tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-281543182011-11-09T07:27:06.143-05:00Musings on the ups and downs of figuring out how to best use what little free time I have to be a great daddadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-82625228153508892622007-10-24T15:46:00.000-04:002007-10-24T15:57:35.412-04:00

So I'll admit I've gone missing from the posting world lately, not for lack of interest or things to discuss, but sheerly from lack of time. In the last month, I think I have actually been in the office for 5 days...my time out commandeered by having been selected for jury duty (argh).Anyway, I'm now in Chicago for the Marketing 2 Moms conference, where I was invited to be a guest speaker on how

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-15909826324937447442007-09-03T21:24:00.000-04:002007-09-05T11:02:12.464-04:00

This past weekend was our last "beach" weekend for the season. Tomorrow is the first day of school. Skylar will start second grade, and my baby, Fiona, starts kindergarten. They are overjoyed tonight, antsy, anxious, nervous, excited, giddy and curious to know who will be in their classes that we haven't already figured out. But tonight brings a bittersweet feeling for me. I'm excited for

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-91816668596828192682007-08-27T12:37:00.000-04:002007-08-27T13:36:52.018-04:00

This Slate.com story pretty much sums up what I've been living through lately as we prepare two girls for going back to school.My wife and I tend to think we're a bit more on the progressive side as it comes to most things, parenting included. However, in recent shopping excursions to clothe the girls this fall, I've come to realize that maybe we're not so forward thinking. Or, perhaps society

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-34208237495564639542007-08-23T15:00:00.000-04:002007-08-23T15:12:15.479-04:00

From the time I take for myself after the kids go to bed, another playlist that keeps me going:>Born Losers - Matthew Good>Perfect Company - A Cursive Memory>Come on Get Higher - Matt Nathanson>Coming Around Again - Simon Webbe>Easy - Barenaked Ladies>All I Can See - Brendan James>Magic - Colbie Caillat>5:19 - Matt Wertz>Vegas - Sara Bareilles>When to Quit - Ari Hest>No Worries - Simon Webbe>

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-21517519358570252582007-07-26T09:47:00.000-04:002007-07-26T12:43:00.719-04:00

The in Progress family finally took a vacation and it was a terrific week. We're probably the only family in Connecticut that hasn't packed it all in at some point and headed to Cape Cod, so we bit the bullet and rented a house in Chatham and it was well worth it!It's really so great to take time off, spend time with the whole family together and undistracted and enjoy the things that make life

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-65696369459398799272007-07-03T09:09:00.000-04:002007-07-03T09:24:44.042-04:00

I'll admit it, I've been a bad blogger. And maybe not such a great dad lately. And by great, I guess I mean present.I've been crushed with work lately, and we finally launched a program we've been working feverishly to pull together, so I have a little bit more breathing room. Between my and my wife's travel, we've been a veritable volleyball of surviving -- Did we pay the bills? Who's

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-24584536454272409182007-06-09T09:30:00.000-04:002007-06-09T10:11:11.113-04:00

Last night we took the girls to their first baseball game -- a Minor League team not far from here. My older daughter's school had a special family night, and we got 4 tickets behind home plate for $20 -- cheaper than a trip to McDonald's or to the movies. A couple of things I noticed last night that made me go hmmm:My baby is a big girl now.Skylar's best friend's family ended up in our row

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-20336840629392126602007-06-05T09:15:00.000-04:002007-06-05T09:21:16.922-04:00

I stumbled across a new fascination: an online confessional for dads, and an online confessional for moms. I am pathetically addicted to reading the musings, lamentations and one-liners of dads and moms who are living the challenge of marriage with children. I've been howling at some of the funny ones, frowning at the shameful ones and feeling deeply bad for the ones that seem so...desperate.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-67881462436049821462007-06-03T22:55:00.000-04:002007-06-03T23:15:35.939-04:00

My youngest daughter graduated from preschool on Friday. I can't even begin to post right now about how it seems impossible that she's off to kindergarten next year, so I'll save that for another time and instead give you a glimpse of how my 4 year-old operates.Here she is during the processional.Now here she is sitting between two friends. Notice dude on the right isn't at all bored.She then

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-10215217723968780462007-06-03T10:00:00.000-04:002007-06-03T10:21:04.565-04:00

We've all heard the only difference between men and boys is the size and cost of their toys. Maybe one the best parts of being a dad is the ability to buy toys -- recklessly -- and play with them yourself, all under the guise of spending time with the children. I love to watch my kids play, because it reminds me of when I was a kid, with nary a care in the world other than who would win the

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-15692553821153970512007-05-15T11:36:00.000-04:002007-05-15T11:45:50.674-04:00

Some favorite news pics of my girls that speak to the power of sisters, friends, love and play.And a ballerina for the moment nailing her pose...right down to her feet.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-52123921650389676892007-05-12T08:06:00.000-04:002007-05-12T08:28:55.341-04:00

Thursday night was open house at my daughter's school -- one of our favorite things every year. Skylar was so excited for us to go, she couldn't stop skippng and leaping around the house before we left. The school was buzzing with people everywhere, and was bursting with artwork and projects lining the halls.I love open house every year because you can feel the creativity oozing from the pages

