazing tips for finding her that perfect present, things did not quite go as planned… I am confident that you will find our suggestions useful (except for #4, I don’t know what I was thinking there), but not very romantic.  That being said, it is perfect for those Read More...

The Early Morning Chair

My alarm goes off at 4:52. Two days ago it went off at 5:04. Four days ago I slept in: 5:21. My alarm goes off at random times because I do not set my own alarm. A buzzing or beeping clock does not wake me. A gentle melody from my favorite CD or radio station does not introduce me to the new day. I have a more unique alarm. The cries from my son down the hall. “Do you want me to get up with him?” my partner say Read More...

A NEW PHENOMENON, THE STAY AT HOME DAD

“Stay at home dad” used to be an embarrassing phrase.  But, as more and more families cope with the rising cost of daycare and the high unemployment rate, more families are opting to leave egos aside and let the higher earner of the home stay at work while the other spouse brings in the money to support the family.  These days the high earner could just as easily be the mom, leaving the dad to take care of th Read More...

Surviving a Social Media Wife

I was happy to write a guest post for Adam because it only takes but a quick look around Dada Rocks! to see that he not only relishes being a father, but also is very plugged into the world of social media.  This second quality is one that many men today don’t have. Women largely dominate social media – especially social media related to family and child rearing – and many men are confused and even ange Read More...

When Oil and Water Play Together

How many of you have two or more children? If so, you probably have any idea of what you are about to read. Cats and dogs don’t mix, I’ve heard that Republicans and Democrats don’t mix (but I”m not all that political), orange juice and toothpaste sure don’t mix, but I’m going to write about the best known things that don’t mix…oil and wat Read More...

Ever Dreamed Of Being A Dad? I Did.

I can’t even begin to tell you how amazing it is for me to be writing this post today. You see? I’m not your average dad. By average I mean your typical guy who eventually winds up settling down, having kids, and doing the work thing. Nope, not me. Ever since I was very young I dreamed of having children. I grew up babysitting neighborhood kids and was a camp counselor for a period of time as well. I’ve Read More...

Fathers and sons

Last March, on the day that my father retired, I was laid off from what I thought was a secure job in the civil service. Picture the both of us in a little wooden boat pushing away from shore, except that I forgot to bring my oar. And I’m actually in the water, kicking in a panic to catch up. Up until that day I’d never paid much attention to the future, except as an ill-defined blob of possible disaste Read More...

Martial Art of Sibling Rivalry

About a year before my daughter was born, I wrote a book called Bro-Jitsu: The Martial Art of Sibling Rivalry. The book is basically a chronicle of all the different ways that my brother and I used to torture each other growing up. Everything from the good old noogie to the pink belly to chasing each other with dog poop on the end of a stick. Okay, so it’s not the most sophisticated thing I’ve ever written. Read More...

Guest Blog by Dana H. Glazer: My Evolution – And Yours [Win a copy of The Evolution of Dad]

I was standing on the sidelines of my son’s soccer practice the other day and started talking to another dad who was next to me. He asked me what do I ‘do’ and I told him about the fatherhood documentary I had recently completed. “Oh,” he reacted blankly, ”fatherhood is important and all, but what more is there to really say about it?” I then proceeded to share some of the issues discussed in the film Read More...