City Dads Group

Navigating Fatherhood Together

  • About Us
  • What is City Dads Group?
  • Contact
  • Meetups
  • Boot Camps
  • Start a Group
  • Join A Group
  • Podcast
  • Outreach
  • Press
  • Blog

About Vincent O'Keefe

Vincent O’Keefe is a writer and stay-at-home father with a Ph.D. in American literature. He is writing a memoir on gender and parenting. His writing has appeared at The New York Times and The Washington Post (among other venues). Visit him at www.vincentokeefe.com or on Twitter @VincentAOKeefe or Facebook at Vincent O’Keefe.

Family Habits: How to Change Bad Ones and Reinforce Good Ones

January 13, 2021 by Vincent O'Keefe Leave a Comment

good family habits like cooking and sharing a meal together

Did your family make a New Year’s resolution this month? Probably not, since we tend to think of resolutions as individual endeavors. But that may be the reason so many resolutions fail, as Charles Duhigg explains in his bestselling The Power of Habit. To change a bad family habit or reinforce a good one, we first need to know how habits operate. Duhigg writes “habits emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort ... without habit loops, our brains would shut down, overwhelmed by the minutiae of daily life.” In fact, nearly half the actions we perform each day … [Read more...]

Filed Under: parenting advice Tagged With: books, cell phones, habits, raising teens, technology, tips

Skating Creates Family Magic, Teaches Us About Balance in Life

December 9, 2020 by Vincent O'Keefe Leave a Comment

parent teaches two children to ice skate skating family

My family owes a lot to ice skating. In fact, my first date with my wife of 25 years was at a festival of lights that featured outdoor skating. I still remember how we both pretended we were not good skaters so we could cling tighter to each other. I grew up in New York's Niagara Falls area right next to the Canadian border, so ice skating has always been a part of my life. When I was a child, one of my best friend's fathers created that magical oasis that cold-weather kids crave: a backyard ice rink. Looking back, the rink was quite small, but in my memories it had NHL proportions complete … [Read more...]

Filed Under: growing up, memories, parenting advice, sports Tagged With: self-confidence, skating, teens

Child-Saving Vaccines of Past Worthy of Our Thanks During Pandemic

November 18, 2020 by Vincent O'Keefe Leave a Comment

vaccines doctor give boy shot in arm

As Thanksgiving approaches, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the calculus of what families might be thankful for this year. Those of us lucky enough to remain healthy and employed can focus on those two facts during this year’s feasts. But for many, it’s easy to feel there is little to be thankful for this year, given all that continues to be infected, affected or simply canceled — including many of those traditional feasts. In other words, cultivating a grateful mindset during this traditional season of thanks requires many us to dig deeper this year. For me, digging deep into history helps … [Read more...]

Filed Under: death, health, holidays, parenting advice Tagged With: books, COVID19, gratitude, medicine, Thanksgiving, vaccines

A Shelf of One’s Own: Reading Print Books Can Help Children in Pandemic

October 14, 2020 by Vincent O'Keefe Leave a Comment

child reading print books on desk

Comfort is king when coping with a pandemic. Just look at the nostalgic family activities that have returned to so many homes: arts and crafts, card and board games, cooking and gardening. As we all continue to nest against our will, our Zoomed-out brains and bodies crave non-virtual, low-tech, familiar experiences. Fortunately, one of the retro family experiences that has been coming back (or at least holding steady) has been the pleasure of reading print books. Anecdotally, I can confirm this by the increased use of our family’s Little Free Library in the front yard. As a writer and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: growing up, media, memories, parenting advice, teens / tweens, toddlers Tagged With: books, COVID19, reading, tips

Observe Life Through Fresh Eyes, Parents, Just Like Young Children Do

September 9, 2020 by Vincent O'Keefe Leave a Comment

observe girl peaks behind autumn maple leaf

Did you know that what we call the “fall colors” of leaves are actually their glorious “true” colors? The leaves don’t change to new colors in autumn, but instead revert to their original colors. I learned this years ago when my oldest daughter asked why the leaves change color. As a way to bond (and hide my ignorance), I suggested we search the internet together for information. We found that, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “the four primary pigments that produce color within a leaf are chlorophyll (green); xanthophyllis (yellow); carotenoids (orange); … [Read more...]

Filed Under: babies / pregnancy, parenting advice, toddlers Tagged With: autumn, books, language, nature

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 13
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to our newsletter

Privacy


City Dads on YouTube


Join a City Dads Meetup Near You

Join a Group

Popular Recent Posts

  • Remote Learning: Is it Causing Your Kid to Fall Behind in School?
  • Family Habits: How to Change Bad Ones and Reinforce Good Ones
  • COVID Sleep Issues Not Always Bad Says This Newborn Early Bird
  • Pawn Shop Prepared This Fella for Life as a Parent
  • Life Enhancement Should Be Everyone’s Priority During Our Precious Time
Visit the Blog

As seen, heard, and read in:

  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Join City Dads Groups in these Cities
  • Resources
  • Media Kit
  • Advertise
Copyright 2019 City Dads Group | Privacy Policy