Being a long-distance parent takes the parenting difficulty level up to 11. I only recently discovered this. My wife and I didn't get a divorce, but I did take a job halfway across the country. My family is living back in California while I get life ready for all of us here in Oklahoma. This distance is only temporary, but I am smack in the middle of being separated from my family for five weeks. For some of you that might not be a big deal, but for me it is heart wrenching. I feel like half of me is still in California with them. Some of these feelings might come from my parents' … [Read more...]
About Beau Coffron
Lunch Doesn’t Always Need to be a Work of Art
Editor's Note: San Francisco Dads Group co-organizer Beau Coffron, aka Lunchbox Dad, has become an Internet and media sensation for the beautiful, creative and fun meals he sends with his kid to school. This means many parents think he is a rock star/god ... while a whole mess of others think he is an over-parenter with too much spare time. They are both wrong. He's human and just fine with that. So this is today's lunch. Why? Life happened. After this last week of the TV breaking, the car battery going out, thinking the DVD player broke, and waging the war against lice in my … [Read more...]
How to Get Your Child to Eat (in 51 Simple Steps)
Got a kid who is a picky eater or just a handful at mealtimes? Here's are 51 easy steps to help get your child to eat at your next dinner: 1. Start cooking a healthy dinner for your family. 2. Remember your child refuses to come within five feet of one ingredient you used in the dinner and child will use their special abilities to sense that ingredient. 3. Throw chicken nuggets in the microwave for your child to eat instead. 4. Call your family to dinner. 5. Call your child to dinner. 6. Put food on the table. 7. Call your child to dinner. 8. Ask your child where … [Read more...]
39 Reasons Why My Son Won’t Eat Dinner
Maybe some of you have a picky eater in the house. My daughter will try most things, but my 4-year-old son has a new reason everyday for why he won't eat. To borrow a line from the movie A Christmas Story, “My son works in reasons why he won't eat the way other artists might work in oils or clay. He’s a true master.” Here are 39 reasons why my son won't eat dinner: 1. I don't want a baby spoon. 2. This spoon is too big. 3. Mommy makes it better. 4. Oranges are scary. 5. Pasta is scary. 6. I want a big boy cup. 7. I spilled my drink. 8. Water is scary. 9. Daddy makes it better. 10. … [Read more...]
I Never “Let” My Kids Win
I just spent part of tonight beating my 7-year-old daughter at Chutes and Ladders. OK, it was only one game, but it was hard fought and I pulled it out at the end. It might sound like I enjoyed it, but c’mon, it’s Chutes and Ladders: no adult ever really enjoys that game. But I did care who won and who lost. In fact, whenever my wife and I play board games, sports, card games or hopscotch with our kids, we don’t let them win. We never have. Yes, I know, we are terrible parents, right? Listen, we don’t pull out every trick in the book or use grand master strategy to destroy them. I … [Read more...]