Being a dad is rad!

Fatherhood isn't a chore; it's the best thing that's ever happened to you!

Tag Archives: be the best father you can be


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Document the Radness

This is a page I wish I had started much sooner, and it will be one I’ll add to as time goes on and as we remember past radnesses. Pretty much every parent will tell you to take as many photos and videos as possible, which is of course good advice. But there are even more moments of radness that happen when the camera is nowhere near. I recommend keeping a journal or a blog such as this to document such moments, particularly the amazing things your child says at such a young age. If you don’t, you’re likely to forget, and that’s a shame because your child is going to say some doozies:

“Calah is the best. In fact, I’ve fallen in love with her.”(age 5, when asked what he thinks of our new housecleaner) continue…


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The Imaginary Big Screen

Our family recently moved from a major city that’s sort of known for its smugness and elitism.  In this city, one of the ways you can improve your hipster status is to boycott watching TV.  You’re soooooo cool if you don’t watch TV, and even cooler if you talk about how you’ve used all your extra free time to travel extensively and experience so many different cultures.  I can’t tell you how relieved I was when, in the early stages of dating, my wife asked, “Do you watch The Sopranos?”  I was like “Oh thank god; she watches TV.”

cowbellSo, if it was uncool for an individual to watch TV in this city, you can imagine how infinitely uncool it was for a parent to let their child watch TV.  Though many parents seemed to think it was perfectly acceptable to give their 18-month-old an iPhone to stare at the dizzying array of kids apps so they don’t have to talk to them at the dinner table, it was decidedly frowned upon to let your child watch TV. Going out to movies?  Yes, perfectly cool.  Letting them watch TV or a movie at home?  No, definitely poopooed. continue…


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Breakfast Radness

I am NOT a morning person.  I trip out that after 5 years my son STILL wakes up like a light bulb, fresh and ready to go.  Always happy, always ready to play.  He definitely did not get that from me.  As a child, I remember just drrrraaaaggggging myself out of bed every morning before school.  Then as an adult, it really hit me how much of a night owl I am when my job essentially forced me to be.  My company is based overseas, so it actually behooves me to stay up late because that matches their office hours better.  I love the quiet of the night, and I love sleeping in. continue…


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Don’t Be a Cool Guy

I’m a bit different. I get that. I get sensitive, and I can’t always hide it. I express myself, and not always in the smoothest of ways. I can be a spazz, even when not in the presence of my son. I’m not Fonzie. I’m not one of those quiet, brooding guys who stands stoically off to the side that makes you go, “I wonder what he’s thinking?” I have a propensity to do things outside of the realm of what might be considered “cool”.

I get that. While I get along with pretty much everyone, I do a lot of things that most guys wouldn’t do because it would jeopardize their Coolness Quotient. But if I could give a bit of advice it would be this: don’t be a Cool Guy at the expense of your child. continue…


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Don’t Focus on What You’ve Sacrificed; Focus on What You’ve GAINED

I’m trying to stay away from providing too many personal details on this site, but let’s just say my life before fatherhood was good. I was really, really content. After struggling for several years in office jobs trying to figure out my path, an opportunity to have a career that focused on one of my passions was presented to me. It was kind of sketchy and scary at first, but after a while I realized I could do this as a career, from home, with a flexible schedule. It was/is still a lot of work, but I found that I get so much more work done when I’m motivated to do it, and I quickly excelled in this position. I don’t make a ton of money, but who cares as long as it’s enough and you love what you’re doing, right? continue…


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The Best Piece of Advice I Ever Got

The best piece of advice I ever got is extremely simple, yet at times extremely hard to follow: never wish for that “next stage”.  When talking with other dads, I constantly hear things like, “I just can’t wait until she walks.”, or, “I just can’t wait until he can throw a ball with me.”  Believe me, your children will get there sooner than you think, and suddenly you’ll be thinking, “Where did all that time go??” I was so fortunate to get this bit of advice before my son was born, and I’ve tried to keep it in mind at all times, particularly when I get tired or frustrated. continue…