"How much does a divorce cost?" I asked myself this when my wife was pregnant with our second child, Justice. I even Googled this very question. I don't remember what the answers were, but I knew they weren't for me. A divorce was going to cost me money, a divorce was going to cost me time, and a divorce was going to cost me my family. When my wife was pregnant with our first child, Journey, pregnancy was a new experience for both of us. It was such an exciting time. I was all in and completely connected with the entire process, from the second my wife's said "I'm pregnant" all the way … [Read more...]
Why My Daughter Has Her Mother’s Last Name Instead of Mine
My daughter is Isabella Gutierrez Marcelino. My last name is Gutierrez – but that’s actually my daughter’s middle name. We gave her my wife’s last name – Marcelino. I’m not ashamed of my family's name. I’m proud to be a Gutierrez. The name is always a reminder of my dad, my hero, who still works day and night to ensure the people he loves are always taken care of. As Stef and I started family planning, I was at a crossroads. Why is it that we value one last name over the other? When I knew we were having a girl, I began to think about why my daughter should automatically just come … [Read more...]
Public Breastfeeding vs. Public Urination: My Ethical Dilemma
Our family’s most memorable summer road trip occurred when our two daughters were quite young -- and quite needy, as it turns out. My wife and I were taking the family to our hometown, a three-hour drive away. The first two hours went smoothly. My 3-month-old drifted between sleep and blank stares, and my 3-year-old napped before starting to watch a movie. We had recently indulged in a minivan with a DVD player, which was unthinkable a few years previous but I admit was wonderful for family trips. Granted, I had explained to my daughter that the mysterious video machine only worked when we … [Read more...]
‘Happiest Mommy You Know’ Prey to Gender Role Stereotyping
The title intrigued me: The Happiest Mommy You Know. I live with one mom (my wife) and two possible future moms (my teenage daughters), so I read Genevieve Shaw Brown’s new book with them in mind. Brown’s mantra is that mothers should treat themselves as well as they instinctively treat their children. The Happiest Mommy You Know originated from a popular Good Morning America television segment about “The Baby Diet.” Brown explains that after preparing organic feasts for her young children, she would often eat fast food in yoga pants. But when she started eating the healthier foods (on … [Read more...]
Your Baby Registry Shopping Survival Guide
DISCLOSURE: This post, written by NYC Dads Group member Aaron Yavelberg, is sponsored by Huggies® diapers and wipes. I don’t like shopping. I can handle grocery stores when I have a list. I can survive clothes shopping if I’m looking for something specific like a dress shirt or a pair of jeans. When I don’t have a guideline, though, I get very anxious. I have trouble making decisions when too many options exist. Putting together our baby registry to help others shop for us and our new bundle of joy might have been hardest of all. There are five different kinds of everything from … [Read more...]