Be an active part of your child's life...

In many ways, the role of parent over the past few decades hasn't changed at all. Provide, teach, love, etc.

What has changed is the environment and cyber environment we live in. There are so many negative external factors that influence the youth of today. This just means that as "First Dad", we need to be involved as much as possible.

Whether it is showing your son how to eat a popsicle without dropping it, or showing him his first lady bug. We have to be active with our children and expose them to as many experiences as possible. Don't let all of the day to day clutter and distractions get in the way.

I look back to my childhood and still remember things I used to do that I'm sure made me the person I am today. Here is some more food for thought:

http://www.fathers.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=109

What type of father will you be?

First Dad

Our new first lady is being applauded for becoming "First Mom." In this roll, she plans to shed light on issues effecting moms, particularly military moms, as well as working moms. I think it's a great perspective to bring to America because parenting is hard - especially in a struggling economy where parents are working harder to give their children a better life. I wonder if Hillary Clinton had become our President, if Bill Clinton would have become "First Dad." I recognize Chelsea is older now, but I wonder if we can think about a time when we have a First Dad. Someone who can teach dads how to put on a diaper. Someone to make a schedule of things a dad can do with baby - especially when baby barely moves or says anything. A timeline so that dads know when to feed the baby. I realize moms bear the brunt of raising kids, but parenting is new for dads, too. I am a dad who actively engages my child. Who looks forward to weekends when all I have to worry about is whether or not I'll take my son to the park or to the zoo.

After a large learning curve, I feel somewhat like a "First Dad" and wonder when there will be someone to stand up for us, too.

How do you like them apples...

So, I took my two year old to Bristol Farms, a local grocery store, a couple days ago to get a few things. We started off by going to the meat counter and he helped me order a pound of turkey and a third of a pound of salami (both of which he loves to eat). Next, we both walked to the fruit section to get some grapes and honey crisp apples.

For those of you that have never been to Bristol Farms, it is the type of grocery store that prides itself on having pristine displays of their products. He was in a pretty good mood and was saying random things as we were walking, like "Happy Holidays" and "People walking around". He was standing in front of the apple section as I walked off to get a plastic bag. He was facing a giant wall of apples and decided to pick one that was second from the bottom. Luckily nothing fell. So, thinking we were safe, I proceeded to pick some apples from the top of the bunch and all of a sudden about 20 apples came toppling down like dominoes to the ground. At this point, my son had left the scene of the crime, leaving me to pick up all the apples off the floor and put them back. Since my son is only 23 months old, I ran to get him and brought him back to the scene of the crime and continued to frantically pick them up. I finally picked them up and realized that I had not selected my apples. I tried carefully to pick just a few, but more apples toppled to the ground.

Witnessing my ordeal, but not having my son's sabotage, some smart-aleck lady jokingly said, "You didn't try to pick one from the bottom did you?" I tried to be quick on my feet and I told her that they were booby trapped. I finally got my apples and proceeded to the grapes. The sweet revenge was when the same lady tried to get some apples, the rest of what was left of the display fell to the ground. I looked over and laughed.