You need to know that I do all the cooking in my house. I plan the menu, do the grocery shopping and then do all the cooking. Over the years, I’ve learned what the family does and doesn’t like and can keep the variety going pretty well.

Then two weeks ago, my daughter Emily announced that she wanted to try being vegetarian. I thought this was great for her to try and was very nice these past two weeks not cooking some of her favorite dishes (such as salmon and steak) that might tempt her. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for her to try it during her two weeks.

But, then yesterday she told me that she is going to keep on doing it. I asked her why and she said. “because I kind of like it.”

Now, I FULLY support the idea of being a vegetarian. For me, it is just not something I could do as I enjoy all food and wouldn’t want to limit myself. We’ve always joked about how Emily could be a vegetarian because she has always loved her vegetables, but she also loved fish and meat as well. I suggested to her that she could definitely dial down the meat and fish in her diet without giving it up completely.

But, I’m stuck now because I don’t know what to do and I’ve got some worries including:

• I want to make sure she gets enough protein and iron in her diet.
• The idea of cooking almost two separate meals every day is not something I’m looking forward to.
• I don’t want to fall into the “well we can just make pasta again” trap because that is far from healthy.

I know there are plenty of books, articles and blog posts about this out there, but I also wanted to throw it out to you guys and gals.

While on the good side it’ll force us all to eat more veggies, on the other side this feels like a big old headache coming my way. I want to support my kids in all the decisions they make in life, but I also have to look at how this decision effects me as well.

Advice?

Related posts:

1. Memorial Day Essentials

I grew up playing them and then due to a stupid doctor, I was scared out of playing them in high school. But, all that aside I can plop down on the couch and pretty much watch any sporting event.

Right now though is what I refer to as “the dark days of sports.”

While I love going to a baseball game and watching it live, I just can’t watch a game on television. Not unless it is October and it is the playoffs. THEN I can watch baseball on TV. I find it boring and I’d almost rather watch golf. Which by the way is the one sport that I have zero interest in. I’ve tried playing it and watching it and neither do anything for me.

For me, once the NHL and NBA playoffs are over I get bored with sports. The occasional tennis match will grab my attention and this year we thankfully had the World Cup to cheer for. But, right now there is nothing for me.

I know we only have a few weeks left until the NFL starts back up. More than any other sport I’m a die hard football fan. I’ve rooted for the Miami Dolphins my entire life (which is loads of “fun” when you grow up in New England) and this year they finally look like they have a better then usual chance of doing something good. Go Fins!!

Thankfully I’m blessed with a wife who is also a football fan (she roots for the Baltimore Ravens) and Sunday in our house is nothing but football. Opening day we always go over the top and cook a ton of tailgating food to celebrate. I don’t know what is on the menu yet this year but it is always yummy and bad for you. As good tailgating should be.

Am I the only one who gets down in the dumps missing sports this time of year? I’m curious.

Related posts:

1. Why I Love Sports
2. Father’s Day Gifts, Vol. 1
3. Dew Tour – Boston, MA

I love Shakespeare, have seen numerous performances of Rent and own more then one soundtrack from a musical.

I was late on jumping on the Cirque du Soleil bandwagon because I had never had a chance to see a show. That changed a couple of years ago when Steve Coulson and I checked out Love in Vegas and I was blown away. Since then, I’ve become a big fan and love that every show they do is completely unique and inspiring. When I heard that a new production called OVO was coming to Boston I got excited.

About OVO
OVO is a headlong rush into a colorful ecosystem teeming with life, where insects work, eat, crawl, flutter, play, fight and look for love in a non‐stop riot of energy and movement. The insects’ home is a world of biodiversity and beauty filled with noisy action and moments of quiet emotion.

When a mysterious egg appears in their midst, the insects are awestruck and intensely curious about this iconic object that represents the enigma and cycles of their lives. It’s love at first sight when a gawky, quirky insect arrives in this bustling community and a fabulous ladybug catches his eye – and the feeling is mutual.

The name OVO means “egg” in Portuguese. Graphically, OVO hides an insect in its name: The two “O” letter represent the eyes while the letter “V” forms the nose.

The cast of OVO comprises 54 performing artists from 16 countries and director Deborah Colker, a renowned choreographer, has integrated dance movements into many of the acts in the show.  It was cool (and a bit surprising) to read that Colker is the first female Director at Cirque du Soleil.

Want To Win Tickets?

Thanks to the official automobile sponsor of Cirque Du Soleil, Infiniti, you have the chance to win a pair of tickets to a special sneak preview performance of OVO.

At Infinit, the intention is to move people emotionally as well as physically so this partnership is a perfect match.

All you have to do to win a pair of tickets is tell us about an “inspired performance” that you have been part of or witnessed. That is a rather open topic, so please have fun with it!

Leave a comment telling us about it or write a post on your own site and link back here in the comments.

On Monday morning we’ll pick two winners who will each win a pair of tickets to the Wednesday, July 21, 2010 performance here in Boston. I’ll be going to the show as well so we’ll be sure to take some pictures to share here on the site with the winners.

Good luck!

Update: This contest is closed as of 11:00 am EST on Monday July 19, 2010

Related posts:

1. Dew Tour – Boston, MA

While neither of us are heavy into the skateboarding world, we both enjoy watching it and when Sony offered us tickets to come on down and check it all out how could we say no?

We arrived early and found all sorts of booths and experiences set up outside of TD Garden. With an extreme sports angle, the variety of what people were offering surprised both of us. Where else would you find the National Guard letting kids ride segways and then just down the way a Paul Mitchell salon doing hair cuts and coloring directly across from a gigantic inflatable Nerf Dart Tag arena?

Sony had three tents set up as well, each with a unique theme that was an instant attraction for Dylan. Inside of one, they had a huge 18 wheeler truck that opened up to have screens and Playstation 3 consoles all along both sides and inside as well. Kids (and parents) could walk up and play some of the newest game releases. Dylan was stuck playing Time Crisis for quite some time and I wasn’t going to complain because the air conditioning felt awesome.

For me, the coolest thing we saw was the new 3D gaming options from Sony. I had to give my license to check out some glasses, but then we got to play and let me tell you that it was amazing. I haven’t been caught up in all the hype over 3D televisions and such, but after playing a couple of games in 3D I instantly got the appeal. I just hope that the glasses are not  expensive or it is going to suck for gaming because as you can see in the picture above, watching a game without the glasses sucks. Part of the fun of home gaming is having others be able to watch while some play.

Dylan’s favorite part was being able to play a game of Nerf Dart Tag. Before the tournament started (who knew they had a country wide tournament going on?) they were letting kids go in and setting them up in teams of four to play. It reminded me a lot of speed paintball except with Nerf guns. I got to go in and take pictures while he was playing and it was a lot of fun to watch. Of course I wish they rented the arenas, because it could be a lot of fun to set one of those up at a party!

After spending several hours outside at all the free exhibits we headed in to watch the competition. It was weird to see a half pipe inside of the Boston Garden, but it was a blast to watch. Dylan (and me) were looking forward to seeing Shaun White compete, but he was hurt so we had to settle for watching him get interviewed on the big screen.

All in all we had a great day together and ended it by getting some slices of pizza from Quincy Market before heading home.

The Dew Tour will continue on into the fall with stops in Chicago, Portland, Salt Lake City and ending in Las Vegas. You can buy tickets here as well as find out more information. If you get a chance to go, I highly recommend it!

If you want to see more picture, view my whole Dew Tour set.

Related posts:

1. Gaming Kids
2. The Dark Days of Sports
3. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games

Photo by Chris Milliman

Ben is unique among most of the men and fathers that I know. He is a talented designer and creative director for The Design Coop, a studio that emphasizes thinking differently. His wife is an organic farmer who lives on a bonafide farm in Montana, and Ben is also the co-founder of Freeman Transport—a custom hand-built bicycle company.  All of which he views as secondary to being a loving father to his four year old little girl.

Digital Dads is pleased to feature Ben and expose his thoughts and ideas on what it means to be a man and father living in todays world.

What is your perspective on what it means to be a man living in todays world?

Todays world is a total shit show. Environmental disaster, war, poverty, unsafe food, media sensationalism and the disappearance of farms. I think you need to ask yourself, what am I doing to make the world a better place because it’s up to us. No one is going to do it for us. We need to lead by example.

Growing up, what has influenced you the most and shaped the man that you are today?

Parents, wife, city, the farm and my daughter. Always growing up.

In the moments you are able to pause and reflect, what activity do you normally gravitate towards?

Cycling, hiking, fishing, skiing.

What is your parental philosophy?

Unconditional parenting.

What do you appreciate the most about being a father?

The opportunity to raise the next person to change the world we live in.

What is your favorite activity (or activities) to do with your children?

Playing. Cooking. Biking. Skiing.

What is the best way for a man and father to impart wisdom to his children?

Lead by example.

What piece of technology impacts you most during the day (and is that impact positive or negative)?

The blackberry.

How does technology shape the way you raise and influence your children?

It forces you to unplug and be present.

How do you think men’s roles will change in the future?

I have no idea.

‘Preciate that, Ben!

Be sure to explore Freeman Transport and visit The Design Coop

/// Digital Dads Exposed returns next month with more unique and interesting perspectives on manhood and fatherhood. Is there someone you would like to see  featured? Email us—digitaldads@gmail.com.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

The essence of cool is to be an inspiration. Without words or explanation.  Where the unspoken is the epitome of meaning.  the impossible cool highlights through archival photographs those who have inspired us throughout the years.

002. Typostruction

Artist and designer Chris Piascik has an affinity for all things typography (and we at Digital Dads do as well)—and his site Typostruction features a fantastic curated collection of typography works from around the world. One of our favorite stops in our daily browsing.

003. smitten kitchen

Too many cliche’s exist regarding a man and the kitchen—but they are all true. smitten kitchen will inspire you to make it true for you as well.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010

In fact, I’d be thrilled to have a magazine subscription where I could luxuriously spend time on myself, but for now I’m hoping to avert a crisis – which I do, just in time. Granola pancakes with a touch of syrup happened to be on the menu this morning, the little chef being considerate of my diet to control my blood sugar, but adding sweetness to my ever bland breakfast he often gets. I thank him, but then I give a quick bark to get ready for the day – boy, how times flies.

As he runs off, I let out a deep tired sigh and think back to when I could hold my one year old world in my arms. It was just as exhausting and exciting, and I only had enough time to record his developmental milestones in bullet point form, in my handy red Moleskine journal meant for him.

You see, it’s a place where I record my thoughts for him, so that someday he’ll read them and come to find out what I was thinking throughout his young years. What it also is, is my quiet way of reminiscing of my boy. I’m terribly sentimental with him, so I often keep the things he’s made up for me – a lego garden, a handmade card, a bottle of our shared collected shells, rocks, and beach washed glass collected between the skipping of rocks. They are tokens that tell me I’ve done something right, reminders of our shared experiences, the highs and lows, which often soothe my momentary anxiety when I question myself and wonder if I’ve been a good enough of a father. Wondering, how will he turn out when his childhood is done?

Thanks to the task master, Papa, the morning moves like clock-work, and we’re all finishing at the breakfast table. Showered, shaved, and ready to start the day, I call my son over to get ourselves out the door. Per my routine, I pile on to my person my wallet, keys, change, phone, and note pad…except something is missing. I look around to no avail, and then my son calls my name, reaches into his pocket, and tells me, “Here’s your pen, Papa.” It’s my little chrome Space Pen that I carry with me wherever I go, so much so that people in shops do not offer me a pen anymore but simply wait for me to pull out my own. It’s small and novel, and something that has become a part of my identity –my son recognizes that! It makes me smile to think that he was trying it out in his own little pocket – yes, he will turn out to be like me, and more.

So, I’m reminded that the best Father’s Day gift I have ever been given has been the honor to be called, Papa, followed by the asking to come out and play. Someday, he’ll learn that his father never needed chocolate syrup, for as sappy as I get.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gift Guides

Giving books as a present is something I love doing. I think it really shows how well you know someone, when you can pick the perfect book out for them. I know this year I bought my Dad a couple of books for Father’s Day and when I saw them I knew they were perfect for him. He got them early and reacted just as I had hoped for.

All the links below are affiliate links, but of course you can buy them from wherever it is that you love to buy books. We think these would make great gifts for any Dad on your shopping list.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Don’t be distracted by the title of this book or the beautiful and talented Ree Drummond on the cover, this is a cookbook that any guy would love to have in his kitchen. Full of hearty, tasty and down right sinful recipes, this is my favorite cookbook I own (and I own a lot of them). I’m a huge fan of Ree’s photography and it fills the pages with step-by-step shots of each recipe so even the newest of cooks can figure out if they are on the right track or not. Her laid back, sometimes snarky commentary makes it fun to read as well. If you are unsure about this book, you’ll want it for the cinnamon roll recipe at a minimum. They’ve become a favorite in our house.

Heroes for My Son

Kodak sent us a couple of these books to give away, but I had already looked through it at the store and fallen in love with it. Each page highlights an individual that the author Brad Meltzer views as a hero for his son. There are world leaders, sports figures and politicians between the pages as well as a few personal ones. I found this book highly inspirational and while anyone would enjoy this book it would be perfect for the new father in your life. After Father’s Day, we’ll be holding a contest to give away a couple of signed copies, so stay tuned.

Shedworking

Every guy dreams of having their own space. It might be a room in the basement, something set up in the garage or their own full blown man town. But, another alternative is a whole new room in the backyard. The idea of shedworking is that what use to be just to store your lawnmower and shovel, the concept of a “shed” has evolved into something totally new as more people look for alternatives to commuting to an office. Full of photos and imagination this one is a surprise that keeps on giving. Of course now I’m eager to try one of these out in the woods behind my house.

