How to be present with your family
How to be present with your family You are about to finish up your day. Going through your routine of getting ready for bed. You just walked the dog, brushed your teeth, used the bathroom one more time. Then you think about those around you that are already asleep. And you wondered where did the day go? It is an all too familiar feeling. We “feel” like we spent time with our family. But did we? Were we present during the time we had together? Then you think about how you spent your entire week. Surely you did things with your family. This feeling is that of being with your family but not really being there with your family. How can I be present with my family? Continue reading to find out how to spend time with your family and not feel distant. Sit down and eat with your family…
Things that dads give up to make their children happy
Things that dads give up to make their children happy Most dads just want to see their children be happy. We sacrifice a big portion of who we are to help keep not only our kids happy, but our spouse happy. Dads drive a minivan instead of a fancy car to make sure everyone can fit in the same vehicle. We sit down and watch a movie with our kids instead of watching the baseball game. Dads have to make tough decisions. We have to keep a delicate balance. Do the things that make us happy or do the things that will make our kids happy. I think most dads do a good job of balancing this because if they don’t it can lead to problems and eventually resentment. Here are some things dads give up to make their children happy. This might not apply to all dads because some…
How to annoy your dad – The ultimate guide
How to annoy your dad – The ultimate guide There are just certain things that annoy your dad. And there are certain things that will outright make your dad furious. As dads, we typically embrace the dad stereotypes. We like to wear white new balance shoes. We like to keep a well-maintained yard. We like to say things like “It’s not the heat that will get you but the humidity”. We are creatures of habit and creatures of comfort. Here is the ultimate guide to annoying your dad. This list is written in jest. While my kids may annoy me with these things I know most of them they don’t do on purpose. But some of these things are downright funny when you think about it. And honestly, there may be things on this list that would annoy anyone. Not just a dad. Leave a light on Leaving lights on.…
Dad’s parenting manual
Dad’s parenting manual There is no manual. You are on your own. Best of luck. Just kidding. Sort of… Parenting is hard. Parenting is frustrating. And there are so many different things that can happen in our life that make each and every situation different. Maybe your kids are on the straight and narrow. They get straight A’s and never have to be told to do something twice. Maybe your kid has a learning disability. And everyday homework is a challenge and a battle. Maybe your kid was struck with a condition that hampers your life and theirs. But there are some common ground parenting tips that can help almost everyone and provide to be useful at some point in their kid’s life. Here are a few of my tips to help you start your own parenting manual. Just remember, throw any of these away if they don’t apply or…
Warner Park Pool at Chattanooga Tennessee
Warner Park Pool at Chattanooga Tennessee Recently I took the family to Chattanooga Tennesee for a quick little micro vacation. While we were visiting the Chattanooga Zoo my kids noticed a pool right next to the zoo. It was a really hot June day so it didn’t surprise me that they would notice a pool and want to go. We didn’t have our swim gear with us that morning so I told them we would try to come back to the pool before the end of our trip. The next day it was late in the afternoon and my youngest son really wanted to check out the pool. I started researching online but the information I was finding was kind of lacking. Google stated it was open 11 – 5. But I had found some Google listings to be highly inaccurate this trip because of staffing shortages. I started digging…
Current River Trail – Echo Bluff State Park
Current River Trail – Echo Bluff State Park My son has been asking to go backpacking with me for over a year now. I had been hesitant because he is fairly young and I had fears that we would get on the trail and he would want to give up on the trip. The opportunity to go backpacking finally came up. We had a weekend planned and we talked at length about potential trails to hike. My son really wanted to hike somewhere close to the Current River so he could fish there and swim. I finally found the Current River Trail at Echo Bluff State Park. At this point, I started researching heavily and sending communications to try and find out more info about the trail and making plans for our trip. Current River Trail at Echo Bluff State Park Details The Current River Trail at Echo Bluff State…
How to do a hiking trip with kids
How to do a hiking trip with kids I love to hike. I love taking in beautiful trails and exploring what nature has to offer. But having kids can change your game plan when you want to go hiking. Here is how I prepare for a hiking trip with kids. Have a kids hiking trip gear checklist Having a checklist for the gear you will need will vary greatly depending on how long the hike is and what type of nature you will encounter. Will you be hiking in the spring/fall or the summer? Will you be hiking a half-mile or 3 miles? Will there be a place to swim in the middle of your hike? All of these factors play into what you need to have and the length of your checklist. Plan ahead at minimum a few days so if you need to run by the store or…
What you can expect when your child gets married
What you can expect when your child gets married My wife and I have been married for over 20 years. We got married at a young age and we had little time to prepare for it. We really didn’t expect our parents to be too involved as we didn’t have a lot of money and we really didn’t want people spending a lot of money on us. Recently my middle son got married. And my oldest is planning to get married this fall. After my middle son’s wedding, I realized there were a lot of things that happened that I wasn’t really expecting. The month leading up to the wedding was hectic and the wedding day had its hiccups. But I think overall it was a great day. And we had lots of fun and good pictures to remember the day. Here are some things you can expect when your…
Words your dad may never tell you
Words your dad may never tell you Dads can be like statues. Quiet, towering, stubborn, and not much to talk to. I realize not all dads are like that but the stigma is that dads are these cold-hearted working machines. I always remember my dad as a very reserved person. He wasn’t quiet. Because once you got him talking he would talk to you for hours and you might wish he would shut up. I find I am the same way. I have seen it put this way about my personality. I’m a watcher and a listener. I will watch you and listen to you very closely. Then I will determine based on your words and actions whether I want to engage with you or not. Typically if I like what I see then you may not get me to shut up. But if I hold back and don’t talk…
How to be a better dad – the road trip
How to be a better dad – the road trip We were an hour into a 5-hour trip. My son had decided to take a nap since we had to leave at 6 in the morning on a Saturday. He woke up and asked how long had he been asleep. Then the conversation took an awesome turn. Son: “I wish we could get there faster” Me: “Well unfortunately we have to drive and there are limits to how fast we can go” Son: “Maybe we could fly” Me: “No there aren’t really any airports close by that would work. We might be able to charter a flight but that would be expensive” This lead to a 10-minute conversation of me trying to explain what “charter” means. Son: “Dad when I grow up I am going to invent a better way to travel” Me: “Oh well what are some of your…