How is it that I get on my own nerves? In my case, I'm socially awkward. As a child, I’d always be the quiet one, not sure how or when to interact with others. Seventy percent of my interactions with people were, to my estimation, “weird.” Then, I’d spend the day or week thinking of how I could have been wittier, or more responsive. Better listener, responder, etc. I have these memories going back to elementary school. It took me many years to come to grips with this and accept I had a closed personality. Many more years to learn compensating techniques. And awkwardness is still … [Read more...]
Mental Terrorism Threatens Reform Coming from Floyd’s Death
The following is an edited transcript, used by permission, of blog contributor Mike Dorsey's most recent episode of his podcast "Black Fathers, NOW!" He prefaced his podcast by saying it was "a quick message to encourage brothers NOT to allow 'Mental Terrorism' to set in" in light of George Floyd's death by police. He continued, "Carter G. Woodson said it best, 'When you control a man's thinking, you don't have to worry about his actions.' Let's NOT let systemic white supremacy, bias and hate terrorize our minds. Use it as fuel to MAKE CHANGE!"
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The … [Read more...]Virtual Fathers Eve Celebration Will Toast Fatherhood in 2020
Fathers Eve -- the annual pre-Father’s Day celebration of the dad life -- will become Virtual Fathers Eve in 2020. The move to an online platform became necessary with the likelihood social distancing measures and limits on large gatherings will still be in place in many states due novel coronavirus concerns. "Even if everyone got the green light and all the governors and whatever opened up every place that could, I don't think people are quite ready to go back to big groups of people in close proximity," Fathers Eve founder and Twin Cities Dads Group co-organizer John Francis recently … [Read more...]
Work from Home Option May Be Better to Fight for than Paternity Leave
In preparing for the arrival of his first child, my brother-in-law mentioned that he planned to take advantage his company’s paternity leave program for the first six weeks of his infant’s life. “That’s great,” I assured him. Then I suggested an alternative. “I’d take a couple of days at first and some more time when your baby is doing more – like in six months, ” I said. My brother-in-law was dumbfounded, likely the same reaction you might be having as you think, Is this dad really saying paternity leave is shortsighted? I said this because I’ve come to realize this: Paternity … [Read more...]
‘Screened Out’ Movie Asks: Can We Regain Control of Our Screen Time
While out walking the dog this morning, I witnessed a near-tragic accident as a biker and a truck almost collided. The truck was, of course, driving too fast and barreling down my street. The biker, a young girl around 13, was merging into the street, also cruising down the road, eager to reach her destination. It was one of those moments where, for some reason, you happen to look up seconds before something bad happens to witness something horrible. I looked up and saw this girl, riding one handed and glancing down at her other hand. In that other hand was her phone. The driver of the … [Read more...]
Best Parenting Moments Can Still Define Us, Even at Our Worst
Somehow, I ended up arguing with my oldest child about doughnut holes. Again. My three kids and I were driving to my mom’s house late on a Sunday morning. As is tradition during our hour-long drive, we swung into the drive-thru to pick up coffee for me and a treat for the kids to share. After collecting the bounty, I always pass the cup of doughnut holes to the kids in the back seat and they fight like a pack of agitated badgers over whose turn it is to hold the cup and dole out the contents. Holder of the cup is the highest of honors, so a fair amount of squabbling and thrashing is to be … [Read more...]
Dads Care ‘How to’ Videos Feature City Dads Group Members
Staying home all day, every day, with the kids is new for many fathers during the COVID-19 crisis. To help them navigate the new realities of fatherhood in a pandemic, City Dads Group is working with longtime partner Dove Men+Care to create a series of "how to" videos for the grooming products company's new "Dads Care" campaign. The short videos started appearing the week of April 26 at DadsCare.com, a section of DM+C's YouTube channel. Created by fathers for fathers, the Dads Care video cover topics relevant to the times under general catagories such as hygiene, helping kids and helping … [Read more...]
Family Routines Essential During Lockdown’s ‘Unscheduled’ Time
COVID-19 has done a number on time. For parents lucky enough to be healthy and employed, a key challenge has become spending so many hours at home with children. Some time flies, some crawls. Either way, we’re faced with more "underscheduled" family time than ever. For inspiration, I like to revel in a memory made several years ago. There I was, lost in a vintage clothing store in search of an all-star-husband gift for my wife. But I quickly realized I would probably make another rookie mistake, so I just started chuckling at the platform shoes and feathered hats. Soon a salesperson … [Read more...]
‘I’m Sorry’ Teaches Your Kids You Promise to Do Better By Them
“PLEASE GET YOUR SHOES ON! I’ve asked you five times, and if you don’t get them on RIGHT NOW, I’m leaving you home alone by yourself!” It seems those words come out of my mouth once, maybe twice a week while we go through the morning routine. Throw in a "damn" here and there, and it might be more accurate. At some point in one's parenting career, we all experience these feelings. Before you start to call the authorities, no -- I would never leave my son home alone. It’s one of those empty promises we offer our children so that they do what we are asking of them. If you don’t do this too, … [Read more...]
Pandemic Mother’s Day Can Still Be Special. Here’s How.
As the first-ever Pandemic Mother's Day of our lifetimes approaches, you may be wondering just how the heck you can celebrate the mothers in your life when you shouldn’t really be leaving the house or interacting with others right now due to COVID-19. I’m a mother of four, social distancing in our home with my husband, kids and two smelly dogs. And I’m here to offer some ideas and tips for making sure this Mother's Day still feels special. Ask her what she wants If you’ve never straight-up asked the mothers in your life what would make them happiest on Mother's Day, this is a FANTASTIC … [Read more...]
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