Shocking truths we don’t tell our kids about adulting
Things that are shocking for our kids when they become adults Becoming an adult. Leaving the nest. Moving out on your own. It is never an easy transition. Going from having most or all of your needs met by your parents to taking care of yourself and providing for yourself. I have two boys that are getting married this year. One has been on his own and graduated from college for a while now, the other just turned 18 and will take the jump straight from being under mom and dad’s care to being an adult. I try to prepare my kids for being adults. I feel like I fail on so many levels because of the phone calls I get on how do you do these simple tasks. They seem like simple tasks to me because I have done them over and over. The more I think about it…
Why I love working remotely
What I love about working remotely Like a lot of people when the pandemic hit in 2020 we were forced to leave the office and work remotely from our homes. This wasn’t my first time working remotely. Before I moved to Kentucky I worked remotely until my kids could finish up their school year and we could secure a new house. Now that things seem to possibly be winding down two things are happening. Some companies are forcing their employees back into the office. And some are realizing that working remotely is going well and allowing them to stay remote, even if on a part-time basis. The first time I worked remotely there were some things that frustrated me. One was the lack of decent high-speed internet at the house during that time. Also, there really wasn’t a space I could go and be away from my family when I…
Being prepared for camping in the rain
Being prepared for camping in the rain When I think of my ideal camping trip it usually doesn’t involve rain. I think of sunny skies and warm (but not hot) weather during the day and cool crisp nights. When the weather cooperates it makes my camping experience so much more enjoyable. But when it rains it makes me just not want to camp at all. Sometimes you plan your camping trip weeks in advance and you have no control over the weather during the time you are going to camp. How do you deal with the rain? Recently we camped out with the scouts and it rained on us for about 12 hours straight. The day felt like it was never going to end (at the least the rain didn’t feel like it would end). A lot of people that were camping with us ended up with water in their…
11 incredible items that have made parenting so much easier for me
11 incredible items that have made parenting so much easier for me Throughout the years of being a parent, I find items at the store that just make my life so much easier. When I find these things I wonder “Where was this when my older boys were younger?”. Sometimes the answer is they either were not invented yet or maybe I just wasn’t in the right spot at the right time to find them. But all of these things if I had to start over again would be some of the first things I would go out and buy. Glow in the dark pacifiers I found one of the greatest things that saved my sanity multiple nights was having a glow-in-the-dark pacifier. I had my doubts that they would last long enough through the night to be effective. But when it is 3 in the morning and you have…
I asked thousands of dads for parenting advice, here is what they said
I asked thousands of dads for parenting advice, here is what they said: You can read books or you can read internet articles but the best parenting advice comes from those that are in it every day. Parenting can be demanding and exhausting so why do we try to do it on our own? I am a member of several dad groups and I asked the question: “What is the best parenting advice?”. Several of the dads had some good solid advice that overlapped and I would like to share some of the best advice I saw across the responses I received. Be there and be the example This is something I always try to do with my kids. I make an extra effort to be there for them and be the example. Sometimes I might be a bad example and get scolded by my wife. But I try my…
Our Top 5 Vacation Spots
Our Top 5 Vacation Spots Every summer we go on a few vacations. We try to pick new places but the kids always want to return to some of their favorite vacation spots. Our family looks for the following qualities in a vacation spot: Something unique about the location A zoo or aquarium is usually a requirement Outdoor activities Indoor activities to beat the heat of summer Theme park with roller coasters is a plus Wisconsin Dells Wisconsin Dells located in Wisconsin is located not too far from Chicago and has been dubbed the indoor water park capital of the world. And let’s just say there is no shortage of indoor water park resorts in this town. Most likely because of its northern location and cooler months the indoor water parks are a bit of a necessity. But our family doesn’t go for the indoor water parks alone. The Wisconsin…
What to do with 5 minutes as a dad
What to do with 5 minutes as a dad 5 minutes. That doesn’t seem like a lot of time. But as a parent, you probably know that sometimes this is all the time you have to do something. Or maybe you are a procrastinator? I am. I am a huge procrastinator. I will put things off until the last minute and then rush to complete whatever it is I needed to do. I did it in school. I do it at work. I do it with my kids. So how do we solve this? What do 5 minutes have to do with procrastination? There is a cognitive behavioral therapy technique called the 5-minute rule. You set a goal for whatever you have been procrastinating about but only do it for 5 minutes. But how am I supposed to get anything done in 5 minutes? That’s the point. You might not…
Why you should take your kids camping
Why you should take your kids camping Camping. Getting outside, in the fresh air, and being one with nature. Sleeping under the stars either in a tent or just throwing up a hammock between two trees. For most of the country, spring is already upon us. Warmer temperatures and longer days make everyone want to get outside. And it makes me want to take my kids camping. Camping with kids can seem like a daunting task. All the bugs, and snakes, and poisonous plants make it seem like a horrible idea to take your kids camping. But I am here to tell you that camping with your kids can not only be a fun activity but a great growth opportunity for your kids. Here is a full list of reasons you should take your kids camping. You are showing your kids they don’t need a fancy hotel or condo to…
My favorite parenting memes
My favorite parenting memes Memes. We love them. And we hate them. Sometimes they make us cringe and other times we laugh so hard at inappropriate times when someone sends us one. So I thought I would share a few of my favorite parenting memes and explain why they are so funny. Although if you are a parent you probably already understand why they are funny. My kids are hungry all the time. And even if they say they are not hungry. They eat anyways. When my kids are at home during the day I catch them all day long trying to eat 2 or 3 times in between meals. It’s any wonder I even have food left in the house at the end of the week. And speaking of being hungry Dad jokes are my thing. I love hitting my kids with a good dad joke. So when they…
Don’t give up dad – advice for struggling fathers
Advice for struggling fathers I’ve seen it before. I’ve been there before. At the end of your wits and ready to throw in the towel on being a dad. Parenting sucks sometimes. You love these little creatures and then they rebel or worse yet they leave you and want nothing to do with you. That feeling of, “What am I doing?”, creeps in and makes you question everything you know. But don’t give in. Don’t give up. These little ones need you. They may not show it. They may actually be rejecting you. But they need you. I can’t promise it won’t get better right away. But if you stick around, it will be worth it. Here are some of my tips to help you get through the tough times. And some of these are tips that I need to remind myself. Get Help Number one piece of advice for…