He wanted me to say it was OK. But I wouldn’t. I could have insisted. But I didn’t. It was just less than two weeks until Thanksgiving. I was driving the boys to school, and I broached the topic. Since BR was 6 years old, we have had the tradition to go to Manhattan on Thanksgiving to see the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. His younger brother, SJ, had been an attendee of the parade since he was 7. In 2016, when he turned 12, BR decided he was not interested in going to the parade. At the time, I was surprised. Disappointed. Hurt. But a year had passed. And while I asked the … [Read more...]
Balance Healthy Eating Habits with Some Indulging in NYC Food Favorites
New York City is a food lover’s paradise. From pizza to cronuts to craft beers and every amazing foodie dream in between, it’s quite easy to ruin a good diet if we aren’t careful. And, let’s be honest, for every health benefit the city provides, the Big Apple hits us with countless options to find dietary pitfalls. One of my biggest goals as a nutrition coach is helping busy moms and dads navigate the challenges of everyday life with kids and work to find the right balance for achieving goals. The most important part of my programming is the nutritional side. This is how I break things down … [Read more...]
Movember 2018 Brings Mustaches, Movement for Men’s Health
Movember 2018 has arrived, so men -- put down the razors. The month of November is also known as “Movember” with "mo" being short for mustache. During these 30 days, men around the globe are getting fuzzy on the upper lip to help raise fund and aware of men's health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and suicide prevention. City Dads Group members are once again joining the good fellows in three other fatherhood-friendly organizations to sprout a living awareness ribbon under our noses to support the The Movember Foundation in its mission. The Movember Foundation is … [Read more...]
Void of Trick-or-Treaters, Neighborhood’s Halloween Brings Eerie Quiet
We were boys on a mission. It was Halloween night, and my dad was late picking us up. We stood waiting and waiting for him. But it was the pre-cell phone era, so all we could do was tap our feet impatiently and mutter under our breath. Dad finally showed up – a miscommunication apparently – and got us home just before the unofficial start time for trick-or-treating in my neighborhood. We quickly changed into our costumes, grabbed old pillow cases to hold our candy and started running from house to house. Our neighborhood. We said it was all about the candy. We didn’t care about … [Read more...]
First Haircut a Milestone for Bonding Between Fathers, Sons
Growing up, my dad would take me to get a haircut every two weeks and I used to love it. It was our time to bond and I loved hearing him say how good I looked with my cut. As I got older, having a fresh cut became a priority, especially in college. It made me feel clean and gave me all the confidence I needed at times! Now as a dad, I get to experience the same thing with my kids so taking them to get their first haircut is a big deal. We don’t want them coming home with those bowl-shaped cuts. (Fellas, yah know what I’m talking about. Be there, don’t let wifey or grandma take them to … [Read more...]
Bath Time for Little Kids is a Filthy Business
I hate giving my kid a bath. To start with, baths are nasty. Women may find them relaxing, but the things that make a bath relaxing – i.e. candles; bubbles; not having a penis floating limply in front of you – are not typically things men enjoy. For us, there are no candles or bubbles; it’s just you in a shallow, lukewarm pool of filth staring at your slowly shrinking penis. Which is why I take showers. Unfortunately for my 2-year-old son, showering is not an option. Aside from the fact that most toddlers would slip and fall while wearing cleats on a football field, standing one … [Read more...]
Good News is All Around: Just Look, Listen and Share
“Someone give me some good news,” she said. The sigh she let out as she spoke hinted more at resignation than anger. The office lunchroom conversation had not exactly been pleasant. While the subject matter may not have held the same weight as the headlines screaming from the newspaper lying in the middle of the table, discussing a coworker’s week-long struggles with digestive issues and the various challenges that go along with planning one’s wedding were enough to start bringing her down. She’d had enough. “I don’t necessarily have good news,” I answered. “But how about an adorable … [Read more...]
Scholarship Applications, Donations for Dad 2.0 Summit Now Open
Applications and donations for scholarships to the annual Dad 2.0 Summit conference are now being accepted. The Oren Miller Scholarships, a $500 stipend to offset travel and lodging costs, also include a free ticket, valued at $249, to conference scheduled for Feb. 21-23, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas. + Apply or donate to the Dad 2.0 scholarship fund + Dad 2.0 Summit bills itself as “an open conversation about the commercial power of dads online, and an opportunity to learn the tools and tactics used by influential bloggers to create high-quality content, build personal brands, and … [Read more...]
Get Fit in NYC Following These 5 Inexpensive Health Tips
Getting fit is a multi-billion dollar industry with its fancy gadgets, dynamic classes and in-your-face marketing, but you don't need a six-figure salary to afford a healthy lifestyle. One of the biggest problems most people face when try to get fit -- be it lose weight, get in shape or eating better -- is embracing the idea of an all-or-nothing approach. Go big or go home. That’s a sure-fire path to wrecking your wallet, especially here in New York where every third storefront in Manhattan is a new take on a boot camp, organic superfoods or glorified stationary bike. Instead, let’s … [Read more...]
Parental Leave Leads to New Career, Happiness, Work-Life Balance
Maybe it was a symbolic milestone but when I was nearing 40, with two children ages 2 and 5 years old, I felt the need to start prioritizing my life. We often live somewhat detached from life, lacking real self-awareness. Having spent more than a decade in a marketing office, often working more than 10 hours a day, my routine involved coming home in the evening too tired to play with my children. I felt the sense of time passing too quickly and that I was missing a lot. My wife has always been dedicated to the family, sacrificing her professional life. In our case both maternal and … [Read more...]