Adventures of a new Daddy

My little man dancing

2011-09-24T12:50:00.001-07:00

Making Money from Home

2011-09-01T08:48:00.000-07:00

So as a single income family, I've been trying to make money pretty much every second I'm awake... I've recently tried this out and it seems to be working. Easy way to make a bit of money while working from home. Basically seems to be taking survey's for cash or signing up for offers, sometimes it's for 50 cents, sometimes it's $4. Typically it seems to take about 10 minutes for each one, and they are easy to do while doing something else. There is a mobile version so I even do it now on my commute and sometimes during my breaks. Though I'd share the link for everyone else:

Father and Son playing in stream

2011-08-17T05:51:00.001-07:00

"What every boy needs to know about being a man"

2011-07-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

"What every boy needs to know about being a man" Is a speech from the movie Second Hand Lions. One of the main characters was named Hub McCann and was played by Robert Duvall. Hub lived in a old weathered house with his brother Garth McCann (played by Michael Caine) as lifelong bachelors. The brothers take in their grand nephew and through some hijinks which includes a lion in a cornfield and sword fighting with a plunger, help their relatively impressionable young man find a sense of self confidence. In the movie Hub gives a speech to a group of rough teenagers that he has given to countless other young men before. I thought that it was really great and wanted to post it to pay homage to these 2 great characters. Here it is:

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things that a man needs to believe in the most.. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money.. money and power mean nothing. That good always triumphs over evil, and I want you to remember this. That love, true love, never dies... No matter if they're true or not, a man should believe in those things because those are the things worth believing in."

I can't wait for my son to play with.....

2011-05-31T20:27:00.000-07:00

Let me know the stuff that I missed in the comments! Thanks!

Quotes on Fatherhood

2011-05-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, "You're tearing up the grass." "We're not raising grass," Dad would reply. "We're raising boys." -Harmon Killebrew-

A father is someone you look up to no matter how tall you grow.
-Author Unknown-

A man never stands as tall as when he kneels to help a child.
-Knights of Pythagoras-

Love and fear. Everything the father of a family says must inspire one or the other. -Joseph Joubert-

His heritage to his children wasn't words or possessions, but an unspoken treasure, the treasure of his example as a man and a father.
-Will Rogers Jr.-

Dad, your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever. -Author Unknown-

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope. -Bill Cosby-

Men learn while they teach.
-Seneca-

Sorry don't get it done, Dude -John Wayne-

My father confused me. From the ages of one to seven, I thought my name was Jesus Christ! -Bill Cosby-

I won't lie to you, fatherhood isn't easy like motherhood. -Homer Simpson-

The father who does not teach his son his duties is equally guilty with the son who neglects them. -Confucius-

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years. -Mark Twain-

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. -Sigmund Freud-

And my personal favorite:

Never raise your hand to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected. -Red Buttons-

Make a Book for Dad this Fathers Day!

2011-05-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

My handsome little Man

2011-05-21T20:50:00.001-07:00

Babies love their Grandmas!

2011-05-21T08:46:00.000-07:00

Can we keep her Daddy?...

Recently my mom came and visited our family for several days. She lives several states away so it is rather hard to get together. Seeing her with Matty (my son) though is like seeing a breathtaking piece of artwork, she was such a shining light for us. There are things in this world that when you see them, you know that they are simply "right". My mom was a really great mother, but she seems to be born into being a PERFECT grandmother. She met and exceeded every single expectation that I had hoped would be met for her new role. It ended up that not only was she amazing with him, but she brought our whole family closer and happier at the same time. I think that she had such a positive impact on our family because she was always watching Matty, always wanting to hold him, and her devotion let my wife and I relax our muscles for a bit.. The genuine love and caring for our little boy came across so boldly that it allowed us to loosen our parenting muscles for a bit. I normally equate things to sports terms, so I guess G-ma is like the star relief pitcher on a World Series bound team. Mommy and daddy are always going to be the starters, but G-ma was able to come in and get the win for us each night she was here. We could count on her to swoop in and close it out for us without question or hesitation. We actually had our first "date night" since he was born because of the level of trust that she automatically won. That was the first time in 10 months that we had been alone together and it was surprisingly easy. If we had hired a babysitter I could see the tone of the night being quite different, but Grandma made it through with flying colors.