Geek Dad

We are all fans of GeekDad.com (bookmark it now!) so when they sent us a copy of this book we were excited to read it. You’ll never have to go looking for a kid’s science project idea if you own this book. From start to finish it is filled with fun projects that a dad and his kids can do together. Everything from building the best slip n’ slide to building a lamp out of LEGO. A warning though that the minute your kids get a hold of this, you might be instantly busy with new things as they will want to start doing the projects right away. *grin*

1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. & Canada Before You Die

The name sort of says it all doesn’t it? There is also a global edition, but the reality of visiting most of those is beyond my grasp, so I recommend this one as something with more fun close to home. Organized by state or province, we found it fun to see what they suggested people do in our home states and actually discovered some things that we had never done before. We all have our personal bucket lists, so why not give 1,000 more items to add to the list?

The Council of Dads

I’ve never had a book make me tear up in the first three pages before, but this one certainly did. I actually first heard of this book while flipping through the in-flight magazine of all places. The author who is the father to two little girls finds out that he has terminal cancer and sets out to put in place a council of other fathers that when he is gone can help raise and influence his kids. It forced me to wonder if I was in a similar situation who would I choose with such a deeply personal task? This is not an easy read because of the constant swing of emotions, but it is one you should make the time for.

Emergency

Are you ready in case there is a natural disaster in your area? What if a terrorist attack took out the power grid and you had to survive on your own. Could you do it? These are the types of questions the author asked himself as he wrote this story/how to guide for a variety of situations. Described as “one man’s story of a dangerous world–and how to stay alive in it” I found it to be a fun and informative read. It isn’t a dry, boring how to manual, but you will certainly learn how to be more prepared from reading it.

Now, these are just some of our favorites this year that we’ve read and think would make great gifts, but what are others. We’d love to hear from you what should have been on the list or what we should keep on our radar for upcoming birthdays and holidays for the guys on our lists?

Related posts:

1. SteamPotVille
2. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different
3. Save Reading Is Fundamental

001. WIRED UK’s The World Cup Predicted

Everyone is going crazy with all the futbòl action on the pitch in South Africa and The Section Design has a brief post featuring an infographic that predicts the winner—which was generated using a mathematical formula based on the GDP of each participating country. Could it really be Brazil?  Goooooaaaal!

002. Alphabet City ‘Out on The Streets’

This unique alphabet board book by street artist Michael De Feo features a unique, creative, and artistic perspective of the world—and how to present learning to children in very cool fashion (and Digital Dads loves every bit of it).

003. Edition 29 Issue 001 ARCHITECTURE

29GPS’s Edition 29 is pushing the publishing front on the iPad with their next-level photo essay magazines. The audio, visual, and interactive nature of each issue is going to set this series apart from other magazine attempts on the platform to be sure. Truly a glimpse into what can be in terms of near future magazine publishing.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

This Father’s Day consider ordering from one of the following companies to find that unique gift that is perfect for the special dad in your life.

Red Envelope

We talked about this company for Mother’s Day because they are great for the last minute shopper who wants something creative, but needs it fast. I’ve personally ordered from them many times over the years and can highly recommend the products they sell as top notch.

They recently reached out to us and offered to send us something for free from their Father’s Day Gifts. I chose their personalized pint glasses since I’m a lover of beer. They were bigger then the typical pint glass and nice and heavy as they should be. Any dad who loves a frosty beverage or has dreamed about owning their own bar would love to receive these. They have a large variety of gifts for every type of Father, so be sure to swing by for a visit.

Uncommon Goods

I talked about this company on Cast of Dads recently and am a huge fan of their offering. Their tag line is “find anything but ordinary” which fits the variety of items that they carry. I’ve ordered many holiday and birthday gifts from them over the year and people are always amazed at what they end up getting since it is far from the same old same old.

They have a Father’s Day Gift page as well and one quick scroll through it will show you what I mean by unique. Where else are you going to find record coasters or whiskey rocks? They work with a lot of independent artists and charities as well, which is just yet another reason I’m such a big fan.

2modern

A new company on our radar that certainly appeals to a certain type of guy. This isn’t a site for everyone, but if your dad enjoys reading magazines like Dwell or GQ then they should enjoy everything available here.

On their for him page you can find many modern items including a Magis – Voido rocking chair or a cherry wood ipod case. None of their gifts are inexpensive, but they are sure to make an impression. I know I found a couple of items that I’m certainly going to put on my holiday wish list.

While these are just three companies offering a variety of different Father’s Day gifts we hope you find something. Got something else that you think would make a unique gift? Let us know in the comments.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gift Guides
2. Mother’s Day Gifts
3. Father’s Day Gifts: Books

Aside from wishing I could have gone, seeing the video was interesting to me for a number of reasons. Since long before our son was born, we had heard from a number of friends how Disney World had really changed from when we were kids: how it had become too commercial. The videos were my first glimpse into that world since my own childhood, or at least an unfiltered view that wasn’t presented to me through the media to accompany marketing or a story (with an agenda) of some sort. The video Steph brought home was about Paul, not Disney World.

Based on the small volume of memory I have about my own childhood experience at Disney World, the park seemed to be less of a fantasy or dream world, and more of an amusement park. I don’t know that it appeared any more or less commercial though, just bigger. Watching Paul, it was absolutely a magic kingdom for him–the Magic Kingdom–and nothing less. He didn’t see actors in suits, he saw Mickey Mouse, Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and any number of other characters who were very real. Steph and Paul went to the park several times and each time for my son was just as exciting as the first, seeing many of the same, and several new characters each visit. His birthday is now weeks behind us, we’re all back together again in Germany, and we know without a doubt Paul’s experience remains fresh; we know he even dreams about his time at Disney World and wakes up telling us stories and asking questions about where various characters are or what they’re doing today.

So is Disney, or specifically Disney World, more commercial? Probably. The machine that is The Walt Disney Company seems to be much bigger now than ever. Or more valuable in terms of its financial worth. I don’t have numbers to back this; it’s my perception. The scale/scope of the company and all it does just seems huge compared to what it’s been through past decades–theme parks globally, movie/film interests, comic/graphic novel interests, gobs of merchandise, etc. But I have to ask, so what?

Watching my son, and living a bit of my own youth through his eyes so many years later, I’m not convinced that anything has really changed from the perspective of a child. He saw nothing commercial; he was in a real, living dream. When he watches some of Disney’s movies, he sees other glimpses of a magic world and isn’t concerned or distracted by the things that aren’t in the realm of the possible. It’s all about his young, fresh and very active imagination. Anything is possible!

I’ve learned that whatever I think of Walt Disney Company today, what I see is through my adult eyes. My son, with a full three years under his belt, doesn’t see the machine behind the magic in the Kingdom. His experience now was mine so many decades ago. If I find I do or don’t like the way Disney conducts the business behind the magic, that’s for me to deal with. But I am convinced when the fruit of Disney’s efforts bubble up in the world of kids today, at least at Disney World in Florida, they can proudly declare success. Disney has preserved a world where kids can come and get lost in the magic, with none of the worries or distractions that too often burden us as dads; they don’t see the machine behind the magic. As a result of not being able to go this time and how much shear fun my Paul had, Stephanie and I are planning to take him back next year for his fourth birthday. It’ll be a long, expensive, and somewhat complicated trip for us, but that’s how it goes–we’re the adults. For my son though, it’s simply a return to the Magic Kingdom. I can’t wait!

It’s great to be a Dad!

Related posts:

1. Family Vacations: Atlantis

001. Wisdom Book

Andrew Zuckerman’s Wisdom: The Greatest Gift One Generation Can Give to Another, collects thoughts and perspective from Nelson Mandela, Clint Eastwood, Buzz Aldrin, Desmond Tutu, The Dalai Lama and more.  It is a fantastic book that reveals much about those providing the narrative.  Visit the website for photographs and films related to the project.

002. Teux Deux

Digital Dads are transparent in their enthusiasm about all things design related and we are pretty excited about Swiss Miss‘ design project collaboration. Teux Deux is a simple, design-y,  free, browser based to-do application that is both functional and appeals to our passion for good design.

003. Pictory Mag

Pictory is a collection of photo based essays, beautifully collected and presented.  Each showcase tells a different tale and it is difficult not to go back numerous times to experience each.

004. Netflix Origami

We all need a creative distraction from the productivity that is a common thread throughout most of our lives—Netflix Origami can help you satisfy those urges (and answers the question so what DO I do with those tear off slips from the Netflix envelopes???)

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

All kinds, really. I may not have a lot of time to be a spectator to live sporting events, but I watch, on TV, just about every playoff of most sports, every Grand Slam in Tennis (yea, waking up early before the Tivo days), the quaddrennials like the World Cup & the Olympics (both kinds), certainly the NFL, and every single football game that is played by my beloved Florida State Seminoles (the one thing, over and above everything,  I will. stake. time for.).

But beyond the obvious, beyond the competition, the one thing I love (maybe even most) is how sports can teach us.

Maybe you read about the big event that happened this week. No, not the start of the Lakers and Celtics NBA final (saw it). It was the attempt by Armando Galarraga, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, to become only the 21st pitcher to pitch a perfect game in the HISTORY of Major League Baseball.

Think about it. This damn sport, obsessed about statistics above all other sports, has been around since the 1800s. Imagine the pitchers that have come and gone. And only 20 people have ever successfully gotten 27 up, 27 down. And the crazy thing? Two of them have happened this year. This would have been the third!

Bring you up to date, if you hadn’t heard:

Ninth inning, 2 outs. With a perfect game on the line, hitter drives infield towards the area between 1st and 2nd base. 1st baseman leaves the bag to field the hit, which means the pitcher runs over to cover 1st. 1st baseman throws the ball to the pitcher as he’s running over. That’s all the pitcher has to do: get to 1st base and tag the bag before the runner does.

Galarraga tags 1st base. Runner is out, right? But he’s not. Jim Joyce, the Umpire behind 1st base, calls him safe.

That’s right: no perfect game.

Except the replay clearly shows the runner was out. Galarraga got their first.

Crowd goes nuts, incredulously boos. Galaragga looks stunned, but smiles in a “Wow, did that just happen?” sort of way. He goes on to get the next runner out. End of game.

Here’s where it gets good

The way things are nowadays, you’d think it played out thusly:
Media/Blogosphere goes nuts. Pitcher pitches a fit. Umpire doesn’t own up to his mistake. Everyone yells at each other, unquestionable cynicism abounds.

But that’s not what happened.

Immediately after the game, Joyce the Umpire sees the replay and is heartbroken. He honestly believed he made the right call at the time, but he sees his mistake and immediately owns up to it. Without going to the clubhouse and showering, he immediately puts in a request to the Tigers Staff to see the pitcher. By all accounts I’ve read, he apologized to the Pitcher. Galarraga, displaying incredible class, actually said “hey, nobody’s perfect.”

Next morning’s news is nuts over this. Some people, mistakenly in my view, are calling for Joyce’s retirement or firing, but here’s where you lose me: the guy immediately owned up to his mistake and apologized. The pitcher quickly accepted the apology. I’m sorry: until you have a job as zero sum as a referee, I don’t think I’d be so quick to hate, as the kids say. Isn’t life about mistakes, and how you atone for them? Isn’t it true, what Armando said: “Hey, nobody’s perfect.”?

Here’s where it gets better

MLB told Joyce he could take the next day off. He didn’t. He suited up and, this time, was the umpire behind home plate. Displaying even more class, the Tigers’ manager, Jim Leyland—rather than himself bringing out the team’s lineup to the umpire before the game–instead instructed Galarraga to deliver the lineup sheet to Joyce. In this symbolic display of good sportsmanship, Galaragga extended his hand. Joyce, if you saw the guy, just looks like an old walrus; and old, gruff-looking, Irish walrus. Yet, he was visibly moved to tears. They shook.

Here’s where it sucks for a second

My understanding is the Commissioner of Baseball has an overriding authority to right wrongs in, as the rules state, “for the good of the game.” Bud Selig, who used his acumen as a car leasing executive for his father’s company to naturally fold toward a path to being Major League Baseball’s Commissioner, had this one served up on a silver platter. But he wasn’t about to stray from his well-documented list of gaffes. Not Bud. Not this day.

Listen, I get the slippery slope of revising history. It’s dangerous. “Then, why not ‘this’… if that?” is the theory. But I find this to be a once-in-a-generation possibility: The replay clearly shows the batter was out. The umpire is overwhelmingly of the opinion he made a mistake; all parties are playing the class act.

Of course, Bud Selig, who wouldn’t know an opportunity like this if it pricked him in the ass like a needle filled with performance enhancing drugs, refused to reverse the call.

Lesson Learned? Yes.

Well within your right, you could throw up your hands and cry foul. This is too quick, too simple, in my opinion. The no-brainer approach is that yes, Bud Selig is a douche. But it’s too obvious, and too easy to let get under our collective skins. Thing is, we have an incredible and unintended consequence happening right under our noses.

Think of it this way: If your arm was broken by someone, and you sued, you’d probably be involved with lawyers for a much longer period of time than the pain. The truth of the matter is, while you’re filing lawsuits and preparing testimony, your arm is healing. Every single moment that moves along the path of time, your arm is getting better, and I might add, getting stronger. By the time the trial starts, it’s more likely you’ve completely healed.

Think about that.

Jim Joyce, Armando Galarraga, Detroit Manager Jim Leyland (and the entire Tigers Organization) showed us how it’s done. I can look at my 14-month old son, and convincingly tell him hey, you play sports for the reasons they displayed: good sportsmanship, owning up to mistakes, displaying class in the face of pressure to cave into our baser instincts.

And they did it for one other reason:

For the good of the game.

This is why I love sports.

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1. The Dark Days of Sports

OK, I know what I’m actually being asked, but I don’t really like the implication, even when the question comes from someone who’s close enough to my wife and I that the question isn’t offensive. It’s as if a memo went out from the Men’s Department to all the middle aged guys informing them they shouldn’t have kids after they enter middle age, and it appears I crossed the threshold and recklessly dismissed the memo’s authoritative guidance. Or perhaps I just didn’t receive it.

Being a Dad at any age is special and there are certainly uniquely special things about being a Dad at different times in your own life. With my wife and I, we made a deliberate decision to sacrifice our younger years (with all the associated strength and energy) to build an environment at home that would allow us to more comfortably raise a little one–primarily in two areas: our own maturity and financial stability.

