Visit The YMCA, It’s Not Just A Song

Today’s children have more and more opportunities to remain sedimentary. They have every type of technology at their fingertips and whether it be television, video games, the computer or other such activities, they can sit for hours inside instead of being outside remaining active. The challenge with this is that many of our children are beginning to have problems with their health and being overweight due t Read More...

Why You’re A Dad

You’ve had one of those days. One of those days that make you question your sanity. One of those days where you wish you could experience again what it was like before you had children. If only for a day or two. Or a couple hours. Where there were no cries and screams, no impossible demands, no blatant disregard for instructions. No tantrums. No bickering. You knew there were going to be days like this because pe Read More...

Fabulous Film Fathers

With the snow and cold weather out, my boys and I have been taking advantage of Netflix and our local library to watch some movies.  I’ve noticed a couple that showed some good examples of fatherhood.  Just a warning: Spoilers Be Ahead.  If you haven’t seen Despicable me or Shrek Forever After yet, you might want to bookmark this article and come back later.  Otherwise, dive on in. Despicable Me The main ch Read More...

Be Your Child’s Biggest Fan

Children are looking for your approval at all times. They want to feel that they are wanted, needed, and accepted for who they are. As they begin to grow and learn about their passions as we talked about in yesterday’s post, it will be important for you as their parent to do whatever you can to become your child’s biggest fan. What does it mean to be your child’s biggest fan you may as Read More...

That’s So NOT Gay!

My father told me he was gay when I was fourteen years old and it changed my life forever. At the time I lived in San Diego with my mom, and my dad lived in San Francisco. I hadn’t known that I had known any gay people until that point in my life. No one had bothered to expose me to any positive information about gay people. No one shared gay history with me. I had not read any books about gay people nor had I ha Read More...

That’s a pretty big boo-boo…

The concept of pain is never easy to explain to a kid. My son understands the basic concept of the so-called “boo-boo”. We also try to teach him that by hitting or kicking or biting or throwing things he can cause others and most often his parents a great deal of boo-boo. He has also, unfortunately, made the connection between certain boo-boos and mommy and daddy pulling out some ice from the freezer so now he Read More...

Valentine’s Day

Without question, Valentine’s Day translates into a commercial bonanza for retailers. And yet, if one can filter out this unsavory profit motivated aspect, then the people that matter to us, our loved ones, move to center stage. For families, Valentine’s day embraces a day of recognition that no matter how challenging our daily lives become, unconditional love empowers us to endure. In short, love con Read More...

Commercial Interruption

For the longest time, NHL’s television watching habits were blissfully commercial free.  He would watch DVDs, kids channels (where the only commercials were for their own shows) or DVRed shows (commercials quickly skipped by).  As he’s gotten older, though, he’s come to notice those little bits of advertisement.  I’d like to announce that my savvy son has realized that these are just crass attempts to se Read More...

Old Haunts

It’s that time of year for me at work. It seems it’s always that time of year, but I suppose that is an altogether separate discussion. And, with that time of year, comes the requisite stress of too many things to do, and not enough time to do them. Throw in a few unreasonable deadlines, and it all adds up to longer hours, a high stress level for Daddy, and more than the normal amounts of work ma 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...

Teaching My Daughters to Love The Game

As the new year starts and football season amps up with bowl games, the superbowl this weekend and other such great sporting events like this, I have been reflecting about what I have done to allow my girls to enjoy the sports that I like as well. Ever since that have been with us I have shared with them certain sports. For me, it is usually Football or Basketball. I would have them sit and watch the games with me Read More...

travel tips for the family from the expert Amy Tara Koch

I had the great pleasure of doing a quick interview with Amy Tara Koch, the author of Bump It Up, trend reporter to NBC, contributer to SELF, New York Times, People’s Mom and Baby, Travel & Leisure, and many others – yah she’s totally an expert on all things style and travel. Admittedly the first line about I’m following you is awkward but its about Twitter – lol… We went over Read More...

Daddy Is a Hero

I’m not a hero. A hero regularly does spectacular things that others cannot do. I’ve never done anything spectacular. I’ve never found a cure for a disease. I’ve never saved someone from danger. I’ve never invented an everyday necessity. I’ve never done anything that has elevated me to the status of hero. I do the same ordinary things that a million other people do every day of their lives. But Daddy, Read More...

Snow in the City

The advent of snow, especially to the uninitiated child, is a treat for parents. It is also a curse. Let me explain what I mean. This is the first year that our son can truly enjoy snow and snow related activities. It also happens to be the first time in 80 years that New York City has seen this much snowfall. The combination means that there has been snow pretty much every week since mid-December and it looks like Read More...

Monster Jam is coming to Cleveland and I have a great family deal for you!!!

I have girls, I have been able to give them the opportunity to see the Monster Jam in the past and they loved it. I was a bit surprised, as I never grew up with this in the past, but they were simply mesmerized, and could not believe that vehicles could be as BIG and as LOUD as they were in the venue that we went to. With this in mind, I wanted to pass this great deal along to you and your family. Monster Jam is co Read More...

What Was My Post About Again?

A few days ago, I was walking into work and thinking about blog post topics.  I suddenly thought of a great topic.  I mulled using it for my Tuesday post, but decided instead to use it for my upcoming Dad Revolution post.  There’s one small thing standing between you and reading this fantastic post, though.  My memory. You see, in the handful of days between Monday and today (Thursday since th Read More...

Trying to Figure it Out

I’ve been a dad for almost two years now, so I should know better. I should know better than to expect that an established routine will stay an established routine. I should know better than to get all bent out of shape when an established routine doesn’t go according to plan. I should know better than to think that I have any more than a modicum of control over any of it. I should know better than to try to fi Read More...

Nearing Extinction: Restaurants that understand that family dining means bringing the kids.

Sitting down at the dining room table as a family is hard enough with our fidgety son (as discussed at length following SeattleDad’s post last week), a restaurant is a whole other ball of yarn. Every parent goes through the phase in which restaurants are just off limits. This holds especially true when multiple toddlers are involved. Boys certainly seem to make the experience that much less agreeable, but I have Read More...

In the Name of Love

We celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. today as a tribute to his lifelong work to tear down the walls of intolerance. Progress has been made since his tragic death yet world peace remains an elusive goal. As parents, we have the opportunity to shape the future. We all live together on this tiny 3rd planet from the Sun. Let’s celebrate what binds us together. We are one race, the human race. Read More...