The pandemic first impacted most of us when many restaurants and bars closed to indoor dining one year ago. Where I live, that shutdown occurred the day after my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at a local restaurant. We remember eating that night and thinking, “There’s no way they’ll shut down this restaurant.”We all know what happened next: a full year of pandemic family life. When I reflect on the past year, I start with gratitude. My wife and I have remained healthy and employed, and my two daughters have been able to continue school virtually with few problems. But … [Read more...]
Kenneth Kellogg Sings Praises of Helping Kids Embrace Their True Selves
Kenneth Kellogg grew up in a gritty Washington, D.C., 'hood, during the city's peak as a major homicide city with addicts, dealers and gun play all around him. So how did he go from there, listening to hip hop and go-go music as he walked through the streets, to singing lead in what was named the "best new opera" in 2020? You'll find out by listening to the latest episode of The Modern Dads Podcast. Kellogg, praised by opera critics for his commanding stage presence and rich, resonant bass, discusses his journey through life, helping children embrace who they are, and what it was … [Read more...]
Songs, Music that Our City Dads Love to Parent By
Another season of our popular The Modern Dads Podcast concludes with a very special musical episode. Five of our City Dads from around the country join us to discuss the songs that have inspired and informed their parenting. City Dads Group columnist Whit Honea discusses the cover of a classic Rodgers and Hammerstein tune, done by the late Ray Charles, that he uses to get his kids going in the morning. NYC Dad James Lopez, who blogs at Cool4Dads / #FatherhoodIsLit, shares some of the parenting lessons he uses from a song he loved in his childhood, the Notorious B.I.G. tune … [Read more...]
Portland Rocks with City Dads Playing ‘Kindie’ Children’s Music
Portland Dads Group member Aaron Canwell and his then 6-month-old son, Micah, were wandering around their Oregon hometown looking for family-friendly things to do when they stumbled on a group of musicians playing children's songs with a rock 'n' roll beat. Quickly, two new "kindie" music fans were born. "This performance engaged children young and old to sing and dance," Canwell said. "I got hooked. I decided I wanted to take my love of music and movement to share with children just like these people did." And soon was born a new band. Micah and Me, composed of Canwell and three … [Read more...]
Beleaf: A Versatile Musician, Artist, Modern Father Figure
We follow up a rave review of Beleaf Melanin's new album, In Fatherhood, with an interview of the artist and popular YouTube dad. Q: You are big on collaborating with friends and family. In the closing song “Baby Daddy,” you speak to the adage "it takes a village" in parenting, but what does that mean to you in terms of creating art? Beleaf: It’s important to come in with a team. I definitely don’t think we were meant to do things alone. I think we can but it’s best to do them as a tribe. A part of a bigger village that’s basically open to changing the world. I started out as a DJ … [Read more...]
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