So putting the oddity and perhaps the improper nature of the question aside, I love being a Dad. I mean I really LOVE being a Dad, more than I could have ever imagined. No regrets. I see and feel my own bodily limitations and know that these wouldn’t be issues if I were a twenty- or thirty-something, but that’s OK. I still see the world again through the eyes of my three year old son–at times causing frustration for my sweet wife who feel she has two three year olds. I might be a bit slower (or more cautious) but there isn’t anything I can’t do with my son. Maybe in 10 years he’ll be able to break my hip, but for now, I’m OK.

Here’s the real bottom line–if the time is right, it’s never too late to be a Dad. Compared to the gain, you lose nothing except perhaps a slice off the ego when folks ask the strangest question, or as you anticipate being in your 60s when your child is graduating from high school. I’m OK with that though and suspect that most of you other Dads out there are too. For those of you who worry about having a first (or another) child as a middle aged man, I’m your champion. Go for it! Who knows, I just might have to thumb my nose at the memo crowd and have another myself. It’s great to be a Dad!

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Ok, let me get it right out in the open so there is no confusion. We are BIG Star Wars fans around here. When my son showed an interest in the movies I can’t fully express how psyched I was and how great it was to take him to the movies to watch them.

We’ve since watched all the films and were very surprised how awesome the television show The Clone Wars turned out to be and it is something we always watch together. It makes for something fun to bond over and a passion we both share.

Because of this, I’m psyched to share the news that this fall, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will release Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, a free-to-play, action packed virtual world. Focused on creating a fun and safe online environment for kids and families, Clone Wars Adventures will offer  minigames, dynamic activities, social events and thousands of customization options.  Players can even battle it out with friends alongside iconic Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano.

Dylan has been playing Free Realms for a while now which is also from SOE, so we’ve seen the game play on that and for an online game it is top notch. Watching the trailer for this new adventure made us even more psyched about the release.

“Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate destination for fans of The Clone Wars series and will bring the action and excitement of the show to players online so they can experience The Clone  Wars universe firsthand” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “We’ve worked with LucasArts and Lucasfilm to create a virtual world that is seamlessly integrated with the TV series and a true extension of the show. It’s also just flat-out fun to play.”

Virtual worlds hold a lot of promise for companies and game players. I’ve watched as Dylan has jumped from one to another figuring out which one he likes the best. One thing that I know will be appealing to players in this game is that they are going to allow you to fly through space in various starfighters, play as a clone trooper in tower defense challenges and even solve challenging puzzles which is something I know my son enjoys. It sounds like there is a lot of variety which is key in keeping a kid’s imagination and to bring them back to play over and over.

Of course, this is a business venture, so there will be plenty of options for kids to upgrade their accounts to buy new outfits, equipment and other virtual goods. The possibilities are really endless and I’m glad to read about the built in parental controls. Of course, I’m probably looking forward to playing as much as Dylan is at this point. I can’t wait to play.

There is no official release date yet except for “this fall” so stay tuned. Until then enjoy some screen shots from the game.

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1. Gaming Kids
2. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games
3. Dew Tour – Boston, MA

001. Foreign Policy on The Magnificent Migrants

“Extraordinary photos of ordinary Mexicans”, is the byline for this fantastic photo essay capturing the everyday working lives of Mexican immigrants in America.

002. magCulture

Many of us at Digital Dads have a strong affinity for printed matter—especially magazines. magCulture has strong appeal for us due to its focus on creative design and innovation in print and is curated by London designer Jeremy Leslie.

003. The Selby

Everything about us contributes to the narrative that comprises the story of our lives—what we consume, whom we befriend, where we vacation, and even how we decorate our homes. The Selby takes an intimate look at the lives of creatives around the world through the lens of the spaces they live and breathe.

004. Monocle

If GQ had a knowledgeable, relevant and timely cousin, it would be Monocole magazine. Monocle is a magazine for the globally minded, “covering international affairs, business, culture and design“.

005. Edge Online

“Edge is the world’s most prestigious brand in games journalism.” We mince no words about our hardcore gaming tendencies here at Digital Dads. Edge’s comprehensive coverage of gaming industry news worldwide ensures that we’ll never miss out on where to spend our hard earned salaries and welcomed time suck machine.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 8th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 22nd, 2010

If we found an affiliate link for the product we will be using it, but of course buy from the vendors that you like and let us know of any other gifts you think we might have missed.

Canon PowerShot S90
Pictures make the world go around and while there are tons of great digital SLR cameras out there, sometimes you want something small and compact that can still take great pictures. We love the Canon S90 because while you can pop it into Auto mode and shoot beautiful photos, it also has tons of manual modes for the seasoned photographer to tweak to their hearts content. It takes a standard SD card and is small enough to fit in your pocket.

If you are looking for something more high end, we are all fans of the Canon 5D Mark II or the Canon 7D. Both are amazing cameras if you have the budget for them.

Apple iPad
This is one gift that any Dad would love to have. Trust us when we say that after a week with an iPad, anyone is going to love having the device in their house. Don’t believe us, watch what Emily thinks of it.

We’ll leave it up to you if the WiFi only one is enough or if the 3G model would be a better purchase. Every day new content is being released for the iPad and it makes the perfect coffee table computer. If you pick one up, consider getting a case for it as well. There are a lot of them out there, but we like the simple basic one from Apple that gets the job done great.

Sony Dash
We’ve gotten to know the team at Sony pretty well and they sent us a Dash. I’ve been using it as an alarm clock since my wife was sick of having the clock on her side of the bed go off early in the morning when I had to get up and catch an early flight or train.

While the UI leaves a lot to be desired, we’ve heard rumors of an update coming very soon. You can add all sorts of apps to it so that besides the time and weather it also pulls in other things. For instance, I’ve currently got mine showing a web cam of Jackson Hole, Wyoming (a dream place to visit), my flickr photos and the latest from The Onion. I love that it has a nighttime and power-saver mode for those times when you don’t need all the information. For the Dad who loves to always be connected this is a fun idea.

Google TV Logitech Box
If the iPad introduces us to the idea of no longer being bound to the sofa and TV for video entertainment, then the Google TV Logitech Box introduces us to the idea that you no longer need to be bound to broadcast television for an entertaining TV experience.  By harnessing Google’s search prowess and the internet, video viewing is taken to the next level with Google’s newest appliance.  The box can even be used with your paid television subscription—but why would you?

We debated having this on the list since it doesn’t actually come out till the fall, but it was too cool to pass up. Stay up to date on the latest here.

Crosley Revolution Turntable
The digital music revolution changed the game for all facets of music—production, distribution, and consumption.  For those who still savor vinyl, then the Crosley Revolution Turntable is for you.  Providing musical freedom at 33 1/3, the Crosley’s minimal design allows you to focus on what is important,  the crisp sound of vinyl.  Minimal in design, the Revolution includes accouterments that will satisfy any geekofile—battery powered, dual headphone jacks, built-in stereo speakers, and USB for analog-to-digital conversions.  This isn’t your fathers record player.  The Crosley Revolution is a turntable for the new millennium.

Red Dead Redemption
If the Dad in your life owns a gaming system of any sort you should get this game immediately. Set in the wild west, you play a gunslinger on a mission to clean up for his past. The free form game plays means that this game will rock for the most hardcore of gamers or the most casual. The visuals are beautiful and you could honestly spend hours just riding around in the world until you forget that the setting son is nothing but computer pixels.

Of course, since this game is from Rockstar Games (the creators of the Grand Theft Auto series) this is not a kids game. There are plenty of guns and blood so keep that in mind before you have your kids play along with Dad.

Griffin Simplifi Dock
We like to keep our desks organized and when we first reviewed one of these we fell in love. It serves as both an iPod/iPhone dock as well as a compact flash and SD card reader all in one. As if that wasn’t enough it has 2 USB ports in the back as well. We loved this product so much that we’ve bought several of them for all the desks in our lives.

What we are really hoping for though is that Griffin will come out with a new version that will also work with the iPad. But, we haven’t heard anything yet.

Kodak Pulse
Several of us here are avid photographers and are always on the hunt for a good digital picture frame. There are many of them out there and when Kodak gave us one of these to play with, we honestly were not expecting much different, but were pleasantly surprised. With a built in touch screen, anyone with a WiFi connection will be up and connected in no time. The frame allows photos to be uploaded from Facebook and the Kodak Gallery or have them e-mailed directly to it. We are still hoping they add a Flickr option in the future.

While we wish the frame came in bigger sizes (it only comes in a 7 inch version as of now), we do think this would be perfect for grandparents who have a WiFi connection because it allows for the newest pictures of the grand kids to be e-mailed directly to the frame for nice surprises. It can store thousands of photos so you won’t outgrow it anytime soon.

Related posts:

1. Mother’s Day Gifts
2. Father’s Day Gifts: Books
3. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different

It was the first thing I thought of when I opened the first pages of SteamPotVille, the new book from Steve Ouch.

Trying to explain this book is near impossible, as it is something you need to experience to fully appreciate.

It tells the tale of a silly little town that could be in your backyard. The residents have quite the life of bent reality as the author has taken photos of animals of every sort and still life images of life and somehow blended them into a bent reality that will have you and your kids turning the book over and over to find all the little bits of awesomeness.

The book is perfect for kids of all ages. The sing-song like poetry is fun and crazy and certainly doesn’t follow the norms that kids might be use to. Younger kids can play I Spy like games on every page. Parents will love it too as it somehow gets around the usual repetition headache that many children books suffer from.

If you are looking for a book that is both fun and educational, while being unlike anything else you’ve ever seen. More information on the SteamPotVille site.

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First up, what might look like nothing more then a kid’s game, but is in fact some of the most fun you can have on a PlayStation 3. LittleBigPlanet 2 isn’t on shelves yet, but all of us here at Digital Dads are eager to give it a try and Clarence (our resident gaming guru) watches this video daily for creative inspiration.

You all know that guys like gadgets right? One of our favorite and the hottest out there at the moment is the iPad. But, while you can do a lot of great things with it, this guy realized that you could do a lot more with the addiction of one of the best and simplest inventions of all time: Velcro!

And while all the rage might be about the death of print and the rise of tablet based magazines, that doesn’t mean that some people are not getting innovative and trying to save print. 48 Hour Magazine caught our attention when it was first announced and while we are not sure if this is going to be a one time thing or an ongoing experiment, we love that they captured the first issue in this mini documentary.

Last, but not least, with the summer movie season in full swing and everyone around here a big time lover of going to the movies we have to share this piece of DIY awesomeness. We don’t know how they did all the 3D effect, but when the director of the real Iron Man movies tweets out a link to a video you know it has got to be good. Watch this “trailer” for a movie that should be made and you’ll see why.

Ok, we lied and have to give you one more video in celebration of Memorial Day Weekend. No one else could quite show their American spirit like the Muppets can.

Related posts:

1. Digital Dad Watch May 21, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010
3. Digital Dads Collection / June 1st, 2010

While our kids probably don’t have to worry about suffering a heart attack, what can strike anyone is Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) which is the sudden, unexpected loss of heart function, breathing and consciousness. It kills approximately 250,000 people each year in the U.S. alone, more than from colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, auto accidents, AIDS, firearms, and house fires combined. Have I got your attention? Good, then read on.

Last year a friend of mine talked to me about how Congress had placed a priority on sudden cardiac arrest by declaring National CPR/AED Awareness Week the first week of June each year. The goal is to raise awareness for SCA and encourage our nation to prepare by learning CPR and how to use an AED.

While I had seen an AED before I didn’t realize the stats on how crucial they are for saving people of all ages. Once I became aware of them, I now see them all over the place, but I don’t find them as often as I would hope to.

The problem with them is that they are not cheap and average around $1,000 per unit. Improvements are being made all the time so hopefully that price will start to drop as demand raises.

Until then, would you like to win a free AED for your school?

As part of the National CPR/AED Awareness Week and, the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is sponsoring the You Can Save a Life video awareness contest and giving away five AEDs to schools.

Students from elementary school through college are invited to write, film, star in and edit their own short (3-5 minute) videos promoting the importance of recognizing cardiac arrest and the use of CPR and AEDs. Entrants are encouraged to be creative and have fun with their submissions. The SCA Foundation panel of judges will review videos for overall message, creativity, originality, student participation, and likelihood to raise awareness about saving lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Finalists for all categories will be posted on the SCA Foundation’s website and its YouTube Channel and promoted to schools nationwide.

The deadline for submissions is May 31, 2010 so get them in today!!

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If you ever have suggestions, drop us an e-mail and let us know what you’ve been digging. We always love watching great videos.

First up, the trailer for the new video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. We are big fans of the series and while there have been some shakeups behind the scenes of this game, this first full look is top notch and we can’t wait to play it at the end of the year and kick some ass.

Still not wired enough from all that action? Then take the next three minutes to dive inside the head of a World Cup Soccer Player from Nike. You don’t have to even like soccer to appreciate this.

We don’t want you to have a heart attack from all the action, but if you do I’m sure none of us would mind being saved by one of these two lovely ladies. All kidding aside, first aid is something every Dad should know and if you have never taken a class consider one from the Red Cross today. But, for now watch this instructional (no kidding) video from Fortnight Lingerie.

Finally, we wanted to end on a bit of a chilled out note with a life in the day of John Mayer. Love or hate his music, this video shot mostly by him on a Canon 5d mkII earlier this month is visually awesome. Of course now we are all wondering what the flaming drink towards the end is and where we can try one. Any ideas?

Like this new feature? Want to share something else cool with us? Leave a comment to let us know!

Related posts:

1. Digital Dad Watch May 28, 2010
2. Digital Dads Collection / June 15th, 2010

Digital Dads will be posting a series of lists in coming weeks listing some of the best gifts we like in a variety of categories including:

• Gadgets & Technology
• Cooking
• Movies
• Music
• Books

Our goal is to highlight a variety of products and gifts beyond the same old tie, or custom coffee mug. Sure, those are fine for a couple of years, but then they get old and we want to help you find unique gifts that the guy will love, because we’d love to get them ourselves!

Stay tuned for them to hit the feed over the coming weeks and if there are other types of Dads that you need some help finding gifts for, leave a comment and we’ll try to help out.