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-70275475444694220302007-05-12T07:47:00.000-04:002007-05-12T07:54:32.880-04:00

Sometimes dads need time to be people, and you may have figured by now one of my favorite "downtime" activties is getting lost in iTunes user recommendations and "if you bought this you'll like this" suggestions to find great new music. My new playlist, "days off" may connect you with something new:life is beautiful - vega 4starting now - ingrid michaelsonmandolin moon - sister hazelhave a

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-15579937907424547772007-04-20T16:18:00.000-04:002007-04-20T16:34:35.534-04:00

It's been a while since I've posted...we've had one of those periods where everything seems to happen at once. Lots of child care disruptions and maneuvering, family illness, weekends away and chaos at work. I figured I'd get around to blogging tomorrow, or the next day, and here it is over a month later.But then I was starting to wonder what I would even blog about. Seems like we've been

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-45574620071242049022007-03-18T22:42:00.000-04:002007-03-18T23:03:46.808-04:00

Fiona came home from nursery school last week bursting with excitement over this news: her class was going to capture some leprechauns!Apparently, while they were in the big room, some leprechauns had danced their way into their classroom and sprinkled some green glitter all over. Upon return to the classroom, the children found the glitter and Mrs. Parks and Mrs. King told them that the

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-67279145753680021352007-03-18T22:36:00.000-04:002007-03-18T22:42:20.628-04:00

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, my favorite Irish blessing for you:May the road rise up to meet you.May the wind always be at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your face,and rains fall soft upon your fields.And until we meet again,May God hold you in the palm of His hand.And my favorite Irish curse:May those who love us love us.And those that don't love us,May God turn their hearts.And if He

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-10083047109007559842007-03-15T10:22:00.000-04:002007-03-15T10:55:05.103-04:00

It's been a busy few weeks in the Progress household, so I'm opting for the lazy man's post on updates to the old iTunes roster. Actually, I've discovered some very cool new music -- my two favorite finds being Jon McLaughlin (or visit his MySpace profile), whom I heard on Sirius 9 (The Pulse) and Low Stars, who do the opening song for What About Brian -- perhaps my new favorite show as it's the

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-34122780898072389152007-03-09T05:41:00.000-05:002007-03-09T06:31:05.769-05:00

Continuing my look at politics and social issues being heaped on young children, here's a very interesting story that doesn't just catch my attention because it's about LEGO.A private school in Seattle banned LEGO from an early childhood classroom as a way to teach the children that private property ownership is evil.Who among us doesn't wish there were some way to get our youngsters around that

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-9224871865402638852007-03-09T05:30:00.000-05:002007-03-09T05:35:06.111-05:00

Check out a beautifully written post, carrying a great life lesson, from one of my favorite fellow bloggers, Mike.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-42463447227044300382007-03-05T23:19:00.000-05:002007-03-08T10:42:24.906-05:00

Okay, so what's with all the politics being dumped on children lately?Some moms are complaining about a new line of Polly Pocket Matchbox cars, because they're shiny and pink and apparently there's a story line that the girls are racing to the mall. Some mothers are up in arms that a Matchbox car doesn't have to be pink for a girl to play with it, which I don't dispute completely. And of course

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-23296480689282969982007-02-27T09:47:00.000-05:002007-02-27T10:24:32.759-05:00

I was recently reading a story from a fascinating book called I Thought My Father was God, a compilation of short stories from National Public Radio's "National Story Project" that unlocked a swirl of memories I didn't even know were tucked away in the brain.I had an incredibly vivid flash of what my grandmother's silverware felt like in my hands. It was heavy. It had a deeply carved and

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-14134418783675349892007-02-18T19:08:00.001-05:002007-02-18T19:32:27.852-05:00

Today is one of those days where everything just goes wrong, and every decision you make seems bad.About 2 weeks ago, our garage door opener on one side broke, so we've been doing the manual up and down to get in and out with the car. The repair man has been uber booked, so we haven't been able to get it fixed yet.So, last night, I realized we're in the house at night sleeping with the garage

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-7259503471370013042007-02-16T20:34:00.000-05:002007-02-16T20:53:47.955-05:00

I was in New York all week last week for American International Toy Fair. Like any good dad does when he's gone for that long, I went in search of souvenirs for my little ladies, especially since I would be gone on Valentine's Day. Though I was looking for souvenirs, I ended up finding an unexpected community with kindred spirits.I went to the American Girl Place at Rockefeller Center -- a

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1395732095022550542007-02-16T19:56:00.000-05:002007-02-16T20:29:05.091-05:00

Ummm...when did Valentine's Day become mini Halloween? I have been away all week on business, and I came home to find a candy explosion -- as if a pinata had been whacked and cracked all over our kitchen.Apparently, kids today not only exchange Valentine's cards, but attach everything from candy bars to pencils to stickers to lollipops and everything in between. What gives?Whatever happened to

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-75674350549153269642007-02-05T09:13:00.000-05:002007-02-05T10:13:11.419-05:00

I just flew across the country and picked up a copy of Best Life magazine, where I found this story. It carries a subhead: "you don't have to enjoy playing with your kids to be a great dad," that has me wondering: how now brown cow?The writer makes some bold statements that, out of context, really get me fired up:"Bridling at being with children doesn't make you a bad father. It merely makes

