Parents Love LA! The LA Dads Group Series

We have been having a hard time coming up with ideas for new blog posts (send them to us, please!) so we reached out to a few dads and bloggers in the LA area and asked them a few questions about their LA experience. We are going to share their responses in four-part series on everything from their favorite kid-friendly spot for play dates to their most memorable LA parenting experience. So strap in and enjoy the ride on this journey that we call “Parents Love LA!” 

Question #1: Why did you come to LA (or if you are from here, what has kept you here)?

We moved to the area for two reasons, one being that my wife’s family lives here and her father’s health was such that she wanted to have time with him. In addition, I had started a production company that was getting some attention and required regular flights to L.A. (from Seattle). Of course, now my wife’s father has passed and none of the production projects were ever developed, but the schools are great and the beach is nice. We’re also partial to theme parks.

– Whit Honea, Author of The Parents’ Phrase Book; founder of @dads4change.

I came here with my family almost 4 years ago to have a better understanding of the culture (lifestyle, economy, education) as well as to have for my kids a progressive-quality education since they are Mexican-American citizens. Not to mention to feel safety as well.  Yo never take for granted your safety way of life. A hostile and unsafe life-style can mess up everything. For me as a Father and entrepreneur I was looking to expand my business here but instead, I choose to start a new career here as part of reinventing myself.”

– Juan Pablo Delgado Gomez, LA Dad Group Co-Organizer

I am originally from Seattle, the weather helped me make the decision to follow an opportunity here in LA. No regrets and now the weather influences me to stay!

– Trevor Mulligan, LA Dad Group Co-Organizer; Blogger @OneSAHD

I moved here for love! My girlfriend grew up here and I started living in LA during the summer while in college. When we got engaged, I moved out here full-time and immediately got a job. While we left LA to live in London for a year for school, we came right back. And while we started out living in the Valley, we have now lived (or worked) all over the City of Los Angeles. I love that every neighborhood has a different character with interesting restaurants, parks, and places to explore. We now live in Palms, a great neighborhood with lots of things to do that are all within walking distance of our home, which is great because we are a one car family.

– Eli Lipmen, LA Dads Group Blog Editor; Blogger @Badassparenting

I came to L.A. for the food places and to experience things that were not available in my hometown area. Plus it was a great way to be in the city which was where I wanted to live. 

-JOËL LËOJ, LA Dads Group Co-Organizer; blogger @Joël Lëoj