Read books and blogs. Talk with other parents. Go to birthing classes, even parenting classes, before your baby comes. All a good idea, but nothing will truly prepare you for parenthood than actually becoming a parent. The weight of responsibility. The financial costs. The energy they have. The stubbornness they deliver. The temper-tantrums. All will … Continue reading Who’s the Teacher and Who’s the Student Here?
Encouraging, Enriching and Acknowledging the Joy of Childhood
Fatherhood is a lot of work. There are times where there is no end in sight, and it feels like I won't spend a minute to myself for the next month on end. Fatherhood, and motherhood, is also a lot of joys. You hear people say children are a gift, a blessing, a joy. To … Continue reading Encouraging, Enriching and Acknowledging the Joy of Childhood
How God Sees Us and How Dads Want to Be Seen
Becoming a father was quite an overwhelming experience. There are books, groups, friends, blogs and resources to help a soon-to-be father wrap his mind around what is about to happen, but nothing really prepared me for the all-inspiring and humbling experience of holding my fresh, newborn son in my hands. The feeling of overwhelm didn't … Continue reading How God Sees Us and How Dads Want to Be Seen
A New Year’s Day Thank You to My Dad
Gratitude is good for your psychological health, and now researchers are even tracking whether or not gratitude could have physical health benefits, too. So I thought what better way to invigorate writing about fatherhood and faith than a thank you list to my dad. The job of parenting rarely receives accolades. I don’t think I … Continue reading A New Year’s Day Thank You to My Dad
Working to Stay Poop Proud
It's amazing how excited kids get about passing a stool, a turd, a crap, a bowel movement. Whatever you call it, this is the one thing we all have in common but some may even consider the topic "taboo," as it does in the description of the recent movie Poop Talk. My daughter potty trained … Continue reading Working to Stay Poop Proud
Why Short-term Memory Loss May Help You Be A Better Dad
I've told my son countless times when he's asked me where something is that he is going to have to learn to keep track of his own stuff, and that I have a hard enough time keeping track of where my belongings are. And I'm not just making it up to get out of helping … Continue reading Why Short-term Memory Loss May Help You Be A Better Dad
Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones, but I’m Ignoring Your Words that Hurt Me
A teacher enrichment day following Thanksgiving added another day to the long Thanksgiving break to total six days off in a row. The last day fell on a Monday, and I drew the straw to take the day off of work. My first-grade son chose to go to The Works Museum, a children's museum focusing on … Continue reading Sticks & Stones May Break My Bones, but I’m Ignoring Your Words that Hurt Me
Can You Be A Parent without Loosing Your Sh*&?
There appears to be one thing universal to most parents that I interact with. There is always a point, no matter how small or large, that we loose our sh*& as parents. Maybe it's a toddler who is having a fit because she wants a second piece of Halloween candy from her bag. Maybe it's … Continue reading Can You Be A Parent without Loosing Your Sh*&?
It’s Okay, Don’t Feel Bad. It’s Also Okay to Not Feel Okay.
As a father who likes to fix what's broken or to help my kids feel better, I'm pretty quick to be uncomfortable when my kids aren't feeling okay. Maybe they are frustrated, maybe they are melting down, or maybe they are mad at a friend, I'm always quick to say that it will be okay … Continue reading It’s Okay, Don’t Feel Bad. It’s Also Okay to Not Feel Okay.
The Socks Are Too Tight, so Who Forces Who?
With about seven minutes remaining before we needed to be out the door to catch the school bus, my first-grade son melted down because his socks were too tight. I'm not the dad who can remember which clothes fit, nor am I the dad who proactively vets his kid's clothes when they jump sizes, and … Continue reading The Socks Are Too Tight, so Who Forces Who?