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-70596736521833377882007-02-03T21:41:00.000-05:002007-02-03T22:04:38.275-05:00

We had our first significant snowfall in Connecticut last night. Imagine -- it's February 3 in New England, and we got 4 inches of snow -- the ONLY snow accumulation we have had all season. Now, I'm from Maryland, but consider myself enough of a New Englander to understand that waiting until Feb 3 for snow is enough to make a good Yankee downright grouchy. Hopping mad, even. We have leather

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-57466776737214406362007-01-31T21:44:00.000-05:002007-01-31T21:48:09.804-05:00

Apologies for the radio silence...our home internet connection has been blown out for about a week now and they finally came to fix it. PLUS I am a single dad this week, as Mom in Progress is on a business trip out West. The girls are behaving, but going it alone is tiring. Kudos to all the single parents out there who don't eventually have a partner coming home from a business trip to help...

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-53669437339045964342007-01-18T20:52:00.000-05:002007-01-18T21:18:07.991-05:00

Ever been on the train, walking down the street, sitting on an airplane or grocery shopping and seen someone, earbuds on, grooving to their iPod? Ever wonder what they're listening to? A person's playlist can surprise, delight, stir memories, beg question or spur conversation...and always provides a glimpse of who thy are. Because I have no sense of smell, I tend to have a very sharp sense for

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-14151160873074029632007-01-17T22:02:00.001-05:002007-01-17T22:03:58.953-05:00

Last weekend, I stayed in the car with the girls while Mom in Progress ran into the store to return something. The girls were playing their Leapsters in the backseat, and I was playing Bubble Breaker on my mobile phone.A woman came out of the store, who sort of resembled my wife, and got into another car and left. My youngest said "There goes Mommy in a different car, with another Daddy." So

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-35889860717493876112007-01-16T11:51:00.000-05:002007-01-17T22:12:49.661-05:00

My 6 year old is the resident scribe. As her reading skills blossom, she's writing down everything, as if she's keeping a primitive journal (which I think is awesome -- maybe she'll be Daddy's little writer). She writes on note pads. On mail. On Post-Its. On the shower walls with soap crayons. She types on the mini Mac, she's dying to type something on my mobile phone mail keyboard. She

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-42179604502454222682007-01-16T09:37:00.000-05:002007-01-16T11:04:41.038-05:00

A friend sent me an interesting New York Times story that gives me pause: a new Manhattan playground design with national aspiration that calls for "play workers" to guide a child's curiosity and imagination as they explore the playscape. One one hand, times have changed. When I was a kid, my bike was my ticket to the most wonderful places in the world. My friends and I went everywhere, and

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-52558340418777565462007-01-12T19:53:00.000-05:002007-01-12T20:14:44.714-05:00

Mom in Progress is acting on entreprenuerial urges and starting a part-time home party business. But not your average run-of-the-mill cooking utensils or fancy body lotions, she found something that's pretty different -- design-your-own handbags. What's cool about it is you're not just buying something already done, but really customizing it to be one-of-a-kind. She gets to try her hand at

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-28552340396622877412007-01-12T09:29:00.000-05:002007-01-12T19:50:32.285-05:00

Has this been one hell of week for anyone else? One of those seems so long, but sort of flew by kind of weeks...looking forward to the weekend something fierce.Commander in ChiefAs is quite typical for Mom in Progress and me, we're impulsive people. There's no hemming or hawwing in this household. One of us says "We should (fill in the blank)" and so then we usually just do it. We've bought

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-29618360987886449402007-01-07T14:07:00.000-05:002007-01-09T14:20:02.989-05:00

Today at church I was reminded of something I've heard before that I think is great and worth sharing, as it relates to all aspects of our lives, as parents, spouses, professionals and people:"Our greatest fear should not be failure, rather succeeding at something that doesn't really matter."I don't know who said it first, but he or she was a smart cookie.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-83354755241268319042007-01-03T11:55:00.000-05:002007-01-03T22:24:23.119-05:00

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions. They're like diets and Lenten offerings -- things we do for a short period of time to make ourselves feel better that really should just be permanent changes we make in our lives for the better. So I don't do resolutions. Or diets. Or Lenten offerings. They're just ways of temporarily tricking ourselves. However, when I set my mind to something, I

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-6505554867904873592007-01-01T23:10:00.000-05:002007-01-03T13:50:35.814-05:00

As school vacation week comes to an end, a quick reflection on some good family things to consider:Charlotte's WebThe new film adaptation of E.B. White's classic book is actually a very entertaining movie. We went to the in-law's over the weekend and visited the small town old-time movie theater (I love the hometown theaters so much more than the megaplexes) and took in the matinee and the girls

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1167363095819337172006-12-28T22:07:00.000-05:002006-12-28T22:31:35.840-05:00

I'm sure you're all dying to know if my daughter got the whoopee cushion from Santa and the answer is YES. The best 88 cents I ever spent at Wal-Mart was the highlight of her day. She and her sister have figured out ways to slip it where we don't expect and erupt with laughter with every deflation.So, for some reason, Mom in Progress and I ended up giving a pretty techno Christmas. In fact, it