We are all emotional human beings. We can usually tell pretty accurately when someone is showing a genuine, pure emotion. It comes across in a hundred things a minute whether it's your smile, the way you hold your body, even what you are looking at. When someone honestly and without reservation loves you and has your well being held in such high regard, it is quite obvious to everyone in the room. I love my mom, but I love her much more now that I have seen how truly perfect she is with my most precious treasure...my son.

A Letter To my Son..

2011-05-17T12:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Matty,

You are 10 months old now... I can't believe how fast you are growing. It seems like just yesterday that you were just laying there in your crib, super defenseless and just practicing opening your eyes... Now look at you! You have taken your first steps, learned how to clap, you can say Mommy and Daddy, your front teeth came in (causing some sleepless nights for mommy and sometimes daddy). You stop doing something when Daddy says "No, No, No Matty boy" while having a really sweet smile on your face the whole time. Your Daddy has learned how to change diapers, how to make a bottle in less than 30 seconds, and to feel how amazing it is when you fall asleep in his arms.
Matty, you make your daddy so happy when you crawl over him and wrestle around on the ground. It makes me wish that you could grow up a little quicker just simply to have more fun with you! Well, let me think about that for a sec, you are so sweet now and I can't help but just thank God for all the blessings he has given us adding you to our lives. Yeah, stay little and sweet for as long as you can. I love being able to rock you to sleep still far to much. I am looking forward to teaching you all the fun stuff that goes along with being a boy though. I can't wait to show you how to swim, how to fish, how to pick up the little garden snakes and sneak them in to show Mommy... Really everyday I think of something that we are going to have fun doing together my son.
So here it is my little Matty boy, I love you so very much. You have already enriched my life to limits that I couldn't have fathomed before you. You have singlehandedly made me a better man my son. I hope that some day the gift of fatherhood can be yours as well (but not to soon.. haha). I will always have a special place in my heart for you Matty, my first born son. You are just a baby now but you have already made your Father so proud, think of all that is to come!

Always

Dad

The Prayer of a Father

2011-05-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

Dear God

Lord I come to you humbly as your servant
I lift my family up to you God and put them in your hands
Lord watch over my wife and children when I am away working
Let them wake up happy and healthy each day
Keep them safe and peaceful as they are my treasure

Help me to be a good provider Lord, help me to be a good Husband and Father
Help me to be the father that I have always hoped to be

As always Lord, I put my own path in your hands
Lead me in the right way to make me a better man
Let my wife and children sleep well tonight Lord..
Let them dream of happiness and wake up rested

Bring your angels around this family O Lord
Watch and protect us through the night and tomorrow
Let my wife know that she is loved every minute of the day
Let my children feel their fathers presence even when i'm gone

Lord... I ask that you grant me wisdom as the father of this family
Guide me to make the right choices to better our life

In your name I pray...

Amen

Contentment is.....

2011-04-29T17:36:00.000-07:00

Daddy the Employer

2011-04-29T12:30:00.000-07:00

So my son isn’t old enough to understand allowances, money, or even chores for that matter, but I have decided to treat Matty’s allowance like his salary. I am going to become the Employer, CEO of our family, and Blue Cross/Blue Shield all rolled into one. I want to pass on the knowledge that being a hard worker and meeting your deadlines inherently brings reward. If he takes care of his responsibilities he will be rewarded with his allowance, and I feel that my duty as a father will include teaching him about saving his money and also how to make his money work for him through investments and ventures. I know that he is still so little and I feel a bit silly thinking about him vacuuming for his weekly allowance, but that is one thing that I wasn’t taught at all growing up.
I don’t want him to be one of those people that think the only option is to go to work, be a zombie, and come home. I really want to foster the entrepreneurial spirit within him. I read Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki awhile ago and it was a real eye opening experience for me. I certainly am not going to be quite as adept at making my son a financial genius as Robert, but I want to try. Some of the behaviors that I think help the mindset of a financially successful man are:

Understanding delayed gratification
Not settling for the bird in the hand/being willing to take a risk
Not needing to accumulate possessions to be happy
Really understanding that his word is his bond
Always staying positive in the face of adversity

I am sure that there are a thousand other attributes that need to be on this list, but this is where I am starting. Please feel free to leave a comment on what you feel is important to pass on to your children to keep them financially smart. Thanks!