In case you’ve forgotten, Father’s Day is June 20th this year.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different
2. The True Gift of Father’s Day
3. Father’s Day Gifts: Books

Our dog Roxie is an important part of our family. We found her through Petfinder and adopted her when she was a puppy. Bringing a dog into a house is not the easiest thing in the world, but the rewards for it are amazing.

This week is National Dog Bite Prevention Week (who knew?) and I thought I’d give my personal tips on the basics to staying safe with dogs.

These are what we have taught our kids and if you want some more formal lists the Centers for Disease Control , The Humane Society and the American Veterinary Medical Association have all posted tips as well.

• Never pet a dog that you don’t know. When approaching a dog on a leash, ask the owner if it is ok to pet the dog or not.
• Before approaching any dog, hold out your hand with the palm facing up to let the dog sniff you and check  you out. This lets them know you are not a threat.
• If the dog is eating or chewing on a bone, don’t bother them. Especially don’t sneak up behind them while they are doing this. You are likely to startle the dog and they may snap at you.
• Don’t judge a dog by the bread they are. All dogs are good dogs and if the dog is not behaving properly it is because they have not been trained properly.
• Little dogs bite too
• While you shouldn’t be scared of dogs, never assume that the dog is friendly. Especially if they are off leash and not near an owner. Proceed with caution, but not fear.

At the end of the day, the most important rule is to be smart. I’m still bothered by hearing a friend one time tell their child, “just remember that dogs are dangerous.” Hearing that broke my heart because we should never instill that sort of fear in someone about anything. Yes, dogs can be dangerous, but so can every other animal in the world. We should teach caution but not fear.

What other tips would you advise for parents to teach their kids about dogs?

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1. Internet Safety For Kids – Be Involved. Not Stupid.

Last week I attended my first dance competition with my daughter. It was a lot of fun to see girls of all ages strut their stuff on the stage and do an amazing job at it. The talent in these young ladies was amazing to see.

What I wasn’t ready for was seeing young girls in fishnets, tight boy shorts and thigh high leather boots. The teased hair, fake eye lashes and gyrating bodies on stage. I talked about this on Cast of Dads #18 and was glad to hear that the other dads were equally upset by it.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am the farthest thing from an uptight prude. But, as I sat there in the audience and watched the 6 & 7 year old teams shake things they didn’t have and perform moves that were more appropriate for a stripper pole then a school stage I had to stop and wonder. Why are we letting our kids do this? Worse yet, why were there parents in the audience hooting and hollering every time they did an extra sexy move? How is it that suddenly slutting up our girls is ok with parents?

If you need a visual to make this real for you, take a look at this video below. It hit the web yesterday and after Jessica Gottlieb wrote about it, I knew I had to share my thoughts. Keep in mind that the girls in this video are seven and eight years old.

I can appreciate the girls dancing skills (they are super talented in that video) and I’ve heard the arguments of “they are just costumes”, but all of it still pisses me off. If you can’t handle watching the whole thing, the last 20 seconds or so will be enough to make you scream.

I have a daughter. I see the way she is marketed to. I’ve taken her shopping and seen the outfits that hang on display. Most of it is fine, but so much of it is far from that. Sure, sex sells, but do we need to be selling it to girls so young that they haven’t even developed yet? There is no reason for that.

This is not going to be one of those scream at society pieces, because I firmly believe that it is the job of the parent to not let this happen to their own kids. It is up to you to say, “no you can’t wear that” and explain why something is inappropriate. We can scream all we want, but when I heard those other parents cheering on the girls on stage (just listen to the video) it made me shake my head in shame. I wanted to stand up and turn around and ask point blank, “what the hell are you doing?”

One thing, that this personal experience has taught me is that I’ve got to be more involved if Emily is going to continue doing dance. I had never seen the routines she was working on, until they were on stage. I had seen the costumes ahead of time and they were fine. But, if she had come home with some of the outfits that I saw other girls in what would I have done? I’ve been thinking a lot about that and I know for sure I wouldn’t have allowed her to do it. That would not have been easy as I know dance is turning into a bit of a passion for her, but I would have needed to do it.

My daughter is growing up with a deep rooted self confidence. I want her to know that whatever she ends up looking like that she is her own person. That she is beautiful, smart, awesome and unique. There is nothing wrong with being sexy and flirtatious. That is part of the fun of being a human and while I’m scared to death of when she figures that out, I know it is part of growing up.

Parents, you are the last line of defense here. The old saying that sex sells is a fact and we all know it. That is never going to change, but does sex have to sell in your house? No, it doesn’t. This is a problem that parents are allowing to happen. Complain all you want about what is happening in our world, but the more active you are as a parent and not allow things like this to happen the better we all will be.

Update: As of this afternoon, it looks like all copies of the video have been removed from YouTube, so the embed below won’t work. Can’t say that I’m dissapointed in this, but it does kill a little experiment I was going to do with my daughter.

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You’ve only got a few days to get a gift and while you should already have something, we wanted to give you a few last minute ideas that if are not speedy enough for this year, consider it for some time in the future. These of course go beyond the typical flowers and a card (which will always work) and make it all a bit more original.

• Pamper her with a gift certificate to a local spa. Most have special packages or will build a custom one for you. Others will have gift cards for multiple massages which are always appreciated. This is the sort of gift that many women will never buy for themselves, but have always wanted to try.
• Photos are always a great gift, but think beyond just a frame and a single picture. Digital frames have gotten cheaper and more powerful. Not sure which one to get? Try using the Amazon.com Digital Photo Frame Knowledge Center to pick out the best one for your needs. It is also easier then ever to make calendars, books and other gifts through a variety of services. If you are looking to frame a special photo professionally, I’m a big fan of using Imagekind to get them done and have been very happy with their work.
• While breakfast in bed is always a keeper (and extra fun with little kids), sometimes it is even better to take her out to breakfast or brunch on Mother’s Day. Use a service like OpenTable to find a restaurant that has openings in your area.
• If she loves music, movies or technology then consider getting an engraved iPod. Having it engraved takes it a step beyond just being another gadget and shows that you were thinking of her when you bought it. Get it early so that you can pre-load it with some of her favorite content.
• Most moms want one thing above all else and that is time. Give it to her by not letting her do anything for the day. Make the meals, clean the house, do the laundry. Let her just relax and enjoy not having a to-do list for the day. If you want to take it a step further consider hiring a cleaning service to come in and clean the whole house.
• Channel your inner child and make her something from scratch. Be smart about it though and don’t just whip something up at the last minute because you forgot. Take the time to really do it right. Make a nice card with printed out photos, write a poem or make her a video. There are so many options here and if it feels right and means something to you, then it will mean something to her.
• If all else fails there is still time to order unique gifts from some online retailers. Personally I’m a big fan of Red Envelope and Uncommon Goods for gifts that are different then most.

The key is that you make it a special day for her. It isn’t about the gifts, but rather a celebration of how much you love your wife and mother.

And to anyone out there who has a pregnant wife right now and might be expecting their first child. You really can’t forget Mother’s Day. Trust me, that you’ll win extra brownie points for getting her a gift this year and it’ll make for a special memory so do it right.

To all the moms out there reading this, all of us here at Digital Dads thank you for being moms and being who you are! We love you all.

Related posts:

1. Father’s Day Gifts: Something Different
2. Father’s Day Gifts: Technology
3. Just Because Gifts

A lot of men, especially-pressed-for-time fathers, tend to think items like a jacket and shoes in the purely functional sense unless they’re specifically dressing up for an event.  While that’s understandable it’s also almost always to their detriment, making them appear older and frumpier.  One of my clients this weekend had just that dilemma. 

He spends all day on his feet, and like many men before him, thought that there’s no way a good looking shoe could be as comfortable as his hiking boot.  He was also a little leery of giving up his windbreaker since he needs lots of pockets and thought a more stylish jacket would not give him as much ‘mobile storage’.  

We outfitted him in Johnston & Murphy shoes that were so comfortable he was grinning from the moment he tried them on and a Zara cotton military jacket with more pockets than his windbreaker.  Best of all, by switching out just those two items in his lineup he looks 10 years younger and infinitely cooler.   

So, in case you haven’t heard me say this a million times yet: Gentlemen, you no longer have to settle, no more choosing between comfort and style, they can now be commonly found sharing the same point in space and time. 

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If you over simplified the description of what one is, you could call it a big iPhone and while that isn’t far from the truth it is really not an accurate description. It is their first true tablet computer and one that I believe does have a place in your family and I wanted to highlight some of the apps for it that we are already enjoying.

Now, please remember that it hasn’t even been out for more then two weeks and these are only the ones that we’ve discovered or have been told about that are made for the iPad.

There are a ton of great apps that were released before the iPad that are family friendly and they will work on the iPad, but I wanted to focus on applications that have been built to take full advantage of the new platform rather than just working. I’m also not including prices because I know many have special pricing when I bought them and could change at any time. All links will go directly to the iTunes store.

In no particular order:

• Netflix
  You will need to have a Netflix account in order to utilize this, but what is great is that a portion of their library is now available for live streaming to a variety of devices including the iPad. So as I laid on the couch last weekend recovering from knee surgery with a couple of clicks I was watching Singles in my lap on this application.
• Artist’s Touch
  One of my students at the University of San Francisco told me about this program so I checked it out because I knew the kids (and me) would want to be able to sketch and draw. Out of all the applications we have tried, this is the best for simple doodling with enough options to really let an artist grow in it. Allowing you to choose from a variety of papers, textures, colors and creation tools, I might never get the iPad back from Emily ever again. One word of advice, unless you are a finger painting master I suggest buying a Pogo Stylus that my friend Whitney Hoffman told me about. It does a great job working as a stylus and the ones that come with a Nintendo DS don’t work. I know because I tried! *laugh*
• The Weather Channel
  Every morning now when the kids ask us, “what is it going to be like today?” we tell them just to look at the iPad. If you share your location with it, the local weather comes right up and clearly shows in animated pictures what the day and the week ahead looks like. If you want more detail it also has live streaming video weather, radar and other goodies.
• Epicurious
  We love to cook and every family should spend time in the kitchen together. Pulling new content from the web keeps this app full of fresh recipe ideas with big, bold pictures and shopping lists. Although you can’t print them out yet (a failing of the iPad, not the app), I could easily see us setting this on the counter in a cookbook holder while we made dinner. They have the ability to star favorite recipes, so we’ve been going through starring some new ones to try. Great way to get the kids involved in what you are eating.
• Doons
  Laura and the kids love to play casual games and this has quickly become one of their favorites. You are presented with a screen of funny faced blocks and you must shoot up new ones to make groups of three or more and they will fall away. As you level up, it of course gets harder and harder. Simple fun that as long as a child can match colors they could play this.
• Tumbles
  Based on the wildly popular Scope or Pop’em style of game, this takes it further by taking advantage of the accelerometer in the iPad and physics. You can now tilt, tap and move around the balls on the screen to line them up before popping them. I’ve gotten so many laughs out of watching Laura tilting the iPad around and around while playing this game. It is her all time favorite style. While, not my cup of tea, I do like that it has a head-to-head option so that we can play against each other.
• Labyrinth 2 HD
  Remember those old wooden boxes in class, that you turned the knobs to navigate a ball through a maze without falling into to holes? Well that is this, but in addition to the classic vibe, has been updated with lasers, fans and trap doors. I love watching the kids try to figure out the puzzles and trying over and over until they figure it out. Sounds easy, but it isn’t. Frustrated me in no time! I’m not much a puzzle fan.
• Marvel Comics
  I don’t want to start a DC vs. Marvel fight or anything like that and personally I’m rooting for a third party like Panelfly to push forward and come out with one big comic reader, but for now this is the app to get. The panel by panel reading takes care of the “I don’t know what order to read in” that Emily told me is why she doesn’t get comic books. One warning though, they make it super easy to buy more and I found myself spending a chunk of change in no time, which I haven’t done on comics since I was a teenager.
• GoodReader
  While not the sexiest of apps, it is one of the most useful. Able to open up documents of every common type it also will connect with locations that you store your documents including Dropbox, Google Docs and iDisk. It sounds overly simple and not needed until you actually start using it and then that is when you realize you must have this.

I’m sure as we use it more, I will find more, but I wanted to give you some starter suggestions in case your house now has an iPad in it.

What applications have you found that you and your family like?

Related posts:

1. Family Vacations: Atlantis
2. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games

Kielbasa is an interesting meat that can be used in a variety of situations from breakfast to dinner. If you didn’t read Chances breakfast recipe you should, but be warned it’ll make you hungry. We were sent two packages of Kielbasa and a cookbook that I can’t wait to try some new recipes out of. We thought it would be fun for Chance and I both to share a recipe and then let you win some sausage. (really not meant to be as dirty as it sounds!)

Here is my recipe for a quick, easy and tasty supper that is a breeze to make any day of the week. It is a little weird and a little different, but you can keep the ingredients on hand and whip it up when you suddenly have soccer practice and no time for anything else.

Fruity Sausage

Ingredients

• 2 packages Kielbasa
• 2 Large cans of Fruit Cocktail in heavy syrup
• 2 Boil In The Bag Brown Rice

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cut the Kielbasa into bite size chunks and place into a large frying pan over medium heat.
2. Cook until heated all the way through
3. Drain out as much of the fat as you can
4. Place the sausage back into the fry pan and pour in the two cans of fruit cocktail
5. Heat all the way through until the fruit is hot
6. Make the rice as instructed on the packaging
7. Place a few large scoops or rice on the plate and spoon over the fruity sausage mixture
8. The rice won’t be good left over, but the sausage and fruit will reheat just fine on it’s own

We want YOU to get something out of this in addition to 2 great recipes, so Hillshire Farm has agreed to give away a year supply of sausage to one lucky reader. This contest is open to US residents only and don’t worry about the size of your freezer, you’ll be getting coupons from the company rather then a stack of meat.

You can enter the contest one of two ways. Either rename this recipe for me since I had to make up one for this post OR post your favorite Kielbasa recipe in the comment field below and then I’ll pick a winner and announce it here on the site.

