Tag: parenting

Being a Great Role Model To Your Child

Being a good role model encompasses not only what you say but rather what you do in your everyday life. Your children are watching you everyday to learn the things that are not only expected by you, but also what is right and expected as a contributing member of society today. Thus, the things you do or do not do say volumes to your children whether you know it or not, and whether you like it or not. For me, I Read More...

For Reading Out Loud!

I know this is not exactly timely coming a day after the actual event, but I thought it worth mentioning that yesterday, March 9th 2011 was World Read Out Loud Day.  Read Out Day is a concept of LitWorld, and as described on their event home page is: about taking action to show the world that the right to read and write belongs to all people. World Read Aloud Day motivates children, teens, and adults worldwide to Read More...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

“Pop Female Empowerment?” Not My Daughter!

It’s a glossy world, filled with self discovery and female badassery where men are captive, drooling oafs pining to be entertained. Entertained by that one special woman who aspires to be great, discovers her voice and comes to have her eager audience eating from the palm of her hand all while finding the love of her life. Yeah. Right! I’m talking about Burlesque, the new movie starring Cher and Christi Read More...

Set Up Rituals With Your Kids

Kids are creatures of habit, they expect things to be the same as they have been in the past. For me, this was specifically important as we moved in the past year. Both of our girls were at an age where they knew the rituals that we had been doing at our old house. Thus J-Mom and I knew that we would have to find a routine very soon in the new home to make our lives much happier all around. Rituals can surround an Read More...

I Am Your Father. And Don’t You Forget It.

Being a parent is tough stuff… and some how our parents wont ever let us forget how awful we were as kids, so I’m sure I wont let my child forget when he gets older. I’m a dad to a wonderful son named Marc, he’s just a few months over two years old and boy has shit hit the fan. The terrible twos started at 20 months old for him, when he really started to say No. No. No. No. Even to the simple questions do Read More...

Teaching Perseverance

Having your children know how to stick to the things that they start is one of the most important things that you can teach as a parent. The skills that you teach them regarding this will be ones that will continue to show up as your children get older and older. Hopefully, once your child reaches adulthood they are ready to be able to take the world on with full force and understand what they must do to be able to Read More...

The Value of Friendships & Identifying True Friends

My oldest started school this year and on her first day she came home excited and stated “I made a new friend.” As all of us remember, friends were those people who truly carried us through good and bad times. Unfortunately, there also were those pseudo friends that you thought were your friends, but really had other motives. Since we have moved to our new home we have had to deal with these pseudo friends, Read More...

The Presidential Interview

Chris Ballew, front man of the popular alternative rock group The Presidents of the United States of America is not only a talented musician and lyricist, he is also a father.  And, given the signature quirky style which he employed to make The Presidents such a huge hit, it doesn’t surprise many people I talk to to find out that he is now also making music targeted specifically towards kids. Over on my Read More...