infographic

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Infographic: What You Need To Know About Dads And Happiness

June 10, 2014 at 11:52 pm , by

3 years, 6 months.

Dear Jack,

For me, this was a weird day. I had to leave early this morning for a business trip in Kentucky.

So instead of taking you to and from school, I was across the state line. By the time I got home, you were already asleep.

My only interaction with you was saying goodbye to you at the front door.

While that may not seem like such a big deal, it is for me.

Today just felt wrong without you.

I feel kind of sad. I feel kind of wrong. I mean, I had to go for work- so I did what I was supposed to.

And I know I’ll see you in a few hours when we both wake up. But seriously, not seeing you for a day is just plain odd.

My day went great. It was very productive. I got a whole lot done. But I was aware the whole time that something was missing- it was you.

Since you’re only 3 and a half and are obviously way too young for a cell phone, it’s not like I could text you to say I miss you or even call you to a donkey noise to make you laugh.

So I settled for Mommy promising me that she would tell you good night from me as she put you to bed.

It only makes sense that if research shows that kids make men happy, as the infographic below explains, that I would be less happy when I’m not around you for a day.

I believe it. I have been psychologically conditioned to associate feeling happy and fulfilled with having interaction with you.

Without that, I’m like an actor on stage who suddenly forgot his lines. I’m staring into the blinding spotlight, trying to find you in the audience.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

Infographic courtesy of Happify:

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I Guess I’m Supposed To Hate Common Core…

May 17, 2014 at 11:33 am , by

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New Infographic: Under Construction- The Ins And Outs Of Today’s Heavy Equipment Vehicles

May 9, 2014 at 10:15 pm , by

3 years, 5 months.

Dear Jack,

For the past several weeks on the drive home, I found a lesser discoverd route by driving through connected neighborhoods.

You named it “the new Daddy way.”

Even though we take that way home every day now, you still ask for it by name each time we hop in the car.

Part of the need for this new way home is the congestion on our former route, as Concord Road is being destroyed and people’s front lawns are being taken away…

I mean… the road is being widened to accommodate the traffic which we’re a part of.

But today, I drove home the construction site way because I thought there was an $8 sale going on at Great Clips. (I was wrong; it ended yesterday. Womp-womp.)

It had been nearly a month since you got to see the new version of that old familiar road.

You screamed out from the back seat today:

“Hey Daddy, it’s the white crane! He’s back!”

That’s right. To you, the giant crane is a he. Like a dinosaur.

It’s such a majestic sight to see all that construction equipment.

You sat in awe in the back seat.

I guess it’s not everyday you get to see such monstrous machines so close up.

It’s like cheap entertainment. (Well, actually, it’s our tax dollars affording that entertainment. Right?)

I found this infograph which shows the weight, horsepower, and average used price of several pieces of staple construction equipment.

For example, if we wanted to save up our money as a family, we might eventually (!) be able to buy a good bulldozer, for example, for about a half million dollars.

That would definitely make us the coolest family on the block!

But until we can put a solid down payment on one, you can just appreciate the “free” entertainment from the 2nd row seat.

 

Love,

Daddy

construction equipment infographic

 

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What Scientifically Makes Kids Happy, Part 3: Love From Dad

March 21, 2014 at 9:11 pm , by 

3 years, 4 months.

Continued from Part 1: Optimism and Part 2: Less TV Time.

Dear Jack,

In the past two letters, I shared with you what makes kids happy, from a scientific viewpoint. I’ve really enjoyed learning about this stuff.

Today’s letter is obviously particularly relevant to you and me.

I will admit, if this information weren’t scientifically backed up, what I am about to say might sound totally biased, but I read all about it an article inLiveScience, as well as seeing it referenced in “The Science Of Raising Happy Kids” infographic at the bottom of this page:

“Feeling loved by dad was even more important for kids’ wellbeing, happiness, and life satisfaction than feeling loved by Mom.

The most effective dads listen to their kids, have a close relationship with them, set appropriate rules, and give freedom when it makes sense.”

Maybe I’m alone here on this, but there are certain days when I feel like I don’t really matter so much; that I’m a chauffer and a dishwasher… like I’m a stage hand.

Your emotional attachment to Mommy is so obvious. As for your emotional attachment to me, the dad… not quite as obvious.

For most of my life I had functioned in a way that I needed confirmation that I was doing things right in order to feel confident.

However, I’m past that point in my life. That started changing about the time I got a real job… but even more so once I became your daddy.

But obviously, it’s still encouraging to learn that you feeling loved by me is an important of your wellbeing, happiness and life satisfaction.

It helps me to be more positive of a person, which is something I’m working on, to know that the things I already do (listen to you, have a close relationship with you, set appropriate rules, and give you freedom when it makes sense) are actually paying off.

Hey, I won’t argue with science.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

Infographic featured courtesy of Happify:

Read the entire What Makes Kids Scientifically Happy series:

 Part 1: Optimism

 Part 2: Less TV Time

Part 3: Love From Dad

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What Scientifically Makes Kids Happy, Part 2: Less TV Time

March 19, 2014 at 11:01 pm , by 

3 years, 4 months.

Continued from Part 1: Optimism.

Dear Jack,

Every parent has their own set of subconscious rules that they personally are sensitive to, while other parents may not be as concerned.

Something in particular that I personally am very strict about is your TV time.

My stance was always that I didn’t want you really watching any TV until you were 2 years old, as I believe it interferes with personality development and attention span.

However, you’ve been older than 2 for nearly a year and a half now…

I actually enjoy the fact you are now old enough to legitimately watch TV, per my blessings.

However, I didn’t know what the official cut-off point should be. I just knew it bothered me for the TV to be on in the background all day (because I believe the studies that show that excessive TV time is linked to lowering a child’s IQ), and/or for you to watch more than one movie on the same day.

Well, now, thanks to a recent study from the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, in Barcelona; the “official cut-off point” is 90 minutes a day of TV:

“For the study, Marinelli’s team questioned parents of slightly more than 1,700 preschool and school-aged children about the time their kids spent watching TV and sleeping (including napping) each day. The preschoolers were 2 and 4 years old at the study’s start, the others were 6 and 9.

The researchers found that children who watched TV for 1.5 hours or more a day slept less than kids with less TV time. And as viewing time increased to more than 1.5 hours a day, sleep declined even more.”

More than 90 minutes of TV equals less quality sleep time. I buy into it.

For me, this “90 minute rule” is something I plan on taking seriously from here on out.

The studies featured in the infographic ”The Science Of Raising Happy Kids” point to this concept as well, claiming that teens show higher signs of depression for every extra hour of TV they watch.

In essence, your sense of well-being is and will be affected by how much TV that I let you watch each day.

The biggest temptation is on the weekends. It’s easy a lot of the times to have the TV on in the midst of all that we have to get done.

We really do try to get you outdoors as long as weather permits- but when we don’t… Netflix always has something you’ll like.

(I wonder if anyone else besides our family has memorized the theme song ofTrotro?)

But again, I like the “90 Minute Rule.” It keeps things simple for me. I like having structure like that.

With being your dad, I don’t exactly have a set of rules to go by. This helps.

 

Love,

Daddy

 

Infographic featured courtesy of Happify:

Read the entire What Makes Kids Scientifically Happy series:

 Part 1: Optimism

 Part 2: Less TV Time

Part 3: Love From Dad