If you are looking for recipes, swing on by Hillshire Farm’s Recipe Page for a variety of options. If you try one let us know.

Related posts:

1. 7 Can Chili Recipe
2. Chance Cooks- Sausage Fest Challenge
3. Soggy Saturday Wings

Hi. My name is Chance.

A couple months ago, the founder of this site, C.C. Chapman, e-mailed me to ask if I wanted to participate in a Sausage Fest.

“Chance! Hillshire Farms wants us to make food with their sausage. You in?”

Quicker than I could say “that’s what she said”, I replied in the affirmative.

Soon thereafter, I then received a care package of a few samples of Hillshire Meats. They immediately screamed “breakfast food.” Now, it turns out that recently I’ve been very into cooking “off the radar”; that is to say, I go into the kitchen armed with no recipe of any kind, and simply pick ingredients from the pantry and fridge and well, you know… rock n roll!

Sunday mornings is such a time for such a time for these experiments. While I don’t have any flour tortillas, I did just buy some lavash bread. So, I think I’ll make some kind of breakfast burrito style wrap!

(Want to make this now? Go to recipe at bottom)

There you have it: time to raid the pantry!

Starting ingredients

Ok, I have 5 eggs. Phew, check. Always have some kind of onion, check. 3 cloves garlic, because I like, no LOVE, garlic. Cilantro (2 TB maybe?), chopped. Green onion (1TB?), chopped. Butter in case I need it. And of course, the Hillshire Beef Keilbasa that prompted this challenge.

Mise en Place.

Oooh! Found a can of refried black beans! Went ahead and cut up about 1/2 lb of the sausage, first in rounds, then quartered.

Over high heat, began getting a good seared color to the sausage. Normally, I prefer using stainless steel or even cast iron, but since I wanted to cook my eggs gently (and try to make everything in one dish), I went non-stick.

After rendering and searing, remove sausage from pan onto paper towels. Reserve the rendered fat for more cooking.

You can see it's about a tablespoon, which is perfect.

Meanwhile, crack your 5 eggs into a bowl, and whisk well. Add a tablespoon of milk, and season with Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper. Definitely don’t underwhisk these bad boys; you want a very uniform color, creamy and hell, even some froth.

Meanwhile, in a separate small sauce pan, warm up your black refried beans. Kick em up with the following spices:

• 1/4 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika**(see note)
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cumin

**Note: Smoked Paprika rules. I can’t emphasize that enough. Buy yourself some and you will be happy and name your children after me.

In this dish, I wanted the beans to complement the smokiness of the kielbasa. A little goes a long way, so don’t go overboard. If you don’t have any, then just go with regular paprika, but trust me, it’s not even close to the same. Just sayin’.

Back to Main Pan

Over medium heat, warm up the rendered sausage oil/fat, a minute or two. Add your onions, two minutes. Then add your garlic, one minute. We’re going for translucent.

But what are those green things?

Shhhh. It’s Serrano. Don’t tell your wife, girlfriend or partner. It’ll be our secret. Shhhhhhh.
Return your meat to the pan (that’s what sh…hahaha)

Warm for a minute or so, lower the heat and pour your whisked eggs into the pan.

Then let set.

Ok, here’s my trick:I like soft scrambled eggs. I think hard, over scrambled, rubberized eggs are fricking gross. Yes, I said fricking. Case that serves a point in my favor: My MOM makes over scrambled rubberized eggs. The first time I made her soft scrambled eggs, she about cried tears of joy. You think I’m stubborn?? She’s STUBBORN. Game, set match: soft scrambled eggs. Here’s how:

The trick is managing the heat by not just using the burner. Sure, you definitely want low to medium low. It depends on how deft you are (not def, yo), and how long you want to wait. But the real trick is the pan handle. Yup. Grab that puppy and lift it off the burner.

I can’t give you amount of time, here. Every stove is different. It could be 5 minutes, it could be 15 (seriously). Use your fork and lightly drag it across the eggs. You’ll see the curds begin to form. If it’s cooking too fast, you’ll know it. It happens fast when it’s too hot. If so, just physically lift your pan off the burner, and let it mellow out. You want a slow, measured approach. You have the time, trust me. If you want a more custard approach, take a soft spatula and constantly and slowly stir under the lowest heat. Up to you, but know it’ll take longer.

Ok, now that you’ve mastered your soft scrambled eggs, and you’re just about ready, go ahead and add your cilantro and green onions.

With herbs like these, I prefer to add them at the end, so the heat doesn’t kill the flavor I’m going for. Add kosher salt, and black pepper to taste, and remove from heat.

Assembly

Take your tortilla (or in my case, lavash bread), and place on a plate. Spackle some refried black beans on the base, then put a fair amount of the sausage/egg deliciousness. Make sure to not overdo the amount (something I almost always do), because you’ll want to fold/roll your behemoth.

Add a handful of grated sharp cheddar Cheese, and then—good god, man—do the right thing and add Sriracha sauce. Add more cilantro if you’d like.

Roll/fold your behemoth, and nuke in the microwave for 30-60 seconds (just to melt the cheese.

Then behold: your Hillshire Breakfast Behemoth with soft scrambled eggs, Hillshire Beef Kielbasa, black refried beans and sharp cheddar cheese!

Recipe: I’m guessing this will feed 2 VERY HUNGRY people or 3-4 normal humans.

(ingredient amounts are estimated)

• 5 eggs
• 1/2 lb Kielbasa Sausage, cut up in 1/2″ rounds, then quartered
• 1/3 cup chopped onions
• 1-3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can black refried beans
• 2 TB Cilantro chopped (separated)
• 1 TB Green Onions, chopped
• 1 cup or so grated sharp cheddar cheese
• Large Tortillas or Lavash Bread
• Sriracha sauce or favorite hot sauce

Spices for kicking up the refried beans:

• 1/4 tsp cayenne (or to taste)
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika**(preferred; otherwise either eliminate or use regular paprika)
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• 1/2 tsp cumin

Kosher Salt to taste

Black Pepper to taste

1. Over medium high heat, sear sausage for color and to slightly render. 5-8 minutes or so. Then remove from pan on to paper towels. Reserve the rendered fat in the same pan.

2. Meanwhile, crack 5 eggs into medium bowl. Add 1 TB of milk, pinch of kosher and couple grinds of black pepper, and whisk well. Looking for creamy, frothy, with uniform color.

3. Meanwhile, warm up black refried beans in separate sauce pan. Mix in spices (cayenne, smoked paprika, coriander, cumin. Kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Keep warm.

4. Back to main pan: warm rendered oil over medium heat. Add onions: 2 minutes. Add garlic: 1 minute. Return meat to pan: one minute.

5. Lower heat. Add whisked eggs to pan, and carefully scramble. Do not over cook: drag small spatula or lightly drag fork across eggs to lightly scramble.

6. Add 1/2 tb of cilantro/green onions (to taste). Remove from heat and add kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Assembly:
1. Place tortilla or lavash bread on plate.
2. Add a couple spoonfuls of refried black beans.
3. Spoon sausage/egg deliciousness mixture over beans, taking care to not put too much. just enough so that you can properly fold/roll your behemoth.
4. Add handful of cheese, then sriracha sauce. garnish with cilantro and roll/fold your tortilla/lavash bread.
5. Nuke in microwave for 30-60 seconds until cheese melts.
6. EAT!

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/2

Related posts:

1. Fruity Sausage
2. 7 Can Chili Recipe

Stirring Up Wishes

I had never heard of this partnership before I was asked if Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark could send me a package including brownie mix, chocolate chip cookie mix and a branded Betty Crocker red spoon. In addition they offered to make a $25 donation to Make-A-Wish, so how could I say no? I get a fun night baking with the family and somewhere a child gets another wish granted. That is a win-win in my book.

Emily was inspired by the arrival of the package to create something new and we ended up making both, but before baking the brownies she put in clumps of cookie dough. I thought we were going to end up with a mess, but instead we ended up with an amazing mixture of Brownie Cookies. We liked it so much, that I know we’ve talked about making it again really soon.

But, this post is about how YOU can help Betty Crocker^® grant wishes.

There are two ways to help:

• You can support the Make-A-Wish Foundation online through the Give $5, Get $5 promotion. Until April 15, 2010, donate $5 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help make children’s wishes come true, and get $5 worth of downloadable Betty Crocker^® coupons. Limit of $5 in coupons per person.
• Next time you are at the grocery store, look for specially marked products and Betty Crocker will donate 10¢ to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $250,000 and a maximum donation of $500,000.

My mother-in-law has been active with Make-A-Wish for years and I’ve seen the great work they do so I hope you can take a moment to help with this great initiative.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/2

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1. Movember

In full disclosure, CMT is a client of mine at Campfire and we’ve been working on the campaign to raise awareness about this.

But, even with that being said, I wanted to share this with the Digital Dads community because after watching episodes of both shows, I think it is programming that you and your family can enjoy together.

Danger Coast follows the dramatic exploits of Miami Dade County’s elite waterborne Marine Operations Bureau as they fight against overwhelming odds to selflessly protect your lives, while risking their own. Not being much of a boater myself I never though about some of the dangers they’d run into. The premiere episode has one intense subject that involves a young woman and a boat motor that might be a little too intense for young kids, but they do a good job of not showing blood and focusing on the rescuing tactics. Of course, now my son wants to ride in the high speed fire boat that they use in a lot of rescues.

Gator 911 chronicles the life of Gary Saurage and his Gator Country Team as he rescues alligators from pipes, pools and ponds in Southeast Texas. When I first heard this, I’ll admit that I laughed a bit imagining what this show would be like. But, I was pleasantly surprised at just how crazy these people are, but that in their heart they are doing it for the conservation angle more then anything. THAT hit home for me and I instantly gained a respect for Gary and what his team do. They are still crazy to do what they do, but I’m glad to know why they do it.

CMT is not a channel that we ever go to in our household. Laura likes country music, but watching videos is not our usual cup of tea. But, I did set the DVR to watch both of these shows because the kids liked the premiere episodes (we got a sneak peek) so much that they want to watch more. This kind of real world job reality television is a growing market and if you like other shows of this type then I think you’ll enjoy these.

Want a little extra fun before Friday’s premiere? Head on over to WelcomeToAdventureCountry.com . You’ll find lots of fun little surprises by clicking around (hint: be sure not to miss the gator or the campfire). Also, if you watch this video, you’ll catch my family practicing a little birthday safety. *grin* If you are of the Facebook type, then we invite you to become a celebrated member of Adventure Country.

I’ve had fun working on this project and after you watch the show, I’d love to hear your comments on what you thought.

Related posts:

1. Television for Toddlers
2. Men of a Certain Age

This morning our very own Clarence Smith Jr. welcomed his first son into the world. True Iyall Smith entered the world this morning weighing in at a solid 6lbs 2.7oz and 19″ in length.

With a powerful name like that, this kid is going to go places. Never mind the fact that with the awesomely unique parents he has, he won’t have a choice. *grin*

I was fortunate enough to have Clarence over to the house on Friday night and we both knew that it was going to be the last time I saw him before he became a Dad and we talked about the variety of emotions, fears and joys that lay ahead. We’ve become really close friends in the time we’ve known each other and it made my day to call him this morning as soon as he texted me the news.

Clarence won’t be online much for the next little while for obvious reasons, but please be sure to leave your congrats here or on Flickr because I know he will be reading them.

There is nothing in the world like a new baby. Clarence, you’ve just started on life’s best journey. Enjoy every moment of it!

No related posts.

Cast of Dads #13 (listen or subscribe) focused on that topic. One of the other Dad’s likes how his son and him are using Foursquare to keep each other updated on where they are. But, of course this is passive and it only works IF they check into a location.

There is technology out there, and more coming I’m sure, where we could almost monitor our kids movements similar to the way scientists track migrating whales and antelope. But, do we want this? Is it even really needed or have we really gone to far in our constant worry that the big evil world out there is going to swallow up our kids.

While the peace of mind something like this might give me, I think right now I lean more towards the side of letting them being kids. Letting them go and do what they are going to do. I know they are going to tell me they are going one place and end up at another. They are going to sneak around and do things they don’t want me to know. It is all part of growing up and figuring out boundaries.

I want my kids to know that I trust them. My parents let me go out and wandering around without them knowing exactly where I was and guess what? I turned out ok. Generations of kids have gone out without this technology and somehow society has continued to push forward.

The world is not any scarier then it use to be. It is just that we all hear about the bad more then the good now. The media loves to throw us into a panic over almost anything because everyone watches and tunes in for more, but the boogieman that we all worry about has always been out there since the dawn of time.

My kids need to know I trust them. If I’m tracking their every move I don’t see how that can ever happen.

What do you think?

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On Episode 11 of Cast of Dads (listen), this was the topic of discussion. As we got ready to record the episode the news was breaking about the earthquake in Chile and the tsunami headed towards Hawaii. After talking with all the other dads, I was a little shocked to learn that out of all of us, I might just be the most unprepared. Then again I also hadn’t planned on the fact that we had dads in areas that are highly prone to earthquakes, wild fires and hurricanes. When you live in a place like that you MUST be prepared. Guess I’ve let those thoughts of buying a generator for the next big ice storm or blizzard slide for too long.

When I was in college we went through a disaster. The apartment complex that my then girlfriend (now wife) lived in when I was home was completely destroyed by a fire. We lived on the third floor and after the fire started on the 4th floor we ended up with skylights in our apartment. Everything was destroyed. An event like this really drives home the point of what we really need and don’t need. It was a bit of a reset button for us and I know it is in the back of our mind always.

So, no matter where you live, here are some basic things that every family should keep in mind. Take some time this weekend to talk about it with the family and make it a fun family activity to get it done and out of the way. Review often.