Can you be a real man without being a Father?

2011-04-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

Now that I am a father, I find myself looking back on my life with a different attitude/feeling.... A life that I once saw as full of fun experiences and carefree times now has an empty feeling to it. I don't know how I accomplished anything before I had my little boy.. Now that I have an heir, my life seems so much richer for lack of a better description. When I go to work, it is with purpose. When I drive to and from work, it is with safety to get home to my family in mind. When I go into a store, it is for just the necessaties as I want any frills to be enjoyed by my wife or son. So that begs the question... Did I know what being a man meant before my son came into my life?...My answer is simply no.

Dear Son, Love Dad

2011-04-16T08:36:00.001-07:00

Dear Son,

I hope that you always
know how much I love you..

Love
Dad
_____________________________________________

Dear Son,
I wish that I could keep you from hurt, from pain and from sadness. I know how much it is going to hurt... I'll be there for you to talk to and I'll try to give you advice, but this is something that you will need to go through on your own to find your way into manhood... All I can say is to be strong, put your game face on and not give into the easy way just because it's what everyone else is doing.. A lot of the time, the hard way is the right way and more times than not you will be walking that path by yourself. Through everything though, remember that you will be the one staring at yourself in the mirror 10 years from now looking back on this time of hardship with judgement, no one else has to answer to your conscious. Be able to look at that image with pride.. But, no matter what you decide, I'll always be in your corner. The bottom line though is you are me, I am you... I will always be your biggest fan and largest supporter. I love you Matty
Love Dad

Just like Daddy

2011-04-15T18:45:00.000-07:00

I think that we have another Red Sox fan in the family!
I can't wait to find all the other stuff that we will have in common.. I remember learning to play basketball with our next door neighbors because my Dad was really good at it. It's funny how the things we like and place value on are influenced by memories...

My son showing off his laugh!

2011-04-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

I had absolutely no idea how purely happy the sound of your child's laugh can make you.... Thought that I would share my little piece of happiness with you!

First Baseball game as Father and Son- Greenville, South Carolina

2011-04-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

What a huge day for both baby boy and daddy at Fluor Field in Greenville SC. Our first baseball game has come and gone. While I was sitting there I realized how much my life has changed since last opening day. I've had a lot of life changing things happen since my brother Jon and I last went to see the Royals/RedSox. My baby boy is here and quickly growing into a little man... I am the proudest dad that I can be and I really can't wait to go out to the front lawn with him and start playing catch. My son did pretty well at the game overall for it being a completely new experience and though he won't remember it, it will remain in my heart forever! Matty didn't like the cheers and music at first as I'm sure it was the loudest thing he's been involved with so far, but after some tears and trips back to the concession stand though he quickly got used to the noise. He just needed to see that Dad was happy and that life was still good even though everyone was screaming and fireworks were going off. It was a gorgeous night and I couldn't have been a prouder dad. He had a little taste of a "Drive Dog" (his first taste of hotdog) but I don't think that his mom saw, so it'll be our little secret :) I can't imagine all the other "Firsts" that we are going to do together, but it always brings a constant smile to my face. Feel free to let me know what you remember doing with your dad as a "first" and what it meant to you in the comments. As Always, thanks for visiting my site and God Bless!

https://picasaweb.google.com/grover.solomon/MattyLovesBaseball#

How to keep my son from Charlie Sheen-ing...

