When Parenting Styles Collide

In an article in the Wall Street Journal, Amy Chua argues that “Chinese Mother” parenting is superior to the typical Western parenting style.  She claims that pushing your child to get straight A’s via extreme measures while denying them the ability to choose their own extracurricular activities is a better method for leading children to success.  While I couldn’t disagree more, there have been pl Read More...

Family Style Dining.

I just returned from helping to get my 3 year old son Lukas ready for sleep.  My wife, Mrs. LIAYF, is now reading finishing up reading stories with him in bed.  It is all a part of the evening routine around here, which includes cleaning up, brushing teeth, and going to the bathroom.  I’m sure you all know the drill quite well.  I bet we could all do it in our sleep.  And probably have on occasion.  Ho Read More...

Standing Pee

There are few moments in a fathers life when he’s truly proud… One of these moments is the ability to say what I’m saying is that my baby boy Pees standing up.  It truly is a guy thing. I know its one of the crowning moments that a Dad with daughters only will never get to experience. For that I’m sorry but for me its the highlight of the month, of the year so far. On the serious side Read More...

Son’s and tempers

– Pic isn’t my child but it gets the idea across I’ve brought up two daughters to the ages of 4 and 7. Its been difficult and we’ve had our difficulties and fights. I’ve made them mad and I’ve frustrated them but in the end I’m their daddy and they love me and can not stay mad for long. I also have  son. He is 15 months and there is some very real very strange difference. Read More...

A Fathers’ New Years Resolutions

For many of us we will walk into the new year with grand aspirations about what we will do, or what we hope to accomplish this year. We call them resolutions, but unfortunately, for most of us they tend to become null and void pretty close to the same time that we make them. This is especially true with exercise. So many stores at the beginning of every year put sales on exercise equipment because they know that pe Read More...

New Year. Same Old Parents.

The New Year has started much like the old. My son still wakes up early – way too early. He still wants – nay, needs – his milk. It must be the perfect temperature in that green sippy cup or he sends it back. I am the lucky one who prepares this gourmet morning aperitif. It must be Daddy and no one else. My wife, of course, doesn’t argue this point. The cars must be lined up with Lightning McQueen first Read More...

Starting Over

Another holiday season has come and gone yet the spirit of family remains. In addition to the benefit of being able to decompress from the daily grind, the chance to focus on connections, the ties that bind, remind us of our humanity. For so many parents, the work life balance can prove to be unbearable. Especially in times of financial strife as so many families have encountered over the past year. Still, the 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...

New Year, New Goals

It’s a tradition for many people to make resolutions on New Year’s.  We examine our lives, plan how we’d like to improve ourselves and then go through with it… for a few weeks, that is.  Then our old habits tend to return and the resolutions are forgotten until the next New Year’s when we promise ourselves that this year will be different. Despite the failure of many people’s resolutions, I st Read More...

Cat’s in The City

Readers, I sense an uneasiness in the air. A feeling that many of you may be concerned for the state of Dad Blogging.  After all 2010, proclaimed far and wide as The Year of the Dad Blogger, is quickly drawing to a close.  In fact, at the time this post is published, there will only be one short day remaining before all Dad Bloggers from Seattle to Shanghai unceremoniously turn back into pumpkins only to be d Read More...

The Value of Family

The holiday season it steeped in family tradition. We all have places we go, certain days to spend with family and the traditions in our immediate homes as well. It has been six long years since I have spent Christmas in the home I grew up in for 22 years. Six years it has been since I last spent Christmas day the traditional way we always did. We open presents Christmas morning at the house. Then we load up the c Read More...

When Kids Are Kids And Parents Wish It Could Be Like That Forever

For those of you with older children I am sure what I am about to describe is nothing new. My two and a half year old has gotten his first full “year” of holidays and seasonal events starting with Halloween and now ending with Christmas. I feel that this may be the first and last year in which he is taken up by the excitement and the novelty as opposed to the gifts and the superficiality that is more obvious to Read More...

Busting Failure Fears

Recently, NHL has been refusing to complete assignments in school.  He’ll claim that they are too hard for him when we all know that he is perfectly capable of completing them.  We’ve spoken with him and believe that one of the problems is that he’s afraid to fail.  He so fears not succeeding at what he’s doing that he’d rather not make any attempt at all.  This is something I can grea Read More...

Smells Like Fatherhood

My 3 year old son Lukas and I were driving home from work the other day chatting about our respective days. Having had a long one, and yearning for his touch I reached back and held out my hand. His tiny hand grabbed my fingers, and held them for a brief fleeting moment. Then, he called out “Daddy, I am transferring my power through my hand, into your arm, through your other arm, down the steering wheel and i Read More...

Being a Supportive Dad and Husband

A few weeks ago I had the chance to go to the big city moms (www.bigcitymoms.com) biggest baby shower event. It’s a cross between a pregnancy fair and a New York City party. Hundreds of expecting moms are there finding out information, talking to other moms to be, and enjoying the amazing raffles, prizes, giveaways, and keynote speakers. Over the years, I’ve been to a few of these baby showers, usually bei Read More...

Safety First: Fears and Best Laid Plans

The idea for this post came to me after a comment I received on my blog from a close friend of mine, The Bolt. After reading his comment and talking with him during that day, I started thinking more about safety and what part we as dads play in the safety of our children. It comes as no surprise that one of the primary fears for me as a dad is the fear for my children’s safety. I think that is probably a prim Read More...

Hello?! Is anybody there?!

I watched my 2-year-old son the other day as he managed to activate Skype on my laptop and call the first contact available which was luckily my wife who was in the other room. One the one hand I was pleasantly impressed at his budding hacker skills on the other I wondered if he was already overexposed to the computer and (whispering) “technology.” The debate seems never ending these days as more and more gadge Read More...

Parenting Styles

As a father, I’m always on the look out for new useful parenting information. Raising children creates a constant need for guidance as problems arise. Seeking professional advice to navigate these unchartered waters makes sense. I recently came across a thought provoking article by Dr. Michele Borba titled “7 Deadly Parenting Styles of Modern Day Child Rearing.” It’s derived from her boo Read More...