1. Emergency Call or Email List
   This is important for your extended family. If something goes wrong, how do you let everyone know. This could be someone who has everyone’s e-mail address and phone number or something as organized as a Google Group or calling tree. Whatever it is, make sure you know how to get a hold of the most important people to let them know that you are ok if something goes wrong. Keep in mind that your cell phone may not work, so figure out another way as a backup.
2. Extra Food & Water (and a way to cook it)
   Having a well stocked pantry with canned or dehydrated food is always a good idea. Don’t forget that if you have an electric stove that you are going to need a way to cook the food as well. We are avid campers so there is always a Coleman stove in our garage. They are cheap and easy and not a bad idea to have even if you have no plans to ever go into the woods. Don’t forget to have at least a case of bottled water. Buy it now, it isn’t going to go bad on you.
3. First Aid Kit & Training
   If you are reading this and you’ve never been through a basic first aid & CPR class then stop reading and find one in your area immediately. I first learned in the Boy Scouts how to do the basics and refresher classes are never a bad idea. In is inexcusable not to have a basic kit with band aids, disinfectants, Tylenol, tape, scissors and a mini sewing kit. You can buy these pre-packaged at any pharmacy or put your own together in a shoebox or other container. Just make sure that everyone knows where it is and teach your kids the basics.
4. Cash
   I’m not advocating you stuff your mattress with money, but you need to have some cash on hand. Make sure it is a mix of bills. When (not if) we go through a cyber attack or any disaster where power is cut, your debit cards are not going to work so cash will be king. Keep at least a few hundred dollars in a safe location. This will be enough to get you gas or food in case of an emergency.
5. Data
   Most people I know don’t back up their data. This makes me want to slap them anytime. Talk to the majority of people who DO back up their data and they will tell you a horror story about when they suffered a crash and “lost it all” as the point that inspired them to begin doing it. I have a Drobo in my house  and love it. It backs up any changes in data every hour to it and the family knows to “grab the black box” if we have to evacuate the house because it has everything on it. GO out today and pick up a hard drive from your local electronic store and most come with a basic back up solution. You should be doing this now. There are many off site, in the cloud, solutions as well but to date I haven’t found one that I like and trust. I need to though because they make great sense.
6. Evacuation Plan
   We all ran fire drills in schools as children, so have you done the same at home? Our family knows to get out of the house and meet at a specific location. They also know that if they ever need help which neighbors to go to. An important part that many families forget is to actually let the neighbors know about this as well. A very key piece of the equation. If you haven’t talked about this or tried it with the kids, why not do so tonight.

These are just a few of the things you should be keeping in mind, but all are important and I hope each of you reviews with your families to make sure you have them.

What did I miss? What have you done with your families to be ready for something bad? Please leave a comment and let us know.

Also, I plan on writing a column to coincide with each topic we cover on Cast of Dads. I’d love if you subscribed in iTunes or hit up our feed directly if that is how you roll. New episodes come out at the beginning of each week and we are actively looking for sponsors and guests.

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In Part 1 (all those months ago – sorry!), I talked about some of the emotional stages many men experience when making the final, gut-wrenching decision to move on from a failing relationship and how the crippling thought of breaking this news to your children can effect that decision. After months, sometimes years, of traveling down this path, you have come to the decision that two happy parents in two different places will be a better quality of life for your kids than two miserable parents under one roof.

Now, how do you approach the single hardest thing you will ever do in your life? How do you tell your children that Mommy and Daddy will no longer be living in the same house?

Before we get to that, let’s talk about the second hardest thing you will ever do in your life… putting aside your feelings of hurt/betrayal/anger and talking sensibly and with sensitivity with your soon-to-be-X about what is truly best for the kids and how you will BOTH calmly sit down and talk to them.

Swallowing your male instincts to react to “hurt” by being aggressive and stubborn is a big enough pill to swallow for most men. We all do it. Either in a Passive-Aggressive manifestation or in a case such as mine, reverting to my Italian heritage and yelling at everyone.

This is a crucial, defining moment in your child’s life. You do not get to be selfish about it.

This is not about you.

It’s not about her.

It’s not about the myriad things you’ve done to each other that brought you to this.

As obvious as this may sound, please take a moment to absorb these words… the way you handle this approach will become part of the identity and attitude of the person your children will grow to be.

This is a milestone in your child’s life that (assuming they’re older than a toddler) they will remember until their dying day. It will shape their overall ability to “adjust” and their emotional response mechanism to relationships, in general. It will inform their instinctive interactions with their own children. Think about how often you’ve heard your parent’s voices coming from your mouth?

Find the strength, some might say, the TRUE strength of being a man, to be a father first and find that common ground with your child’s mother. Regardless of all the pain you’re causing each other, being parents to your children will always be the one thing you have in common. Long after the divorce proceedings have passed and you have both moved on, possibly even to a new marriage and family, you will STILL be a “Parenting Team” for the children you have together. Divorce does not mean you are getting rid of each other. The sooner you get that out of your head, the easier it will be to focus on how you will both manage the immediate conversation with the children and all of the arrangements that follow.

One quick thing I’d like to address with regards to “arrangements”. Kids need their dads. PERIOD! Do not let anyone ever make you feel like it’s acceptable to be the “every other weekend and two weeks in the summer” part-time dad. This notion is archaic and will do unspeakable damage to your children emotionally. If you’ve been following along with this series since Part 1 and laboring similarly, chances are you would fight tooth and nail against this dated mindset anyway. Still, it’s important to be said. Say it to yourself now – my kids NEED their Dad. Believe it buddy!

Your wife and yourself have somehow managed to come to a calm consensus that truly represents the best thing for the people you love most in your life. It may have taken weeks or months but you have both arrived.

First of all, take a moment to acknowledge this in each other. It’s OK to give each other credit. I guarantee it was as difficult for her as it was for you.

The literal moment of truth – you and your spouse sit your children down. This will be emotional and that’s OK. You’re allowed to feel. Just tread lightly between representing emotion and exuding a sense of confidence in what you’re saying. Too far to either side and your incredibly intuitive little people will feel like you’re selling them a line. Just be Dad.

A few bullets to consider:

• Decide, prior to the talk, which of you will open the conversation.

• Let each other (spouse) talk. Don’t talk over each other.

• Use “we” when talking about the decisions that have been made

• Physical contact with your kids (holding a hand, rubbing the back, etc)

• Make it absolutely clear that they are the best kids that have ever walked the face of the Earth and tell them how loved they are and how proud you are of them

• Show respect for your spouse (even if you sense it isn’t returned)

• Make it clear to them that you will always be there and lay out your plan “how”

• Answer every question with honesty but remember who your audience is. Find a “glass half full” way to answer them.

• Make eye contact

• Get physically down to their level (kneel or sit)

• Acknowledge and validate their feelings

• Let them know they can talk to both of you ANYTIME and the conversation doesn’t have to end after this talk if they have questions.

• I know this is about as uncomfortable as it gets but don’t rush through this

• Tell them how much you love them

All I can think of when I remember back to this moment in my life is the lyrics to Sarah McLachlan’s “Hold On”. “Hold on to yourself, this is gonna hurt like hell”. It will be hard — plain and simple. Doing everything you can, ahead of time, to eliminate the potential for “regrets” will pay dividends throughout the lifetime of your children.

Support: Don’t be too proud to ask for help going into this and again on the other side. Having a positive support system that understands and accepts your decisions is key. The “one-sided sympathizers” are frequently really unhelpful, though their intentions are good. “Your wife is a bitch” is not a constructive comment or demonstration of support.

KNOW that you are doing the right thing and best of luck. You can do this.

Related posts:

1. Dealing as Dad in Divorce PT 1: THE CONVERSATION
2. Wii Sofa King
3. Raising Gatejumpers

Since receiving the ok to host the Olympics, Vancouver has been in immediate action, spending billions of dollars building new sites, transportation options, and renovating city streets, which have all been in continual upheaval up to the very last moment and into the opening ceremonies. That the final run included the dodging of protesters aiming to extinguish the flame was no accident, because life is full of such people, but Canada’s sports hero arrived at the cauldron, and the Olympic cauldron was lit, finalizing our preparations, propelling us forward into the games.

A burning fire in the midst of darkness and upheaval, at that moment I felt it represented hope, triumph to the indomitable victor, and a call for the best of the human spirit to come forward – in many respects, it burns for us all. The following day, my partner and I took a proud stroll along the Vancouver waterfront with my son to enjoy the view of the magnificent cauldron under sunny skies, but when we approached the cauldron we were struck with disbelief and tremendous sadness to see cement barriers and a tall chain link fence surrounding the cauldron and keeping the public nearly a hundred feet away.

Being held back by the fence was an awakening, one of those moments where your past, present, and future collide, because the old grey fence holding us back from approaching the beautiful new and vibrant burning cauldron was a moment of regret, and a reminder of my youthful dreams that are now forever out of reach.

I recalled my memories as a youth, growing up in San Diego, watching the Olympics on television and dreaming of being one of those guys on a bob sled swooshing through the ice rollercoaster, or leaping off the mountain side ramp into the sky blue and landing tenderly on white cheering snow. I imagined that no one could hold me back; no one could hold back my dreams. Since then, I became stronger, more agile and more involved in wrestling and football, but no sports that ever introduced me to the snow. Then came graduation, work, relationships, a son, and grey hair.

Yes, that moment behind the fence was a reminder of lost opportunities, a forever fleeting youth, as well a reminder that the future may be uncertain but what is certain is the present now. Now is the time to pass the torch of dreams to my son, and I’ll be the barrier, the chain link fence, that holds back the protesters and keeps his world intact as he develops into a young man with is own burning cauldron of dreams.

The end of the Olympics is soon approaching. Olympians are called daily to perform at their best, on the spot, in the now, and all of this will be over by next week.

So here am I, with my son, and my moment to present my best to him is now. I don’t know if he’ll be a future Olympian, but I just signed him up today for ice skating lessons. He’d prefer speed skates (and, secretly, so would I), but he’ll still be happy for simply being given the opportunity, the experience. Our anticipation for the first lesson begins, and our schedules will be in a bit of an upheaval, yet we’re excited and proud. There won’t be thousands of people at this event, or people telling him ‘no,’ but there will be me and my partner that will show up and cheer him on.

Looking at his indomitable smile, you’d think he’s won gold already, and in many respects he has.

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Wait, she did it. But, hey so did I! Wait, WE did it!

*This is a long article; plan your life accordingly*

We planned our kid. Took 7 months of target practice before the bullet met the bullseye. The pregnancy was healthy and relatively pain free. The labor process only had one blip in it (where the umbilical cord wrapped around him and his heart rate went down; we had 20 people in our room in 15 seconds. I’m not exaggerating. Completely unaware, I thought it was a hospital training session!)

The push part was 2 hours. My wife was stunning to me. She was literally breathtaking to watch. She never gave in, she never complained, she tried her little heart out. And she NEVER did anything resembling the stereotypical ‘men don’t understand’ approach that the media sells. She relied on me, and I (and our son) relied on her. It was perfect balance.

Another thing occurred: our relationship went to this “other level.” See, we had never really teamed up to do anything this complex. Sure, she helps when I cook, she runs my merch booth when I play live, we share our house responsibilities and we are incredibly open on the communication front, but we’ve never did so much as a potato sack race where it demanded our energies in such a focused and physical manner (and she’s NOT one for sports).

But we had it down pat. I quickly figured out how to read the heart monitors, and I could see when her next contraction was coming. So, I coached her through the entire cycle. I bear hugged her on the low end (the rest part) because she shivered from the adrenaline. It was her, the doc, the RN (named Sparky!!!), and me. That’s it. And with that and the picturesque view of the Hollywood hills, the sun rose just moments before the son.

Just like that: Henry said hi.

We did it, right?! Well, yes, except of course for everything else that follows.

But I want to catch you up. Therefore, this article is not about everything that follows. Instead, it’s a drop bin of everything that I emphatically want to tell you that I think we did right. If any soon-to-be-new Dad reads this and get ONE piece of advice from this article then my obligations contained within this article shall forever be fulfilled.

Obviously, the standard disclaimer: this is our story. Yours might be more poignant or less, more problematic or less, more difficult or less. Take the following as you like; if nothing else, enjoy the anecdotes. This worked for us, and hopefully on some level, maybe it’ll inspire you when you’re in the that crazy ol’ predicament of being a soon to be parent.

Youth, Wasted on the Young

“How old are you? how old are you?”
Us? We used age & our “Oscar Wilde” experience to our advantage (look it up). We may not be spring chickens, but who said that was a bad thing? Not us. We tried our best to remain calm during every storm that came our way and used our experience to guide us when we were clueless. Amazing what happens when you assume things will be ok….

They usually are.

Seeing the Future

Take that assumption a step further and move to “imagining.” I once read this article about visual simulation; athletes do this. I do it when I play tennis, hell, even when I play shows. You imagine where the ball is going, or the high jumper imagines the run up to the bar. Literally; watch their heads and eyes visualize the path they take.

And this is what we did. We imagined our actions, our goals, through the whole process, and it paid off in spades. I don’t even know what that means, but I hear it’s pretty awesome.

–Make casual to-do lists. Even the mundane, jot em down. Cause you never know.–

The nursery

I can’t stress this enough. My wife giggled when I designed, painted and put together the nursery a full 4 months before the kid was born. 3 months later she was PRAISING the decision. Stuff gets much harder the less mobile she becomes. My goal was to literally have the last two months be a “twiddle our thumbs” feeling. We literally had nothing to do but wait for the deed to go down. It made all the difference, stress-wise, in that, well there really wasn’t any. Plus, you never know the unforseen; this helps in the event of problematic situations, too.

Friendly Advice

Use your friends’ advice (yea, including me) as a stock report: only use what you want to use. Don’t worry if it makes no sense to you. Just discard the advice. Kindly, of course.

Man up

This is the time to grow up, man. I mean it. And what a better way to do it than on your own terms? Start picking up the slack, for slack will definitely happen. In our house, our common rule is if you want my delicious cooking, well I don’t want to do the dishes. That time honored axion became difficult by about the sixth month. So, I just started doing more of the dishes. As much as I could. Dude, it ain’t simply brownie points. These actions are worth their weight in gold. Plus, by taking on the responsibility yourself (aka without being asked), then you own it, credit and all.

And let me tell you something: from my experience, women LOVE it when you just do stuff on your own…and they remember. Are you paying attention now?!!!! This means “quid pro blow.” I will explain no more on this subject. If you haven’t figured it out, you are beyond help.