2011-04-02T17:52:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to avoid getting Charlie Sheen overdoses from the media lately. True, some of the stuff is pretty funny, but when I hear people actually debating things like "Having Tiger Blood" it's a bit over the top. Being a dad now, when I look from Charlie's crazed face on TV down to my little boys sweet smile, I worry what might be in store for him and how I can prepare him to avoid having a meltdown on national TV.
Is it a lack of fundamental values? Is it not having a core family unit that holds you responsible for your actions? I really don't know but I want Matty to understand that his actions bring consequence. I want to give him an understanding that he is a part of a community as a whole and needs to be a contributing member. I guess it equates to the same thing as trying to keep your daughter off the pole frankly.
Is Charlie a first though, is he the only man to say crazy things that end up on T shirts? It's definitely happened in the past, a lot of fella's have let a statement loose that they wish that they could have taken back or that might have raised some eyebrows if found on a Tshirt @Amazon.. Here's a couple of examples:

You treat a lady like a dame, and a dame like a lady.
Frank Sinatra

You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven.
Jimi Hendrix

Because I have a girlfriend, I try and take the straight and narrow path, which is good because it prevents VD.
Joe Rogan

I only take Viagra when I'm with more than one woman.
Jack Nicholson

-and then there is the arguably most quotable person of all time, Hunter S. Thompson:
"I feel the same way about disco as I do about herpes."
"I hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, violence, or insanity to anyone, but they've always worked for me."
"If you're going to be crazy, you have to get paid for it or else you're going to be locked up."
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."
"You can turn your back on a person, but never turn your back on a drug, especially when its waving a razor sharp hunting knife in your eye."
Hunter S. Thompson

So the big question that I posed to myself... How to make my son have Tiger Blood without him knowing it...and have lots of goddesses....Feel free to leave me some comments with any advice! Thanks!
-Solomon

The triumph of Matty!

2011-04-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

"Don't give up, Don't ever give up"
Jim Valvano
Who's the king of the mountain Mommy!!! I am! The thing that made me so proud of this is that he didn't give up. He slid down, but after blowing a few raspberries he got right back on and climbed to the top, gaining the praise from us when he made it up. I think that this is such an open window into the human spirit..... "I have an obstacle... I tried and failed.... I try again with a little determination and I make it up to enjoy my riches (in this case it's praise from Mommy and Daddy).
I'm so proud of him for his inherently strong spirit!

All the fun things that Daddy will teach you

2011-04-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

It sounds like a Dr Seuss book in my head when I think about the stuff that I want to teach my little Matty as he grows up... Here's how it comes out when I try to explain it:
All the fun things that Daddy will teach you
starts with of course not eating the glue
There is skateboarding with Kneepads
and balancing on Do-Dad's
Jumping in the Lake
While Mom bakes a cake
Fishing off the rocks
and tearing holes in our socks
Camping overnight
then telling stories of fright
Ohhh the wonderful things that we'll do
through the years everything will be new!
We will shoot hoops in the park
Play hide and seek in the dark
Play catch with our mitts
Make cars out of kits
Learn how to play poker
and be the class joker
Matty the world is yours as you will see
It will be fun for you and for me
We will spit off the bridge
and play the piano a smidge
we'll jump onto puddles
and sing away our troubles
Make shapes out of clouds
and fight the Red Sox crowds
My little boy the world will be ours
Just as long as we both bring Mommy some flowers

"Been farmin' long?"

2011-04-01T19:05:00.001-07:00

"Sinatra-ing" My Son

2011-03-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am making a list for my baby boy of rules that I want him to learn so he will be considered a modern day gentleman. I want woman to look at him differently than the average Joe Schmoe that walks around trying to be cool. I want him to embody the inherently cool aura that surrounds some lucky few men such as Frank Sinatra. They effortlessly stroll through life with a sense of style while simultaneously having a swagger of unending confidence.
Knowing some simple rules and using them as a guideline helps to create the core of the ‘gentleman’, but like everything, gaining experiences and creating your own style is key to becoming your own man. So without further ado, here is my list of things that will my Matty-boy become a "Classic Gentleman".

