Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, Storytelling

When I Was 2 Years, 9 Months Old, I Became A Brother

August 16, 2013 at 11:21 pm , by 

Leave a comment Posted on Nostalgia, parenting

Tattoos Of Memories And Dead Skin On Trial

August 15, 2013 at 8:44 pm , by 

2 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

When I picked you up from school today, you had a giant sticker on your arm, like a sleeve tattoo.

You were pretty proud of it.

I asked you what the sticker said. Your reply:

“Pig! Pig! Pig!”

Evidently you were convinced that pink kitty was actually a pink pig.

I let you believe it.

Somewhat related was the little sticker on your chest of an open can of tuna fish.

When I asked you what that was about, you explained to me:

“I think it’s for the cow… he drinks it, maybe?”

There’s actually a pretty good chance that neither you nor I will ever really know why you came home with those extremely random stickers today.

(I’ll probably forget to ask your teacher tomorrow.)

But not so randomly, the event reminded me of what I consider to be one of the best songs ever written: “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” by Green Day.

It came out half my life ago, when I was only 16.

Here’s an excerpt of it:

“So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time.
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while.”

My interpretation of the song is that it’s important to appreciate the mundane, seemingly pointless, average days; as they serve as a bookmark to life… to the good ole days.

That we should do our best to capture these somewhat weird memories as they happen. And that we should also hold our current selves accountable to our former selves, in an attempt to apply what we learn from life.

(“Dead skin ” is a reference to the fact our bodies’ cells constantly are regenerating themselves.”)

So while certain days may seem like the most forgettable ever, I’ve learned that when you’re looking for it, there’s always something that made that day different than any other day you’ve ever lived.

For example, I’m sure nothing else amazing or interesting happened today in my life.

But you came home with these goofy, ridiculous stickers on you. And just by me capturing that fact in history, this seemingly mundane day stands out.

Honestly, had I not mentioned this event to you today, and made an effort to snap a few quick pictures of it, essentially it would be the same as if it never happened.

But it did.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

 

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, reviews

Pick 2: Love. Happiness. Kids.

August 15, 2013 at 8:38 pm , by 

2 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

This weekend Mommy and I watched a well-acted, well-produced movie on Netflix calledFriends With Kids.

It definitely more than earned its “R” rating.However, I still managed to appreciate and analyze the plot line and concept of the movie:

What if two people who were not at all in love decided to have a baby so they “wouldn’t have to deal with the complicated problem of combining romantic love, personal happiness,and kids?”

What if the dad and mom were “best friends with a kid,” but somehow with no emotional baggage and were free to go on with their lives with no commitment to each other other than their child?

In essence, the main characters of the movie (played by Adam Scott and Jennifer Westfeldt) start out their experiment (with human life!) by saying that you can’t really have romantic love and personal happiness and still have kids.

Or kids and personal happiness and still be in love with the child’s parent.

Or kids and romantic love with the child’s parent and still personally be happy.

Obviously, I don’t agree with with those sentiments, but I completely understand what they’re getting at.

Those three things (love, happiness, and kids) are a challenging combo to balance.

As I’ve been writing to you about a lot here recently, I’m realizing that the least of these three is my personal happiness.

I talked about in “To Be More Like Clark Griswold On Our Family Vacations” how so much of what I let bother me is actually rooted in fear that I won’t get my way or be happy.

It’s true.

So for me, here’s the takeaway from the movie. It helped remind me that by default, parents are forced to prioritize love, happiness, and kids.

I choose love and kids, then.. my own happiness. (Or in my case, just one kid… for now.)

That’s not at all to say I’m not happy, because I’m very content and thankful for my life. But if I don’t put you and Mommy before myself, I’m not truly going to be happy anyway.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

Leave a comment Posted on parenting, Spirituality

The Day I Plan To Retire From Daddy Blogging

August 12, 2013 at 12:15 am , by 

2 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

When I decided to become the first daddy blogger in history to write at least once every week about his kid, starting from the day he went public with the info of the pregnancy, I didn’t consider at what point it would finally come to an end.

And now, over three years into doing this on a nearly daily basis, I plan to set and hold the world record for “Longest Running And Most Consistent Daddy Blog Ever.”

Why?

By default. I simply can’t imagine not writing to you nearly every day.

My entire existence as a father been documented for the world (and for you and me, as father and son) to see-since April 13, 2010 at 6:40 PM.

But this daddy blog of mine technically isn’t about you… or me.

Actually, it’s more about the love of a father for his son. It’s a documentation of the mutual respect in that relationship, both individually and mutually.

I want to know what that looks like on paper… or a computer screen… or a smart phone. I want to share whatever that message is with anyone who is as curious as I am about it.