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1167232075800819872006-12-27T09:48:00.000-05:002006-12-27T10:07:55.816-05:00

Ok, so I got a little lost in the pre-Christmas prep and haven't been online in a while -- my apologies. But I hope everyone had a happy holiday and spent good quality time with family and friends having fun and enjoying the time off.I'd say I was fairly well behaved this year, as Santa and his elves were pretty good to me. Here's a recap of some of the highlights of a blogging dad's Christmas

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1166062984700634032006-12-13T21:18:00.000-05:002006-12-13T21:23:04.710-05:00

If you have ever wondered what it's like to be 4 years old, have a domineering personality and watch your sister turn 6 and open presents on her special day, it looks something like this......My youngest was not a happy camper tonight.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1165981810108981492006-12-12T22:27:00.000-05:002006-12-12T23:02:38.506-05:00

Tomorrow is my daughter's 6th birthday. We had 18 of her closest friends join her for a birthday bash at the gym over the weekend (where my wife and I happily let the three teachers take over and run the show!) And it occurred to me that this is an innocent, odd and yet fun age. Here's some of what I overheard at the party:- "I want a pony for Christmas. Well, actually, not a pony, just the

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1165542233458124402006-12-07T20:35:00.000-05:002006-12-07T20:48:55.796-05:00

My daughter's first grade teacher has a card system for keeping the kids on their best behavior. If you're good, your card stays green. If you are spoken to, it changes to orange, and if you still aren't being good, you turn to red. At the end of the week, if you have been good, you get two treats from the treasure box. If you're card was flipped, you get nothing.So we always hear the reports

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1165202970186539182006-12-03T22:11:00.000-05:002006-12-05T07:47:16.376-05:00

Every year we cut down a Christmas tree. And every year we end up with a story.Once, Aimee was 8.5 months pregnant with Skylar trekking up the hill and stepping over stumps. Another time we trudged through a near foot of snow. Another we dealt with a constipated miserable child who was cold. Last year we got all the way to the top of the hill and both children announced they had to go to the

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1164586860183720482006-11-26T19:08:00.000-05:002006-11-26T19:40:58.156-05:00

Thanksgiving, as usual, came and went with a blur. Some notable moments and thoughts:I Love a ParadeThe Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade has always been a centerpiece of my Thanksgiving Day. As a wee lad, it was practically a race to get to Gram’s house for breakfast after church, where my cousins and I would sit in front of the TV without blinking for 3 hours taking it all in. If someone walked

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1164251235474865942006-11-22T21:59:00.000-05:002006-11-22T22:07:15.476-05:00

On this day of Thanksgiving, I figured I would take a moment to reflect on what has been one of the most hectic, stressful and yet, rewarding years of my life. I’m thankful for my beautiful girls, who are growing and changing every day. Perhaps the best gift in the world is the chance to watch your babies become little people, with distinct personalities, talents and passions. This year in

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1164147015401471972006-11-21T16:38:00.000-05:002006-11-21T17:52:20.533-05:00

It's that time of year again...the turkey won't even be completely chilled in the fridge before the Black Friday rush begins to get everything the kids are wishing for. Because the girls have outgrown the Wiggles, which is now on our beloved Disney Channel every morning at 7, they have commanded the remote and found Nickelodeon, which we never used to let them watch because of the commercials.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1164053120298207992006-11-20T15:02:00.000-05:002006-11-22T22:15:15.340-05:00

So I’ve seen some other dads do a quick brain dump of quick hits, and it’s kind of fun, especially handy if you don’t have any other rays of genius to share, so here goes my first musing on life’s peculiarities.Dancing With the Stars Why do we love it? I mean seriously, a random cast of characters – NFL footballers, ex-“Saved by the Bell" and “Blossom” actors, trash talk show hosts – all

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1163824740491307282006-11-17T23:33:00.000-05:002006-11-18T07:18:04.633-05:00

Yesterday, I had one of those moments when what you do for work takes on a whole new meaning. We created a program asking children across the country to donate one or more of their own LEGO bricks to send to the students in New Orleans whose communities and schools were affected by Hurricane Katrina last year. Children and families from all 50 states joined the effort, and contributed over

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1163767181192944312006-11-17T07:37:00.000-05:002006-11-17T07:39:41.193-05:00

We’re always amazed at how different our two girls are. My older daughter is a quiet, gentle, cautious little girl, who always abides by the rules and will report when others aren’t. And my youngest daughter is so sweet, but also very sassy…Cheeky McCheeksters…Fesity Fiona. And today, she earned a new moniker. Our master bedroom is on the first floor of the house, off the family room. Skylar

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1163766695159609642006-11-17T07:29:00.000-05:002006-11-22T22:14:40.603-05:00

How is it that kids are getting older younger every single day? The other day, my almost 6 year-old daughter came into the room and here’s what transpired:My wife: Hey sweetie.Me: Hi baby, how are you?My daughter: Good. (giggle) You know what?Me: Tell me.Her: Well, there are two boys in my class who have a crush on me.Mt wife and I look at one another in utter disbelief.Wife: Oh really? Me:

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1163027618207728552006-11-08T17:49:00.000-05:002006-11-08T18:13:38.316-05:00

It seems hard to believe this is my 50th post. On one hand, seems like I have posted many more, but on the other, wondering how I've had 50 things to say. It's been fun learning the blogosphere and meeting new peeps -- thanks to everyone who frequents and reaches out.My wife and I recently had one of those parenting conundrums: should we believe our child, or trust our guts? My oldest daughter

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1162585098377138612006-11-03T14:48:00.000-05:002006-11-03T19:49:51.716-05:00

Over lunch today, my wife and I agreed it was time to start making the holiday list -- though both of us wonder how in the world it's that time of year again.So, rather than brooding about the impending rush, I decided to check a few resources that can kickstart some fun into the holiday prep -- especially since we'll all have some time off in the next two months to be with family. Sometimes I

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1162436479597673002006-11-01T21:45:00.000-05:002006-11-01T22:33:07.116-05:00

PumpkinsHereby a picture of the jack o'lanterns chez dadinprogress, so no one thinks I was joking in a previous post when I claimed to be a master pumpkin carver. Ariel took me the longest to do. However, mine are not near as impressive as the gourdal masterpiece that Creative Type Dad crafted as an homage to Colonel Sanders and KFC. WeatherDespite some chaotic storms and strong wind all

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1162402286047340872006-11-01T12:05:00.000-05:002006-11-01T22:39:25.416-05:00

Stay-at-home dad extraordinnaire, Rebel Dad, recently started a debate on washingtonpost.com regarding a possible beginning of the "Daddy Wars", i.e. men bashing other men for their parenting style or dedication, similar to the "Mommy Wars" that have been cited as a growing issue.A slew of comments have been posted to Rebel Dad's idea. When I take a step back and consider my own experience, I'd

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1162056881953670092006-10-28T12:51:00.000-04:002006-10-28T13:36:01.166-04:00

I just found a great community blog, Working Parents, that resides at BusinessWeek.com, that covers a wide variety of topics from a great group of men and women. Bookmark it and check it out!As I was scanning, I found a post from Anne Tergesen offering perspective on the recent American Academy of Perdiatrics study I cited in a Dad in Progress: Media Distortionism of the Average American Family"

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1162044670514647352006-10-28T09:52:00.000-04:002006-10-28T12:36:17.633-04:00

We went to the Halloween dance at school last night: an annual event where the kids can trial their costumes, get groovy down in the gym dancing with friends and have paltry snacks in the school cafeteria.We took the girls last year, and the year before, and usually ended up just sitting on the bleachers watching the older children have fun. So this year, as we were walking in, my wife and I

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1161998964251099372006-10-27T21:06:00.000-04:002006-10-27T22:12:45.590-04:00

Now I must admit, I am a master pumpkin carver. I have all the tools and gadgets for making the perfect pumpkins. My penchant runs deep. I remember being a pumpkin lover since I was young, when I spent hours sawing and scooping and carving and slicing. And my designs are never simple. So you can imagine my delight in finding a new battery powered pumpkin carving tool. I can't wait to try it

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1161182788724555502006-10-18T10:35:00.000-04:002006-10-18T20:22:40.510-04:00

My oldest daughter had her first gymnastics meet this past weekend. She got into her sparkly suit, mom did her hair just the right way and we packed in the van and headed to the gym. We knew there would be a lot of people there, and we knew she was one of 6 or 7 different levels that would be meeting at the same time.Typically, my daughter doesn't like crowds. So, as we were on the way into

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1161135743249088592006-10-17T21:31:00.000-04:002006-10-17T21:42:23.270-04:00

Have you ever seen "Charlie and Lola" on Disney Channel? Or read one of Lauren Child's beautifully done books to your kids? I am completely smitten with Charlie and Lola, and I don't really know why.Perhaps it's because:- Cheeky and carefree little Lola reminds me so much of my youngest daughter- Every mini episode is completely spot on with capturing the essence of being a curious, creative 4

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1160424640960046692006-10-09T16:08:00.000-04:002006-10-09T17:09:29.440-04:00

Po Bronson's essay in this week's TIME magazine takes an interesting look at how the media are quite possibly mainstreaming the niche when talking about today's "average" family, painting what almost becomes a Dali-esque view of family life that then is broadcast and interpreted by millions, as would that painting if hung at the Met.Take for example, a story filed today by the Associated Press

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1160196811906810942006-10-07T00:37:00.000-04:002006-10-07T00:53:31.916-04:00

I have come to the realization that our kids have better social lives than we do.My older daughter has a ball at school, gets a different play date invite every week, has friends at gymnastics. My youngest, now that she has started school, is quickly following suit. Both are invited to birthday parties what seems like every weekend. Hell, my youngest is invited to two parties in one

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1159826326098792862006-10-02T17:52:00.000-04:002006-10-02T17:58:46.106-04:00

So how do you know when your child truly adores something? Well, when passion overtakes normal function, of course.Over the weekend, my oldest daughter, who has been turning flips, cartwheels, round-offs and practicing head stands all over the house for the last week, was overcome by her passion for the sport.She told us, "Mom, Dad, I just CAN'T even walk! I just HAVE to do gymnastics!"