Work

Take as much time off as you possibly can. I took a month off in total. Yea, it clobbered my vacation/sick days, but what else did I have planned? I spoke to my HR and boss FIVE months before he was born. I laid the seeds. They saw how enthusiastic and excited I was to become a new Dad. This too paid off really well, because there came a time where I needed more. I just felt uncomfortable leaving the two of them alone so soon. And my job ok’d it. I came back happy, not resentful.

Products

I’ll keep this limited to products we loved…

First, since I’m mostly described the time leading up to the fateful day, books:

• What to Expect When You’re Expecting &
• What to Expect the First Year
• Happiest Baby on the Block (you will be the Swaddling King)

We had more books than these, but trust me,  just about anything/everything you’ll ever need to know is in these books. They will be your bible. They’re the only ones with the 100% Chance stamp of approval hahaha. Don’t thank me. Thank everyone who recommended them to me. I’m just passing it along, you swaddling king, you.

• Baby swing. OH MY GOD. It’s a god send in the 1st few months.
• Playard: To be honest, we began by using this as his actual crib. First 8 months (our place is small). Now we use it as his nap and play area. They’re awesome. Plus, you’ll be able to store things in it too. Caveat: the changing table attachment is completely useless. COMPLETELY.
• Swaddling blankets. Large ones.
• Breast pumps.  (they neglect to tell you babies sometimes don’t latch!)
• Bottle warmers (takes the brain out of the equation).
• Pampers (I don’t know; they’re just softer, and seem to work a little better. Don’t bother with the over night ones; we noticed not a whit of difference.)
• Wipe warmer: had some friends with ambivalent feelings on these but we dug em.
• Sleep Sacks.  Since there are  blankets for the first year, these will come in handy when your kid stops being swaddled.
• Diaper Dekor: Think of this way: either walk to your outside garbage pails every 2 hours, or put them in this thing. Genius.

Things to know that they never tell you

Here is the single biggest thing they never told us and will surprise you (because it’s good news):

The first two weeks are a piece of cake. I’m not kidding. And yes, I’m speaking relatively. Sure you still have to wake up and you still have to change diapers every 2-4 hours. But they do almost nothing, except: nurse, sleep, & poop. THAT’S IT.

If you wanted to take time off work and you’re trying to figure out how to maximize your time because you’re limited, it almost makes more sense as a Dad to START your time off during week 3.

Because then………. it gets crazy.

But you’ll figure it out. All of this. That’s the coolest thing: all the self-doubt and confusion that you dreaded leading up to that first minute of life, literally evaporate once they come out. I’m not talking magic and mystery here. I’m not talking deep spirituality or some kind of “one with the earth” miracle that people like to spout.

I’m just saying you discover you had everything you ever needed, buried somewhere deep inside you. All along. It was just waiting til it was time. And now that you’re a Dad, you’ll be struck by the acknowledgement of this beautiful, beautiful feeling:

“Wow…. I can do this!”

Next article? A “Chance cooks” recipe.

Related posts:

1. Are You Ready for Seconds?

We are actively growing our audience and as we just published the tenth episode, I wanted to catch you up on some of the topics we’ve recently covered so that you can check out the ones that interest you and hopefully subscribe to the show so that you get all the upcoming episodes. We’ve been recording every weekend and plan to continue to do that going forward. Thirty minutes every week talking about the things guy’s need to know about being a dad.

Here are some recent episodes:

• Kids Online & How to Do it Right
• Valentine’s Day With The Dads
• Superbowl Sunday
• Making It To Midnight on New Years Eve
• Mustaches, Massages & Man Purses

As you can see, we talk about a bunch of different things and the great thing is that because we are doing it weekly we can talk about current topics as well as over arching parental topics that are important at any time.

I’m really glad that this show has taken off and that people are enjoying the content. If you are a reader of Digital Dads then I believe you’d like this show as well and I hope you give it a listen.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments or better yet leave it as an iTunes review as well.

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That is why when I heard that President Obama’s 2011 Budget cuts all funding for Reading is Fundamental (RIF) I was saddened.

Do you remember RIF? I do. It was always a great day at school because we’d go down to the gymnasium and have the power to pick out a single book for free. It was so hard to choose just one book to take because they always had so many good ones. Buying books was something of a luxury for me and while I’d check them out of the library at an alarming rate (we lived across the street), I cherished the days that RIF came to school.

Founded in 1966, RIF distributes 15 million books annually to children. Funded by Congress since 1975, RIF maintains programs in schools, community centers, hospitals,  and military bases. They have roughly 400,000 volunteers that maintain their 17,000 locations. They do a LOT of good for the country.

But, with the proposed budget all of their funding will be cut and their program will more then likely have to shut down. I don’t want to see this happen and I have a strong feeling that many of you don’t want it to either.

There is a letter writing campaign going on and they’ve made it as easy as a few clicks to e-mail your government officials about this.

To show your support please go to www.Rif.og/SaveRIF

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“I am not completely sold on gesture gaming like the Wii being the future. It definitely is changing the scope of gaming, but not for me.”

Having recently sold my Wii, I had been reflecting on my motivation for purchasing it in the first place — because I had bought into the idea of interactive games, believing it to be the future of gaming.

I should mention, I am an avid (read: hardcore) video game enthusiast and like a large number of fathers my age (or expectant fathers like myself) — I have been playing for most of my life.

All of which is to say that any technological advance in the video game industry is quite likely going to pull at my game playing heartstrings with some level of success.  But with motion and gesture gaming as part of the mainstream, where children, parents, and grandparents alike are now active gamers, I find myself dissatisfied with the prospect of this new frontier being acknowledged as the future of gaming.

Especially where children are concerned.

Photo by Scott Richard’s Photography

Continuing my rant online, I followed-up by suggesting that,

“Many parents would argue to the contrary — but i’d guess they are allowing video games to replace the power of imagination for their kids.”

While I am just over a month before leveling-up to full-blown status as a father, I feel compelled to highlight the fact that parents would argue that gesture and motion gaming like the Wii or Microsoft’s Project Natal for the XBOX 360 are the future because it raises their activity level by putting them in motion.

Concluding my entitled and unsolicited opinion slinging on Twitter, I declared,

“The argument that gesture/motion gaming gets kids off the sofa (to me) implies that parents weren’t doing it right in the first place.”

I did receive some honest commentary that suggested,

“Here’s what many parents don’t like to confess; you let kids play video games b/c it buys peace and quiet. Uncomfortable to admit.”

I don’t doubt that what was mentioned is true for a large majority of parents whose children actively play video games.  My contention is with the fact that this passive escape could be the reason parents agree that gesture and motion gaming is the future; because it gets them off the sofa (and affords the parents a brief reprieve from, you guessed it — being a parent).

As a professed hardcore gamer, and someone who is likely to allow my own son to play later on in his life, that notion is one I have difficulty understanding and agreeing with 1) because it still somehow implies that playing video games are bad unless 2) they get your kid off the sofa and 3) it removes accountability for the parent, normally charged with encouraging an active lifestyle for their child (out in the world).

I am sure there are many of you who struggle with the same thing.  It is an interesting conversation I hope to see take place here on Digital Dads.  There is nothing wrong with your child being a sofa king.  A little hand/eye coordination never hurt anyone.

There is something wrong with parents, however, who allow their children to forego a little imagination off the sofa, away from the console, and out in the world.  Perhaps you disagree? If so, why?

Related posts:

1. Gaming Kids
2. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games
3. Father’s Day Gifts, Vol. 1

I am an independent solo artist based in Los Angeles, CA, and, through a certain mix of alchemy, diabolical processes & nefarious actions, I am now a Dad.

Yea, I know.

I met C.C. many moons ago, online and most virtually, when one of us contacted the other about music (mine) being played on a podcast (his). Since then, we’ve become great virtual friends — even meeting at one time, all old school and in the flesh (Full disclosure: C.C. even bought my son his first baby swing!). So, when he mentioned Digital Dads was adding more writers, and asked if I would be interested, I put it thusly:

“Sure!”

Plan on this Dad writing from this Dad’s perspective. You will probably hear passioned —with occasional bits of reasoned— observation, but don’t mistake or misjudge my enthusiasm for proselytizing. Things that work for me (or don’t) may not work for you (or will).

One thing is true: Being a Dad is a puzzle. One big puzzle; like the ones you used to check out at the public library and has 4 pieces missing.

And guess what our job is?

Well, coming soon, my first article, entitled: “WOW.”

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In full disclosure, you should know JetBlue, Lego and Atlantis held a press event known as the Jet Adventure over a weekend in January on site in the Bahamas. They flew me and the family down, put us up and made sure we had a great time on site and got to check out a variety of the activities that Atlantis has to offer for a family vacation. A special thanks to JetBlue who told me originally they were going to call the outing “Jet Mommies” but wanted to be sure dads like me felt welcomed so they changed the name and it was great to see several other dad writers on the trip. Since I’m also an avid photographer you can view my entire photo album online if you’d like.

This was our first time in the Bahamas. I’m not much of a sit on the beach and do nothing all vacation type of guy, so the idea of heading to the islands had never really been on my radar.

I do a lot of flying and have always loved JetBlue as an airline. Their in seat televisions make any flight feel shorter and I value that. The kids of course love it as well because they get to control their own TV and that empowerment keeps them happy. While we flew out of the funky new JFK Terminal 5 in New York, it was good to see so many direct flights to the Bahamas on JetBlue. It is a quick 3 hour flight from New England.

As we rode the hotel shuttle from the airport to the resort, I took in how blue the water was and how colorful all the buildings are. Instantly I wanted to take out my camera and go on a photowalk around the town center to capture all the faces and culture that it had to offer. We wouldn’t have time on this trip for that, but just from driving through it I could feel a vibrant energy that you should make time to take in when you visit.

I can confirm that Atlantis is as beautiful and majestic as it looks in all the commercials. From the Pegasus filled fountains in the main entrance, down to the littlest light fixture in the hallways, they want it to be an experience. In fact the entire grounds are absolutely beautiful with lots of nooks and cranny’s to explore. One morning we got up early and just walked around before most of the resort woke up. We even filmed an episode of Emily Explains It that morning on the beach.

They play up the Atlantis theme everywhere. This is done in grand fashion in The Dig which is a series of caves, rooms and tunnels all surrounded by massive fish tanks and an amazing variety of sea life. Make sure to explore it at night and during the day because the experience is very different and equally impressive. We had a guided tour which was great so that we could learn about all the different fish we were seeing swimming among the ruins. Seeing the fish that close up and in such a large tank was something the kids, or I, won’t soon forget.

Everywhere you look is water. Make sure to take a walk to get to an actual beach instead of only hanging out by one of the many pools. Also, be sure to check out the many little lagoons and other water areas to look at the water life. On the way to breakfast one morning an Eagle Ray came up and “waved” to us.

For families there are pools with varying depths of water which make it great to just let the kids play in one of the shallow pools while you watch from a nearby deck chair. Towels are provided for you for free and there are lockers to put your stuff in while you enjoy the sunshine. There are plenty of little snack shacks everywhere to fuel your munchies. Just be sure not to forget to try the conch fritters!

Built into the resort is a top notch water park. It isn’t separated, but rather integrated right along side the fish and the fun. With both a lazy river that takes about an hour and a more fast paced rapid river that runs about thirty minutes, both river rides are something to enjoy with the kids. Emily and Dylan both loved the rapids and we enjoyed them more then once. The water slides will appeal to every age with short little ones for toddlers all the way up to an almost vertical plunge that actually flies through the shark tank before dumping you out at the end.

If you like water slides, the one not to miss starts in one of the temples and you ride in a tube down through a few swirls but then proceed slowly through the shark tank. Cruising along at a gentle pace and having sharks and other fish swim by you on the other side of glass is an amazing feeling. If you go to Atlantis you can’t miss this above all else. Kids of all ages will enjoy it. I promise.

The Atlantis Kids Adventure was the main reason we were brought down to the resort and it is nothing short of a kid wonderland. Parents are not allowed (although we were of course) and the goal is that you drop the kids off for a half day block of time and they can take part in a variety of experiences while you have some quality parent time. With rooms dedicate to crafts, cooking, video games and even a grocery store there is something for every kid. They have a secured check in so there are no worries about the safety of your kids and the staff were overly friendly and helpful. It was obvious that they were ready to take care of the kids and make sure they had a good time.

In addition to the AKA there are other fun activities for the kids to take part in. Our kids got to make their own stuffed animal at Atlantis Pals, build and race their own cars at the Atlantis Speedway and painted their own pottery at the Earth & Fire Pottery Studio. The parents all got to try these out as well and all of them were more fun then I imagined.

The highlight of the entire experience for all of us and something you should not miss out on is swimming with the dolphins. I had done this before at Discovery Cove and can say that the second time around it is still an amazing activity. The entire family loved the experience and if I were to ask the kids about it right now I’m sure they’d get a big grin on their faces. Even if you don’t have the time or money to swim with them, be sure to at least swing by the Dolphin Cay to watch them at any time during the day for free.

Lego was involved in this trip because this summer your kids can begin attending Lego Fantasy Camp on site at Atlantis. We were even accompanied by a Master Lego Builder to celebrate the launch. He traveled with us on the plane and had projects for the kids to do. Dylan is a huge Lego fan and Emily enjoyed it too. I hope they keep the scavenger hunt that we took part in as part of the experience at the resort because it forced us to check out locations that we might not have gone to including the Atlantis Library.

The trip exposed us to the variety of buffets that the resort offers. There are also a variety of sit down restaurants such as Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill (which Emily & I really wanted to check out), but none of them were on the itinerary so I can’t speak to how good they are. Your kids will not have any problem finding food to eat. There is plenty of options that they will recognize and love.

Personally, I was severely disappointed in the lack of fresh seafood and local flavors at the buffets. We did sneak away one lunch to check out Mosaic in The Cove section of the resort and it was the best meal we had during the entire trip including a made to order bowl of seafood soup that left me with a perma-grin on my face. The food is not cheap, but they do offer a variety of dining plans that you will want to look into for sure.