Perhaps I should make it seem like I plan my letters to you weeks in advance. I don’t.

Most days, I only figure out what I’m going to write about earlier that day. That’s part of the thrill and the motivation for me: There’s always something intriguing to write about, concerning you. It’s fun to assess what’s really going on with us. I like figuring out what the plot line for that day is.

The funny thing is, too, I actually regret many of the blog posts I’ve written over the past three years. To be too honest, I am actually pretty ashamed of several of them.

It’s only because I can see how being a father has forced me to mature in my words and attitude. It’s forced me to major in humility and grace.

Last week I saw a comic book clip from The Joyful Noiseletter by Doc Goodwin on somebody’s Facebook wall, where a little boy prays, “God, make me like my daddy- big and strong and smart.”

The father then goes to his own bedroom and prays, “Lord, make me like my child- obedient, faithful, and trusting.”

Just like us: We learn from each other. That’s beautiful.

But as for The Dadabase, it’s a dangerous, humbling, and vulnerable thing to broadcast our story of father and son across the Internet for the whole world to see.

What if I make myself seem like I don’t know what I’m talking about?

What if I change my mind about how I perceive things, compared to a few months ago?

What if I embarrass myself by something I say?

I already have. At least once every two months- in my mind, if nothing else.

And I’ve learned to embrace those moments. I’ve learned the importance of finding value in the fact that without that necessary growth as a human being, I wouldn’t be experiencing fatherhood.

So, no- I honestly have no plans of retiring from daddy blogging. Ever.

Even when you’re an adult. As long as I am your dad, I plan to keep you informed of what life is like… this sideof Jack.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

P.S. This is my 755th daddy blog post- in case you’re curious.

Leave a comment Posted on Health, parenting

To Be One Of Those Cool “Half Marathon Parents”

August 11, 2013 at 12:13 am , by 

2 years, 8 months.

Dear Jack,

Now that on Facebook I’ve stopped engaging myself in conversations or debates involving anything political, religious, or regarding a plant-based lifestyle, or curing cancer through Gerson Therapy…

Or being sarcastic and therefore confusing people, or posting phony status updates meant to mock the desperate cries for attention and pity that are so abundant, well… Facebook just isn’t that entertaining to me anymore.

And I think Facebook is a better place now, without me playing that role. These days all I do on it is just publish my letters to you and “like” peoples’ pictures.

That’s it.

So basically, I’m only on Facebook for 5 minutes a day, looking at my friends’ pictures to learn if anyone is having a baby or just went on a trip.

Or, by default, seeing pictures of them running in a half marathon.

Through that process, I’ve realized the nirvana I wish to achieve on Facebook:

To be one of those cool parents who runs half marathons and otherwise leaves the general public guessing on their personal opinions and lifestyles.

To be someone who Facebook friends ultimately only know through pictures with no captions.

I admire those people. I think they are cool. I wouldn’t mind being a little mysterious… (As if this helps!)

Lucky for me, today is Mommy’s birthday! (She and I are the exact same age for 9 months of the year; and that 9 months begins today.)

So yesterday, the three of us went to Fleet Feet so Mommy could try on some new running shoes, with the advice and direction of an expert. After all, she and I have had our old running shoes since before we were married over 5 years ago.

And for the past couple of years, she’s been telling me she wants to run in a half marathon.

Though I’ve always encouraged her to do so, there evidently was something motivating about this birthday that caused her to decide to take the plunge… by actually buying the official, right shoes for it.

So as Mommy was picking out her shoes, I turned aside to her quickly as the sales associate was checking the back of the store for a different size shoe for her:

“Hey, should I get shoes too, and join you in that half marathon?” I asked.

The rest is history. It seems like only yesterday… oh wait, it was.

Mommy is now the proud new owner of a pair of New Balance’s- and for me, a pair of Mizuno’s.

This is a pretty big deal for us. Mommy and I get to have a hobby! We get to be somewhat of experts on a thing.

Even if it’s simply running for a sort of long distance in a race we’re not actually trying to win.

In the process of buying these new shoes and doing YouTube searches on running a half marathon, I am now quickly becoming familiar with “front foot running.”(When you run in place, you put your weight on the front of your foot, not your heel. “Front foot running” is using the running-in-place model to move forward, to keep from permanently damaging your joints.)

I have to admit, I’m starting to feel pretty cool all of the sudden… on my way to be one of those half marathon parents!

Not that Mommy needs a new hobby to be cool. She’s way cool. And way beautiful.

Not to mention, she’s so sincere and giving of a person. You and I are so blessed to have her in our family of three. But you already know that.

 

Love,

Daddy