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1159479806361007592006-09-28T17:03:00.000-04:002006-09-29T10:08:52.466-04:00

Boston Globe reporter Barbara Meltz's recent column on manners is a topic for every parent to be concerned about -- the importance of manners, instilled at an early age. Rude and obnoxious parents groom rude and obnoxious children. How many times have you overheard a parent telling their children to "Shut up!" or witnessed a child blantantly disrepescting their parents? We were recently at a

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1159380225645623002006-09-27T13:43:00.000-04:002006-09-27T14:03:45.696-04:00

Daniel McGinn penned an interesting look at a yet to be released study that contradicts the popular notion that children are overscheduled in this week's Newsweek, as did Barbara Meltz in her column in the Boston Globe.I can't wait to see the findings of the study, but apparently it reveals that children who have more activities scheduled do better in school, have stronger relationships with

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1159302503215438422006-09-26T16:24:00.000-04:002006-10-02T18:01:06.460-04:00

So my youngest just turned 4. She loves horses, so we did it up barn style (and yes, bringing home five oversized helium filled horse balloons was both interesting and fun).It seems like every other weekend we're carting our kids off to someone's birthday party. We don't mind -- it's fun for them and gives us a couple hours to relax or get things done -- but it can break the bank and there's

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1159286748158589752006-09-26T11:56:00.000-04:002006-09-26T12:05:48.186-04:00

So over the weekend, tables turned, and I received my first tongue lashing from my little one.I don't quite remember what happened, but apparently I had gotten myself into trouble with my 4 year old. It went something like this, with a haughty and troubled tone:Her: "MICHAEL! Come in here."Me: "Excuse me?"Her: "I said, come in here, MICHAEL. Please."Me: "Well I'm not sure I like your tone, and

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1158958338605595132006-09-22T16:43:00.000-04:002006-09-22T16:53:22.843-04:00

I returned from a 3-day business trip yesterday evening and my wife hadn't gotten home from work yet. The nanny went on her way and I asked the girls what they wanted to do. Suddenly they disappeared and I followed them up to our office, where I found my youngest sitting at the desk, scribbling on a paper and pulling the keyboard tray out, punching on the kayboard, then sliding it back in again

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1158257008560909792006-09-14T13:51:00.000-04:002006-09-22T16:43:25.916-04:00

New York Times writer Michelle Slatalla recounts how her daughter surprised her in "8 Year-Old Finds Her Inner Child" and it makes me wonder: How can we be sure that we're raising children to follow their passions and inner callings and not simply to follow the crowd? And what role do we as parents play in fueling one or the other tendencies?Slatalla's reaction to her daughter showing an

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1158161377112543642006-09-13T10:32:00.000-04:002006-09-13T11:29:37.190-04:00

My older daughter has been doing gymnastics for 3 years now, and she started team gymnastics last week, which coincidentally was also the first week of first grade. She's still adjusting to the full-day run at school, and has been a little cranky in the evenings as she works out the kinks.My wife and I marvel every night over how it is that she has gotten so big so fast, and we're getting used

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1158076066753254942006-09-12T11:21:00.000-04:002006-09-12T11:47:47.513-04:00

I read an interesting story on homework and how it's stifling a child's love of learning. I don't have children of the age where homework is cumbersome or overwhelming, but I am conflicted over some of the messages and think there is a broader context that needs to be considered before we say "down with homework."Today's teachers are no longer just teachers. Societal changes and diagnoses have

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1157079982605878422006-08-31T22:44:00.000-04:002006-08-31T23:08:37.600-04:00

I came across an interesting story confronting the topic of how children (and their parents!) behave in public that has me a little split on how I feel.Parents need to be mindful of where they are taking their children. For some reason, I have noticed a particular entitlement among some parents that they should not have to sacrifice certain destinations because they have children. But let's

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1156817569834835482006-08-28T21:55:00.000-04:002006-08-28T22:12:49.856-04:00

My oldest daughter is about to start first grade next week, and while we're thrilled to see her growing up and loving school, we're also worried about maintaining the right scheduling balance. Her kindergarten year was only a half day each day, and sometimes even that rendered her exhausted at the end of the day. She does her fair share of classes and activities outside of school as well --

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1155566991332416152006-08-14T10:48:00.000-04:002006-08-14T10:49:51.343-04:00

Sorry I haven't been posting...my family and I have been on vacation and I made the (wise) decision to leave my laptop at home to avoid the temptation to work. I'm back online and will be posting again soon.