Look people in their eyes when you talk to them and always shake someones hand when you first meet them. If you aren't introduced, do not be hesitant to introduce yourself followed by a compliment when speaking to a woman.
When walking a lady home always have them be on the inside away from the curb on the sidewalk, or when walking in a parking lot, keep them on the side with the parked cars. Be their protector with whatever comes and it will not go unnoticed.
While at the dinner table, always stand up when a lady approaches, and if seating her, make sure to pull the chair out first and then push it in gently while she sits.
Always be on time for everything, especially any appointment set with a woman. Do not be pushy or annoyed if they are running a bit behind. Keep in mind that they are getting ready for you, take it as the compliment that it actually is and enjoy it.
Don't curse around a woman or while in public. You really never know who is listening and making a judgement about you. Keep it classy and keep it clean. People that weave together a string of profanity make themselves look idiotic. Use your mind to find better wordage and if and when you do Curse, it will bring the weight that you would imagine comes if Ward Cleaver said "F*%# You".
Become well read. Being able to hold a conversation and keep it interesting starts with your knowledge about a multitude of subjects and being able to think.. Always keep learning, always keep reading.
Wear clothes that fit. Don't let your jeans or sweats hang down or wear extremely baggy clothes, but don't wear banana hammocks either. Find your size and buy clothes that actually fit you. You should at some point get fitted for a suit so you can confidently talk about your shirt or jacket size. You will find that even going back to the 50's and 60's, if a man was well dressed it still comes across as someone that was and still is fashionable.
Do not make fun of others. Everyone has a time when they feel vulnerable. do not exploit that moment to try to make yourself look or feel better. Always be the champion of others. Also, realize what is happening around you. Being aware of your surroundings will keep you from an embarrassing situation yourself.
Always be polite. Open a door for a woman. Give her your arm while walking. Give up your seat to elders and women. Help someone change a tire. Do not interrupt someone else while they are speaking. Do the things that people complain that "Men just don't do anymore".
Be Confident. Know how to answer people when addressed for your opinion. Don't hesitate to answer when asked questions like "How do you want your steak cooked?". Know what you like and where you stand. It's alright to have an opinion as long as it's yours.

Matty Blue Eyes

2011-03-25T14:55:00.001-07:00

Growing the next Larry Bird

2011-03-20T04:16:00.000-07:00

I'm making a plan.....
When I look at my baby boy, I see what can be... I see hopes and dreams... I see so many paths and possibilities waiting to decide the character of my son.... In short, I see opportunity. I don't know if every father sees this in his son when he watches him play, but it is a rush of emotion and thoughts when I do. What do I want for him?... To grow up and become someone that inspires others. Frankly, I want to grow the next Larry Bird. Now saying that doesn't mean that my 401K is going to be spent on a crazy European adventure any time soon. I'm not talking about making a millionaire basketball stud. No, what I mean by that is I want my son to have the traits that made a seemingly ordinary looking fellow with feathered hair gain the nickname "Larry Legend". So after watching the Bird vs. Magic series once again, I wanted to list 5 of the things that I strive to impart to my son that I feel Larry best embodied.
1. Always assume things are going your way- When Larry was down, he didn't ever switch his game up and start to play defensively. He was always on the attack, always looking to drive the nail in the coffin and go home a winner. Always stay optimistic!
2. Surprise people by giving more than they think you have- I'm not meaning dollars here folks, I mean guts. As an adult, the majority of things that we do are in a team oriented environment. When your group knows that you have done what was expected of you, and then even maybe picked up a little slack from a team mate (colleague) it will rarely go unnoticed. You might not get immediate praise from your group, but that will stick in their mind and guess who they will look to when the chips are down... #33
3. Make those around you better- Larry was on a good team, but he made them all better. Being able to inspire those around you to step their game up to the next level is pretty key. Helping others to reach their potential will never be forgotten, and you will always be the cornerstone to a championship team.
4. Be able to admit you had an off night- Sometimes even the Legend had a bad night. He took a much different approach than what seems to be en vogue now. He took full responsibility for not only himself, but his team. He understood that being a leader meant being responsible for those around you.
5. Have laser focus- Without having that insane focus he showed night after night, Bird couldn't have sunk such clutch game winning shots. He was able to really understand what was important, tune everything else out, and complete the task in front of him.
These 5 things are so important in life as well as basketball, that I wouldn't be doing my job as a father if I didn't introduce my son to these traits. I struggle with these myself, so I will have to concentrate on becoming a better man to lead by example while he's growing up.
Oh yeah, I also can't wait to show him how to drain 3's while the defense is all over you..