It's been a trying year for everyone, but parents with young children have been hit especially hard because of COVID-19. Schools replaced with remote learning, making moms and dads full-time teachers. Daycares closed. Playgroups forbidden. Playgrounds taped off. Youth sports canceled. Even the family vacation got scrubbed in 2020. If you haven't burned out yet, you're probably on the brink. The need for parents to practice self-care is greater than ever because of the added stress and demands on our time. Self-care isn't being selfish. It's ensuring you are healthy, relaxed and ready … [Read more...]
Skating Creates Family Magic, Teaches Us About Balance in Life
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...]
Co-Parenting During Pandemic Possible with Proper Precautions
EDITOR’S NOTE: City Dads Group is working with longtime partner Dove Men+Care to create “how to” videos for the grooming products company’s “Dads Care” campaign. We will be featuring the videos and scripts our members appear in. This one features Flor Mercado of our Orlando Dads Group, with a little help from his daughter talking about co-parenting while social distancing during the pandemic. Co-parenting can be a struggle sometimes and, let's be honest, adding social distancing to it can bring up even greater challenges. For those unfamiliar with co-parenting, it is when a mom and a dad … [Read more...]
Post-it Notes from Wife Left to Hubby’s Imaginative Interpretation
As an at-home-dad for more than a decade, I pride myself on the ability to read and understand ancient languages. I am the Rosetta Stone of baby talk. Toddler got a problem but has the vocabulary lower than the dog? I’m your guy. A teenager that has invented a new system of language based on memes and TikTok? I can write the dictionary and teach it at the next convention. But the Post-it Notes my wife leaves around the house? Well, not all codes were meant to be broken. The Post-it Notes are based on a language I can only assume take its inspiration from fairy dust and abstract art. I … [Read more...]
Teach Your Kids the Impact of Their Words with This Tip
EDITOR’S NOTE: City Dads Group is working with longtime partner Dove Men+Care to create “how to” videos for the grooming products company’s “Dads Care” campaign. We will be featuring the videos and scripts our members appear in. This one features Devon Bandison of our NYC Dads Group, with a little help from his son, talking about teaching children about the impact of their words. My son and I often discuss the impact, good and bad, our words can have on others. Today, we want to focus on using our words to encourage yourself and others. Each night, we have a ritual. We stand in front of … [Read more...]
Sad the Kids are Growing Up? Here are Some Reasons to be Thankful
Contrary to the popular opinion of most parents, I am very thankful my kids are growing up. Some many months ago when my wife and I were traveling, we had a chance to watch a family with their young children at the airport. I was reminded of the family trips we took just a few short years ago – pushing strollers, hauling large amounts of baby gear through airports, installing car seats in rental cars and making sure hotel rooms had cribs or pack 'n’ plays available. Now when we travel, our kids wheel their own suitcases through the airport. Heck, my wife and I even have even given them … [Read more...]
Child-Saving Vaccines of Past Worthy of Our Thanks During Pandemic
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...]
Support Your Pregnant Partner Better: Follow This Dad’s Advice
EDITOR’S NOTE: City Dads Group is working with longtime partner Dove Men+Care to create “how to” videos for the grooming products company’s “Dads Care” campaign. We will be featuring the videos and scripts our members appear in. This one features Marlon Gutierrez of our Orlando Dads Group talking about how to support your pregnant partner. My wife is nine months pregnant and she's due at any time now with our second baby. It's been a very stressful time to say the least. There's a lot of things that have happened (like COVID-19, my suffering a dislocated shoulder and more) that we could … [Read more...]
Military Service Made Me a Better, More Resourceful Parent
I was a major in the U.S. Air Force when children entered my household, and while I have memories of the 1990 TV show "Major Dad" featuring a Marine who tried to run his household like he ran his battalion, I was not that guy. After all, the six months preceding the birth of my now 14-year-old were spent deployed to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where my greatest concerns were getting caught going AWOL to attend a friend's wedding in Florida or ensuring I visited all the Smithsonian museums before it was time to go home. I've never required 0500 PT sessions, spit-shined shoes, or … [Read more...]
‘When Good Fruit Goes Bad’ Aims to Teach Kids About Inner Worth
One bad banana in the bunch started Vernon D. Gibbs II on his journey to become a children's author. The New Jersey stay-at-home father of three, who is a contributor to our City Dads Group blog, said his son, Justin, was getting ready to toss out a bruised and overripe banana several years ago. Gibbs interceded, showing him that the brown and dented fruit would be a perfect addition to a smoothie -- which Justin simply ate up. "From there, a story grew about eating healthy, creating less waste and how we all sometimes struggle or don’t bother to try to find value in ourselves and each … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- …
- 94
- Next Page »