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1153921473102804272006-07-26T09:31:00.000-04:002006-07-26T09:54:17.836-04:00

I was on a cross-country flight yesterday and watched a 2 year-old boy and his mom play with Mr. Potato Head. The problem was, mom didn't want her little fella to make Mr. Potato Head his way. The boy would reach into the Ziploc bag, pull out a piece and immediately mom was pointing to where junior should place the piece on the spud -- and, of course, it was always in the "correct" spot. If he

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1153444168997763732006-07-20T21:02:00.000-04:002006-07-20T21:09:29.006-04:00

I just hit the road on what amounts to almost two weeks straight of business travel, and was lucky enough to take with me one of those awesome moments we parents are lucky enough to receive that make all the chaos, stress and frustration of parenting disappear in a flash.My wife gave the girls a bath the other night while I was packing. Afterward, she brought out their wish dolls -- special

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1153156994224553802006-07-17T12:55:00.000-04:002006-07-17T14:18:12.770-04:00

I picked up a copy of WIRED mag editor-in-chief Chris Anderson's new book called The Long Tail. As I read Chris' theory on The Long Tail, that is, how culture and economy is more and more moving from a focus on a relatively small number of "hits" (mainstream products and markets) at the "head" of the demand curve and toward a huge number of "niches" in the tail of that same curve.I wonder how

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1153143540474505872006-07-17T09:33:00.000-04:002006-07-17T10:48:23.120-04:00

I have spent the last two weekends at the beach with my family and noticed something that has me thinking: the beach is the BEST place to be a great parent. In watching what families do and how they interact while they're at the beach, it seems we should all move our daily routines seaside.So what is it about the beach that we can take home with us?1. No distractions. Sure, the occasional cell

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1152541849801837292006-07-10T10:18:00.000-04:002006-07-17T14:39:40.176-04:00

Saturday evening we packed in the lawn chairs, blankets and snacks and headed to an old fort at the mouth of the Thames River in New London to take in the annual fireworks show. The girls were giddy with excitement, my youngest playing superhero in the grass while my oldest was turning cartwheels as we whiled away the daylight for the night time show. Typical to New England summer evenings, it

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1152132721484392132006-07-05T16:42:00.000-04:002006-07-05T17:00:56.193-04:00

Thanks to Tom McMahon at Kidtips for asking parents and grandparents to offer some tips in his weekly column for motivating kids off the couch and away from the TV this summer!I especially like Rebecca R.'s idea:A list of things I can do by myself: Ask your children to list 20 or more things they can do all by themselves (reading, drawing, playing with dolls, building with LEGO bricks, etc.).

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1151728334899089462006-07-01T00:22:00.000-04:002006-07-01T00:32:14.900-04:00

Contrasting my previous post re: Ms. Baer's Father's Day "tribute", I found a nice story from Johanna Wilson at the Myrtle Beach Sun. Ms. Wilson knows the way to get more dads involved is not to scold them for their shortcomings, rather to praise them for what they do bring to a child's life. I love the simple, yet powerful tips she adds at the end on how to be a super dad:- Look beyond

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1151725599224763322006-06-30T23:32:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:56:20.520-04:00

Between our garage and our house is nerve central: our laundry room -- the general catch all, mud room, always-a-mess-but-never-visible-to-company, most trafficked area of our house. There is a metal door that leads from the garage into nerve central.And that door is also our shrine to our children's creativity.We buy magents every time we go anywhere as a family -- the zoo, the science museum,

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1151723242272346162006-06-30T22:41:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:23:59.946-04:00

Is it me, or does it seem that dads sort of got the shaft in media coverage around Father's Day? I've come across several stories where, despite the fact that it's a day to celebrate dads, we got bashed for not being as dedicated as mom, not as diligent about child chores like scheduling doctor appointments and the like. Fredericksburg, Virginia parenting columnist Kim Baer's Father's Day story

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1150986264841727382006-06-22T10:13:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:24:39.060-04:00

My daughter just had her last day of kindergarten. A milestone for all of us.We began the countdown 10 days out. My wife and I were stumped as to why she seemed so excited to be finished with school -- she absolutely loves going. But there's something about a countdown that makes anything exciting. Maybe we'll try it next time there is a dentist appointment -- "10 days until the dentist!"So I

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1150806104994830802006-06-20T07:51:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:25:02.050-04:00

Do children really make us happy? Or do we just tell ourselves that they do?"Rubbish!" you're probably thinking.Check out Daniel Gilbert's thought-provoking essay in this week's TIME magazine.I did some digging on the matter, and only 34% of American adults say they're very happy, according to a recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center. Fifty-one percent say they're pretty happy and

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1150604872180555552006-06-17T23:36:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:25:24.233-04:00

I just saw the Nike commercial that honors Tiger Woods' father, Earl, who just passed away from a long battle with prostate cancer. The images are powerful, and depict a strong bond between father and son. So I hopped online to learn a little more about their relationship and came across a story where Tiger himself sums it up best. When asked what his father's special gift was as a coach, he

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1150599570734189102006-06-17T22:44:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:26:01.426-04:00

Fathers, take note: Brad Pitt was named Dad of the Year.According to Life & Style editor, Debra Birnbaum: "He even skipped the Cannes Film Festival in anticipation of Shiloh's birth."Wow, give that man a trophy. Oh wait, they already did. He's dad of the year.Maybe Brad will impress us all next by "even" passing on a round of golf in Palm Springs and be there to hear Zahara's first word. Maybe

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1150492530074444622006-06-16T16:36:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:26:30.633-04:00

Considering that Father's Day is this weekend, it's a good time to consider who the day really honors. Father's Day was inspired by a man who raised his six children singlehandedly while maintaining a full-time schedule on his farm after his wife passed away. So this weekend, we celebrate the 66.3 million American men who have the distinct honor of being a dad...and I hope that dad makes time to

