Remember when you learned about a baby’s “growth chart”? The first time the pediatrician measures your tiny child’s weight, length and head circumference can be stressful. It can also be confusing because it’s one of the few times when the 50th percentile — or perfectly average growth relative to other babies of the same age — is the most desirable score. Our firstborn had colic, so my wife and I developed an intense relationship with our pediatrician. Fortunately, he had a great sense of humor. During one of our “growth chart” appointments, we expressed concern that our daughter’s head was … [Read more...]
Have You Become Your Mother (or Father)? A Spring Break Tornado Story
When your 15-year-old is on spring break with another family for a week, the last click-bait you want to see on your phone is “Tornado Watch from Florida to South Carolina.” What are the odds, I fretted, as my thumbs speed-texted “U ok? Just heard about tornado watch for sarasota?” My daughter replied like King Kong casually batting away a helicopter parent: “yeah we r good.” Despite her nonchalance, shortly after her return home she admitted that my message had, in fact, alerted them to a coming storm, much to her amazement. Begrudgingly, she gave me credit for helping them take … [Read more...]
Christmas Present and the Gift of Hope Beyond the Holidays
“What would you like for Christmas?” It was a simple question, sitting in a text message, timestamped and marked as read. I didn’t have a simple answer. Peace on Earth would be nice, but I would settle for a government that cares for its people. Cures to everything: disease, hunger and otherwise? That would be a Christmas miracle. Financial security might help me sleep at night, but a job would do me wonders. “Nothing,” I replied, because those are the things I would like forever. + + + I was in middle school when my mother’s parents died, both in the same year. I … [Read more...]
Create a ‘Hall of Fame’ to Preserve Family Memories for Your Kids
When my youngest daughter turned 9, she told me she wanted to replace the poster of puppies-in-sneakers on her bedroom wall. When I asked what would be on next poster, she replied: “Usher, of course! Do you even know me?” As her stay-at-home father for many years, I actually knew her quite well, or so I thought. But as we thumbed through posters at a music store, her words surprised me again: “When I get it, I want to put red crayon on his lips so I can kiss him all day!” Whoa. Hello, tweenhood and another milestone. Flash forward a few years to our new house. Now my youngest's teen … [Read more...]
Dove Men+Care Helps City Dads Celebrate Grandparents’ Day
Disclosure: We are proud to partner with Dove Men+Care in its #ThereToCare campaign. City Dads Group members around the nation marked Grandparents' Day Sunday with a lot of love and a little help from our organization's frequent partner, Dove Men+Care. The grooming products company generously sent a few dozen of our fathers framed photos of the dads, their kids, and one of their grandfathers along with a shaving kit filled with Dove Men+Care goodies for the father who helped conceive these last two generations. Our fathers used #ThereToCare across multiple social media platforms to talk … [Read more...]
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