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...

Becomming a Disciplinarian

It is not easy to discipline your own child. You can read as many books as you want but depending on the temperament of your child, not every discipline/punishment trick will work. Depending on the temperament of the child you have to be creative and try new things – one size definitely does not fit all. In our family Diva-J is a good example of this. We have read many books on parenting a strong willed ch Read More...

Daddy the Moron

I’ve recently come to realize that my 8-year-old daughter think I’m an idiot. I don’t know how it happened.  It feels like a recent development in the past eight months or so.  When she was a toddler, I spend a substantial amount of time establishing myself as World’s Smartest Daddy.  When she had questions about stuff, I was on.  I had my answers ready, and she bought it every time.   Read More...

Response to Fatherfolk and the challenge to be more

On Sunday night Aaron over at Father Folk wrote an open letter to the dads over at Dad Revolution, a letter challenging us to be more. Please take five minutes and go over and read the letter before we continue…. You read it right? Good stuff huh. That letter went up late Sunday night, was taken down and then went back up Monday night. You see Aaron took a little heat for posting that, it seems some still don Read More...

I’m leaving on a jet plane…

I will be back in NYC by the time this is read. We are preparing our bags on a breezy and sunny morning about a hundred kilometers south of Rome. My inspiration this morning is the slightly choppy sea right in front of my in-laws’ house. They have already kidnapped my son to spend every minute of the last day we are here in Italy with him. It is always a melancholy dawn – the day before our departure. I Read More...

Tricycle to Bicycle

Originally published on CuteMonster.com As he raced down the sidewalk furiously pedaling away on his two wheeled steed, the adjacent grass rippled in his wake. He beamed with confidence evident by a smile that seemed to light up the path outstretched before him. Intoxicated by speed, the boy seemed determined to take flight. Little did he realize he’d get his wish. As he leaned into a sharp curve, the mo 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...

Look Who’s Talking

No, this post isn’t about a late 80’s movie starring John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and a baby who talks in a voice the sounds oddly like Bruce Willis.  No, this is about a bunch of people who have started talking: Dads.  Of course, this isn’t new.  DadRevolution and other dad blog sites have had dads talking for awhile now.  What is new is that the dads have begun to organize on Twitter using t Read More...

Behind Every Revolutionary Dad

“Buddy, I said come out of there.” I repeated for the second time, my voice getting a bit louder. “You need to listen to Daddy!” We were both tired, my three year old son and I,  as well as a bit cranky stemming from the very recent transition we were making. No longer was he staying home all day with Mom, but rather I was getting him up early each morning to take him to preschool. I Read More...

Dads in media

When was the last time you saw a cool, helpful, knowledgeable dad on a tv show? if you’re already saying Cosby you could be right – do you know how wrong that is?! it went off the air in 1992 – we’ve seen nothing since ok some people would argue that Parenthood could be the bright star in the sky but its too much drama and very little interaction of dad. I’ve been on this kick lately t Read More...

Viva La Revolucion!

First, I’d like to say that it is an honor to have been asked to join a group of men who are also passionate about being great fathers and sharing their journey. I think that this “Dad Revolution” is a long time coming and feel blessed to live in an age where technology can connect dads from all over the world. When I started my family at the age of 20, I was often alone because I wanted to do  Read More...

Dad Memories

I visited the town I grew up on this past weekend. It’s a small town in NEPA that North East PA. It’s funny how small and old things seem compared to when I was a child. I drove by my old house and I drove by my dad’s old office. It turns out my dad lives three blocks from where he practiced medicine for fifteen years before he sold his practice. He moved back to the area after fifteen years in the so Read More...

The Air Is Buzzing with the Talk of Revolution

Hello to readers far and wide. Come and stand right by our side. The air is buzzing with talk of revolution.  And like Rock And Roll it isn’t noise pollution. Hello to readers far and wide. Come and stand right by our side. The air is buzzing with talk of revolution. And like Rock And Roll it isn’t noise pollution. Okay, I know it’s a little corny, but had to make a quip for the entrance to th 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...

Modeling What it Means to Be a Friend

What does it mean to be a friend. As a guy and as a father I think this is not always an easy thing to explain or talk about. As guys we talk about hanging out and many times talk about truly surface things when it comes to friendships. Yet, in thinking about this, what is this showing our children? I have been lucky to have some friendships in the past and even some now that have been much more than this. The type Read More...

Not funny, not today.

This post isn’t going to be funny or cute.  I thought about ways I could make it amusing (Quippy dialogue with the 8-year-old!  Playfully snarky remarks from the wife!  Stories where I’m an idiot!  Pictures of puppies wearing hats!) but that’s not happening today.  And I need to tread carefully, because I’m about to talk about a situation that’s currently under scrutiny where I li Read More...

Play Dates and Dads

I have done a lot of dating lately and my wife is starting to get jealous. Some of it has been with her but mostly it is the boys and I heading out to spend some time with other kids and their parents. Coffee shops, the zoo, parks, when it isn’t raining, and living rooms have taken the place of movies, happy hours, and candle light dinners. The kids get to play with new toys and get some creative play in with Read More...

A big city kid in the middle of nowhere…

I grew up a big city kid. I loved it because you had access to everyone and everything. Multi-lingual and multi-cultural. There was always something different to try and to choose from each and everyday. Even Rome where I spent most of my time away from New York is a big city and although not as cosmopolitan it retains a great deal of the big city vibe. I am happy my son is growing up in a big city despite the sacr Read More...

Comic Book Literacy

Originally published on CuteMonster.com My Spidey Sense had been tingling all night. Suddenly I leapt backward completing a humanly impossible acrobatic feat while landing hard against the wall. The floor where I last stood had been crushed to rubble. Slightly stunned from the impact, my eyes burned from the dust filled smoke as I attempted to get a glance at my attacker. “Focus Spidey.” I could bar Read More...

Balancing Work and Family at #BlogHer10

During BlogHer 2010, I attended some wonderful sessions.  One that stood out for me as a parent, though, was titled “Screw Work/Life Balance, We Need Work/Life POLICY!”  The session moderators Morra Aarons-Mele and Stephanie Wilchfort guided us through a discussion of how businesses in the United States currently treat workers with family issues and how we can improve the situation. I’ll admit t Read More...