While Atlantis has certainly transformed from an adults only escape to a family friendly environment they do have a few things that I hope they change moving forward. All of the pools close at 5pm which is far to early. If I were to spend the money to have a night alone from the kids, I want to be able to take a dip in the pool. In addition, while the grounds are beautiful, the pool areas are not kept as clean as I had hoped for. Cups, napkins and other snack remains could be seen floating on the edge of most of the pools and under the deck chairs everywhere. The seagulls certainly don’t go hungry.

Finally, this is not a cheap vacation, but neither is a full on Disney experience or other resorts. As with any family vacation I suggest you look for package deals and special trips to save money. Upon return, I’ve been seeing banner ads for Atlantis everywhere offering special deals so be sure to take advantage of those.

Atlantis is not an all inclusive resort and there are no options really to get food and bring it in so you have to pay the high prices for everything on site. The resort is invisibly sliced into different price points meaning on one end is the most value and on the other the most expensive. As with any vacation, be sure to do your research before leaving so that you are fully aware of what to expect before arriving on site.

The resort is top notch and we had an excellent time. We loved the weather and enjoyed that while we were told it was a busy time of year for the resort, it never felt over filled or as if there were too many people there. Because of just how vast the resort is, there is plenty of room for everyone.

Everything shared here is one family’s experience of this trip. If you’d like to read some other review from people on the same trip I was on then check out the reviews posted on Yummy Mummy, Boston Mamas, Cool Mom Picks and The Mother of All Trips.

Disclosure: http://cmp.ly/3

Related posts:

1. Two Great Playstation 3 Family Games
2. Has Disney World Changed?
3. The Veggie “Problem”

If you really must do something this weekend, then at least be original about it.

This picture is what is on my white board right now in the office. My daughter made it out of my Buckyballs (the coolest birthday gift I got last year BTW) and when I saw it I couldn’t stop smiling. The fact that it is original and from the heart is what matters the most and the same goes for anything else you are thinking about doing on February 14th.

So here are some personal suggestions on how to move beyond the same old, same old:

• Chocolates & Flowers
  This is Grade A boring and what everyone does. BUT, if you are going to do it then at least be original about it and have some fun with it. I’m a pretty big hater of the major flower chains because I’ve had bad experiences with them all. Instead why not get your flowers from a local florist that will make you a custom order and you know it’ll come out right. Every town has one so ask around.

  On the sweet side there are boutique chocolate shops popping up all over and many of them are now online. Two personal favorites of mine are Lake Champlain Chocolates and 5th Avenue Chocolatiere. Both are better then any heart shape boxed of boring that you are going to pick off a store shelf.

• Cook Dinner
  I once heard someone say that there was no faster way into a woman’s pants then through her stomach and they were right. Unfortunately, this years Sex on a Plate has been postponed (put it on your calendar now for next year), but that doesn’t mean that you can’t make a romantic meal. Even if you don’t know how to cook there are tons of great and simple recipes out there. When in doubt go with some pasta and a good bottle of wine. Yes, it may be overly simple, but again it is the thought that counts the most. Just don’t over eat because that will get in the way of other things.
• Get Offline
  This may sound like an obvious one, but seriously, turn off the cell phones, unplug the router if you need to and get away from the screens. Spend time together! Go for a long walk. Play cards. Get naked. Whatever it is, just don’t involve anyone else for a while. The few hours of dedicated YOU time will be well worth it and your partner will appreciate it.
• Make Something
  I’m not much of the crafty kind of guy, but anyone can make a home made card. Think beyond the obvious. Make a photo collage, write a poem or go over the top and buy and MP3 player and fill it with a “mixed tape” of tunes that you love. Have fun with it, but don’t do it at the last minute just because you forgot everything else. Homemade needs to show you put some love and thought into it for it to really shine through.
• Pampering
  I’ve met many women who say they are not into the spa treatment, but after they go for their first time I’ve never heard them ever say that again. Look for a local place that she can get her nails or hair done and better yet can get a massage. If you have no idea where to look ask some other women around the obvious or go online. You are sure to find someplace within driving distance of you. This doesn’t come cheap, but is well worth it. I still remember the first time I gave my wife a 6 Massages gift card. She told me I could give her one again anytime.
• Get Unique
  Two of my favorite companies to get unique but awesome gifts from are Uncommon Goods and RedEnvelope. I’ve ordered from both a number of times and have never had a bad experience. The best part is that your bound to find something that will make her go “wow” over and over.

These are just a couple of ideas to get you going and thinking beyond the normal. Plus, I can’t give away all my secrets can I?

We want to hear what other ideas you have. Please share them in the comments.

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I grew up as a scout. I raced pine wood derby cars, went to summer camp, learned how to make a fire, went to a National Jamboree and spent many nights under the stars on a variety of camping trips. The day I was was given my Order of the Arrow Vigil sash is still one of my fondest and proudest memories. I loved it all and know that it had a ton to do with shaping me into the man I am today.

But, the scouts I grew up loving are lost to me now. I can’t find them anywhere.

After graduating from college and moving to Virginia, I looked to get back active with the scouts as I hadn’t done a lot with them during college. I didn’t have kids yet and knew that it would be a great way to give back and have fun at the same time. But, the troops I found were more interested in badges and the latest gear rather then the skills I had hoped to be teaching the kids. As I’ve interacted with scouts here and there since then I’ve found that they don’t seem to teach the same skills that I grew up loving any more. Sure, they are there in the books and you can earn badges for them, but they don’t seem to be as important as they were before.

I know that there are plenty of Scout Masters and troops out there who do still teach kids how to survive in the woods and how to truly camp rather then pulling up, parking and setting up a tent. I don’t want to discount that. I just haven’t found the right group to work with.

But, even if I could find the right troop to work with I personally can’t support the organization any more either. Their rules about not allowing atheists to be members and banning of homosexuals from being involved are two inexcusable faults that will keep me and my son from ever being involved in the program. It pains me to say that, but it it is the truth. I can’t support organizations that openly support discrimination.

I’ve been lucky that Dylan has never asked much about joining the Boy Scouts. Not many of his friends are involved so we’ve never had the tough chat that I figured was coming. I want my children to try out every adventure they wish for, but this is one that I won’t allow to happen.

The Scouts have lost their way in my opinion. I don’t know if it it is just mine or not, but I really hope that someday they change their mind and go back to embracing their root values and teachings for all boys. I firmly believe in the Boy Scouts and what they stand for. I think getting kids away from the computers, iPods and other devices and throwing a backpack full of gear on them and spending a weekend in the woods (multiple times) is a great thing for every kid to go through.

Learning to be a leader and working with teams are vital skills that everyone needs to succeed in life and the Boy Scouts helped teach me that. I’m sure that they are still teaching those skills to a new generation of boys.

I’m not looking to stir up controversy, but when I saw that the birthday was today I had to share my thoughts.

The Boy Scouts of America is a great organization that was a crucial part of my life. I hope that sometime in the future it can be again.

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(Photo Credit: Wools)

All that and I am still not done.

Before I am through, I will have to make a decision about which of our health insurance plans to choose, which pediatrician to entrust our son, decide on a nanny or daycare — including interviews or enrollment, and purchase a new bed with storage built-in to hold [my] clothes.

If I procrastinate too long I will also have to file taxes, brain-fried and all — two-weeks after he is born.

Why mention any of this?  Despite everything I have to get done, I am truly excited about the day my son will be born.  I embrace each of these tasks with the understanding that every move I make now, will have an impact on his life from the moment he arrives.  I have been responsible for other peoples lives before, but not nearly as much as I will be — beginning this Spring.

It is an awesome and naturally overwhelming thing to be aware of.  But I am not afraid.

That is not the case for everyone.  So, my question is simple —  what is there to be afraid of?  I ask because there seems to be an unspoken and understood sentiment amongst fathers that we should somehow be afraid.  Is this the reason a lot of people have declared your life is over and you are not ready or the often heard forget about having any fun?

I have heard a lot of advice in the past 7-months; most of which I turn a deaf ear towards, because I am not them and vice-versa; and I am not convinced that any of the fear mongering I’ve heard actually makes sense.

Many seem to be confused about which way is up.  Maybe I am being naive — or maybe fathers share this sentiment because they weren’t ready to begin with?  In my opinion, fear should not enter into the picture where our children are concerned.  If we are afraid of life, won’t our children also learn to be?

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I recently picked up Walker Lamond’s Rules for My Unborn Son while browsing at a local bookstore.  For me the book is timely and also timeless — Lamond’s insights are curated wisdom from his father, thinkers, historical figures, adventurers, hard workers, sports icons, entertainers and his own experience of becoming a man.

In his own words, To get some things straight before I get old and uncool, Lamond’s Rules for My Unborn Son is a map for boys who aspire to become and live as good men.  Lamond’s rules are presented as a clever series of tenets that encompass all aspects of life that will take you on a journey from boy to man and along the way, Rules does its best to reinforce the essence of a good man.

The highlight of reading Rules for My Unborn Son is that it took me on a journey through my own life — I could remember exactly when (and how) I came to learn similar rules — and that following them (or not) had a significant impact on my life:

“You won’t always be the strongest or fastest. You can be the toughest.”

“Don’t boast about projects in progress. Celebrate their completion.”

“You are what you do, not what you say.”

Lamond’s Rules is a genuine and sincere attempt to impart worthwhile knowledge while shedding light on the many experiences a boy will have that shapes his outlook on life as a man.  Fathers, or those who would be, will enjoy Rules for My Unborn Son for its simple and practical thoughts and for the way it moves you and your son to explore the meaning of manhood.

Walker Lamond’s Rules for My Unborn Son can be purchased online and new rules are published regularly on the 1001 Rules for My Unborn Son .

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While I’m all about using fresh ingredients whenever possible, there are times when canned good will do the trick and this super simple chili recipe works great for a weekday dinner or a football game tailgate.

It is NFL Playoff time so you need a recipe that you can put together without any thought and eat when you are ready. So today I give you:

7 Can Chili

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbs Ground Beef or Bison
• 1 large can Tomato Sauce
• 1  can Diced Tomatoes
• 1 can Dark Red Kidney Beans
• 1 can Light Red Kidney Beans
• 1 can Black Beans
• 2 cans Corn
• 2 packages Chili Seasoning
• Beer, Tequila & BBQ Sauce to taste

Instructions

1. In your largest pot (a dutch oven is perfect) brown the meat until fully cooked. Drain the fat.
2. Add the tomatoes and sauce
3. Drain the beans and corn and add to the pot
4. Add chili seasoning
5. Stir and cook over medium low heat until hot
6. I like to put a healthy squirt of BBQ Sauce, a pour of beer and a shot of a tequila into the mix as well, but they are all completely optional

The great thing about this recipe is that anyone can make it and it works as a great base of a recipe that can be tweaked and added to as you see fit. I often will make it in the morning and let it sit on low heat until later in the day when we are ready to eat.

Best of all is that the left overs work great on nachos or baked potatoes. Yummy all around!

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This post is not a slight against Walt Disney. It is a brand that I love and had a blast last summer when our family took our vacation there for the first time. So please do not take this as a slam against them, because so many brands do this, but they were the ones the broke the camel’s back.

Yesterday on Twitter I saw several women I know tweeting about a Social Media program that Disney was doing and an e-mail address to reach out to for more information. It was clearly a mom focused program from what I could see, but I still dropped them a note asking if I as a Dad might be interested in whatever it was that was going on.

I got a great reply saying that of course Dads were welcomed and to watch my e-mail for more information.

Then today I received an e-mail with the subject line: Social Media Moms Celebration at Walt Disney World!

It was, of course, an invitation sent to me.

Again, this is NOT about Disney, because the event looks amazing and very smartly put together. In fact the programming sounds like something I’d love to attend. But, the fact that I’m not part of any of that subject line means that the event is not of interest to me. I don’t know why it couldn’t be about Social Media Parents or Social Media Moms & Dads instead.

I love moms. My wife is one of the most amazing women in the world. I hug my mother every time I see her. I’m friends with lots of women who are great moms.

But, guess what? I am not a mom. I’ve got the wrong plumbing to be a mother. As a guy I’m a Dad, Father, Pops, Padre or whatever word you want. Something I can never be is a “mom.”

I remember right after I launched this site I was asked if I would ever join a “PR for Moms” group. I didn’t know the woman all that well, but I chuckled a bit and said that I wouldn’t because I’m not a mom. If it was a “PR for Parents” group I’d join up in a heart beat.

Sure, maybe I’m splitting hairs and harping on technicalities, but I’m sick of the Dads being left out of the parenting equation. I’m an active Dad. Most of the guys out there that I know are also active parts of the parenting equation. Yes, Moms make a ton of decisions and in a majority of households probably control the checkbook as well. But, companies need to wake up that Dads every day are becoming more and more involved in these decisions.

This is not the 1950’s when men went off to work in a suit and hat and the women stayed at home in an apron with the kids. We’ve all moved beyond that and yet brands only want to talk to the moms.

Want to talk to a Dad? I’m right here.

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I am going to go out on a limb and confess that every so often during our pregnancy, I get painted into a corner where I feel my patience is being tested and worn thin.

In a conversation with a friend today I was recounting a recent back and forth between my wife and I about a stressful situation and I felt that overall I handled it pretty well considering.  I was calm.  I was focused and I was direct in how to solve the problem.  The one thing I probably wasn’t was being was patient.

According to the dictionary, to be patient means to exhibit the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like. By definition, I was a shining example of patience — but only by definition.

During our conversation, my friend raised a valid point which is, “am I really being patient or am I being impatient?”  You can still be calm, waiting or allowing for some event to continue to take place, but it is with a different attitude or demeanor.

So, it is possible that I looked and sounded like I was being patient –the reality was that I was more likely impatient, which is to say on the outside I was very much looking and sounding patient, but behind the scenes I simply wanted the situation to be over with.

Even as an expectant father I know my patience will truly be tested and I will have to be on-point in how I handle each situation.  Both where it relates to our newborn son as well as my relationship with my wife.  The question is, how do you show you are really being patient as opposed to just waiting for the tide to go back out (especially when on the outside patience and impatience can appear to others as exactly the same thing)?  Marinate.

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