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1150082854937462342006-06-11T22:43:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:26:54.476-04:00

There is a lot of talk in the media and here in the blogosphere about "New Dads" -- men who are becoming more emotionally involved with their children, spending more quality time with them -- either playing, caring for or just otherwise being together. Often, at least it's reported, the "New Dad" is met head on by the "Gatekeeper Mom" -- women who want their husbands to be more involved in the

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1149650879526961492006-06-06T22:54:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:27:15.033-04:00

So I came across a story in People magazine recently that told of a family that practices unschooling -- a form of homeschooling process of educating children by letting them puruse their own interests and follow their passions in a way that leads to self-learning.I applaud any parent who takes their child's education on as a full-time job through homeschooling -- most of us barely survive

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1149011670840501522006-05-30T13:43:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:27:44.246-04:00

No doubt the current influx of reading material on fatherhood means Father's Day is just around the corner. I came across a celebrity pictorial profile of dads and their kids in the current issue of Men's Health Best Life magazine, in a series of stories about fatherhood. A couple of things jumped out:X-Men actor James Marsden says his son Jack “...has taught me that before him, I was just

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1148914380273051352006-05-29T10:45:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:28:05.116-04:00

I came across some interesting information at fathers.com:Playing games, drawing pictures or initiating other fun activities are wonderful ways to enhance and strengthen your fathering skills. Researchers have repeatedly confirmed that when fathers engage in systematic playful activities, it benefits their children in a number of ways: 1) It helps their children develop a problem-solving capacity

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1148824465367959312006-05-28T09:53:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:28:24.746-04:00

In my last post, I mentioned I'm reading Tim Russert's book, Wisdom of Our Fathers. One man's story really made me think hard about my own life as a dad: "While the biological act of fathering entails no real commitment, the ongoing process of daddying requires a lifelong commitment to your children. But it's never too late to begin the process of becoming the father you want to be, the one you

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1148824428122925172006-05-28T09:24:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:28:45.353-04:00

One of the biggest challenges to being a great dad is time. Between working full time, traveling, chores, yardwork, and general life tasks, finding room in the day for quality time with kids is tough.I'm reading Tim Russert's new book, Wisdom of Our Fathers, a collection of the letters he received from sons and daughters across the country after he wrote of his relationship with his own father

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1148700670869204112006-05-26T22:56:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:29:11.653-04:00

I recently came across a humorous but thought provoking story by Michael Chabon called "Disposable Memories," in which he recounts the many times he has crumpled, tossed or recycled a piece of his children's artwork -- and they few times he has been caught red-handed.It happened to me...three or four times, maybe more.Children are art factories. We have bin upon Rubbermaid bin of marked up paper

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1148222264846107992006-05-21T10:13:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:29:35.606-04:00

I love this Family Circus vignette that speaks to the power of a child's imagination. It makes me think back to when I was a kid. My cousin and I would fasten our grandmother's wildly colored afghans to the posters of her twin beds with rubber bands, propping the center up with a broomstick, to make a fort. Sofa cusions turned on end were the walls. Stories ensued over battles with

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1148213036484316662006-05-21T07:38:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:29:55.570-04:00

Newsweek's recent "My Turn" column (reader-submitted essays about life) is called "It Takes a Real Man to Be a Good Mother," penned by Robert Wilder, whose mother died of cancer when he was young, leaving his father to work full time and raise their four children on his own. Although his dad wore many hats around the house before the family change, Wilder suggests the very interesting idea that

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1147828153424068472006-05-16T20:30:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:30:23.806-04:00

I think I may have shirts printed for the entire family: "We survived Break Free of TV Week."My older daughter, a proud kindergartener, pledged to "Break Free of TV" for one full week last week - part of a school sponsored effort to get families spending more time together.I saw the panic in my wife's face when she considered missing an episode of "Grey's Anatomy" as I verbalized my concern over

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1147785397850533932006-05-16T09:16:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:30:43.496-04:00

I was recently in a meeting where results of in-home research on how LEGO is used in the household were revealed. One mother on video admitted “Although I realize the good that comes to my son when he builds, it just makes such a mess that I usually don’t let him bring out the Legos.” Imagine the shock and disbelief. How could a mom who knows how much creativity and learning this toy inspires say

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1147785278571691452006-05-16T09:13:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:31:06.150-04:00

In the current issue of DETAILS magazine the article “Is Being a Good Dad Ruining Your Career?” raises an interesting point:“A 2002 survey by the Families and Work Institute found that the amount of time a typical dad spends at home with the kids – crawling around on all fours and roaring like Wookiee, say, while a 3-year-old in Pull-Ups rides him into the kitchen – has increased by nearly an

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28154318.post-1147785189008120382006-05-16T09:07:00.000-04:002006-06-30T23:31:27.290-04:00

Hey, welcome to my blog.I have no shocking hobbies, deep-ridden angst (ok, well maybe some) or corporate secrets to spill. So what's my excuse for blogging?I’m a corporate professional on call at all times, so I know a thing or two about the relentless stress of the daily grind and what it takes to survive in the corporate world. Married to an awesome woman for 8 years, together for 11, so I know

dadinprogresshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11777265856007865036noreply@blogger.com0