Mike Dorsey is on a mission. He wants to change the tired narrative in our country about black fathers, such as them being absentee dads or not engaged when they are around. Dorsey, known as "Mike D" by many, has taken a multi-prong approach to redefining and uplifting the image of African American dads. He is an author, business entrepreneur, community organizer, speaker and podcaster. Dorsey discusses his motivation to create a community for active and engaged black fathers and the impact of his work within and outside that community on the latest episode of the Modern Dads … [Read more...]
How Much Does a Divorce Cost? Constant Work Helps Keep Marriage Alive
"How much does a divorce cost?" I asked myself this when my wife was pregnant with our second child, Justice. I even Googled this very question. I don't remember what the answers were, but I knew they weren't for me. A divorce was going to cost me money, a divorce was going to cost me time, and a divorce was going to cost me my family. When my wife was pregnant with our first child, Journey, pregnancy was a new experience for both of us. It was such an exciting time. I was all in and completely connected with the entire process, from the second my wife's said "I'm pregnant" all the way … [Read more...]
Jurassic World Live Tour Offers Roaring Good Time for Family
Just when you thought dinosaurs were extinct, they come back to life to cause havoc in an arena-style setting with Jurassic World Live Tour. And just when you think you have seen it all when it comes to the Jurassic Park/World series, this live event produced by Feld Entertainment will surely keep you on your toes with surprises. We recently learned about how a few of these are done at the recent Jurassic World Live Tour Media Day in New York City. Dinosaurs on tour Not only does the show bring dinosaurs to life in a live-action setting, but the story also changes while you are … [Read more...]
Flight from Family for Work Not One of Fancy
We are each a collection of stories and the hot air that spins them. We are all experience stuffed inside a carry-on, the breathing baggage of merely existing. Even the tales we don't tell still hold value, as does every strip of sinew. Connectivity is the byproduct of existing, and some episodes are meant for moving all the pieces. Today I am traveling, and my pieces move accordingly. For instance, the tray table zigs when I zag, its frame imprinted upon my legs, my arms adhered tightly to my sides by a paste of sweat and stranger. The turbulence is steady. I can touch the bathroom … [Read more...]
Museum Showcases Happy Memories of Raising Little Children
I was alone at my museum. Not exactly alone, but my family wasn’t physically with me at the moment. In fact, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis was packed, as it should be, because it is an amazing place to take kids. I had an opportunity to go see the dinosaurs by myself if I wanted. Or the Star Trek exhibit. Or whatever I wanted to do. Instead, I found myself wandering. I stumbled into the Pop Culture exhibit and got lost in the comic books. That’s when I heard it. “Daddy!” I turned my head. It wasn’t my kid, but a flood of memories swept before my eyes. I decided to … [Read more...]
Family Bloopers Should Be Savored, Preserved for Later
“Dad, tell that story again about the time I stabbed you.” My younger teen daughter, Lindsay, makes this request every few months or so with a giggle. And while she’s the villain of the story, it also features one of my not-so-flattering moments as a parent — one of those many bloopers that all families experience when things don’t go as planned. At age 4, Lindsay attended a summer art class that she absolutely loved. When my older daughter, Lauren, and I went to pick her up from class one day, only Lindsay and the teacher remained. She was not quite finished with her art … [Read more...]
Brett Grayson Laughs about ‘What Could Go Wrong’ While Parenting
Brett Grayson refers to himself a successful trial attorney who also writes books. But don't confuse him with John Grisham. In fact, as he notes on his website, he is "John Grisham Without the Success." Grayson earlier this year released his first book, What Could Go Wrong?: My Mostly Comedic Journey through Marriage, Parenting and Depression. In this autobiographical tome, the New Jersey resident writes about the trials (pun intended) he and his wife go through trying to conceive and later during her pregnancy, her dealings with postpartum depression, the inevitable comedy in raising a … [Read more...]
Preserving Childhood Innocence by Burying the Unfortunate
Several years ago, we had a cat. He was sleek, moved effortlessly, and annoyed us to no end. In fact, when we moved from a townhouse to our current suburban home, we attempted to turn him into a part-time outdoor cat. Since he was always trying to escape from our old place, this seemed like a smart move. It didn’t turn out quite as we’d anticipated. My wife and I didn’t have much experience with cats, but apparently they like to bring "presents" to their owners. These presents were typically alive, but only barely. Or they were recently deceased, which was somewhat better relatively … [Read more...]
Parent-Athlete Sideline Coaching Requires ‘Skills,’ Buckets of Diet Soda
“That ball was out of bounds!” I tell my wife sitting next to me on the metal bleachers. My butt hurts, but it’s the price I gladly pay. Did my wife roll her eyes? I think she did. That’s OK, I don’t expect her to get it. Not like me. She isn’t a parent-athlete.
Being a parent-athlete is tough. I go to every practice, sit on those hard metal bleachers and drink copious amounts of Diet Coke from a giant bucket I got from the hardware store. That’s true commitment, and I get it if the rest of the world doesn’t understand. It’s a hard life, but one that has chosen … [Read more...]
We Soar Like Hawks for Our Children, Hoping They Follow on the Wind
A pair of hawks, probably Cooper’s hawks, command the sky over my backyard and the surrounding acres. I spotted their nest high in an old oak across the street. I’m sure they are a mating pair, although at first, I thought maybe they were a hen teaching her fledgling to hunt. I actually thought that until two minutes ago when I looked up the breed and found out any hawks would only have eggs right now or, more likely, an empty new nest. So, not a mother teaching a child to hunt or a father teaching a child to soar like I wanted it to be. What I’ve been seeing is likely courtship, nest … [Read more...]
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