Who doesn’t like attention? The problem is that we as parents pay much more attention to our kids when they behave badly than when they are good. In episode 109 we look at the different kinds of attention and what to do about it. The reality is that our children misbehaving is OUR FAULT. There are 3 kinds of Attention: Positive Attention – This can be affection, praise. We typically do this when they are well behaved. We give them approval. Negative Attention – Giving them attention when the mis...
Apr 04, 2017•23 min
For Episode 108, we wanted to help dads with getting in shape and being healthy. We brought in Fitness Professional Max Wettstein to discuss some tips on how to stay in shape, eat well, and overall live a healthy lifestyle. Here are some accomplishments of Max: - Max is an airline pilot & Captain at JetBlue Airways. - He is a Fitness Professional - He's been on the cover of Men's Health magazine & other fitness mags over 25 times, - He's been a consultant to a major supplement company (N...
Mar 29, 2017•48 min
Who doesn’t like banking some extra points? While they may go fast, extra points are good karma. There are tons of lists and ideas out there. I have compiled some of my favorites for this episode 107. Here are some easy and inexpensive ways to do things for your woman: 1) Buy her flowers – doesn’t need to be roses or expensive. You don’t need to go to a fancy flower shop either. I know near us, you can get a small bouquet for $7-10 at a grocery store. There are all kinds of options. Bring them h...
Mar 21, 2017•19 min
Who doesn’t like a good birthday party? Well even though we like them, we need to stop with having parties for babies and toddlers. There is simply no solid reasons for having these parties. I’m not talking about acknowledging your child and doing something with the family. Have a special meal, buy them a small cake, whatever. I’m talking about putting together a birthday party. There are a bunch of reasons that people would provide, but I find none of them valid! For this Episode 106, we offer ...
Mar 14, 2017•16 min
The topic of punishment is a hot topic of debate for parents. In this Episode 105 we explore punishment and whether it is good or bad. We had our own debate in Episode 33 where we talked about punishment. This topic has come up more and more with the dads I talk to and recently in some additional parenting classes I am attending. I can here it now…”When I threaten or do take away my son’s video games, he behaves. Well, I bet he does. It seems quite difficult for people to accept the idea that pu...
Mar 07, 2017•40 min
While learning how to avoid tantrums is a skill in itself, there are going to be times when they are simply unavoidable. Here is my disclaimer: We are not doctors, nor do we have a license to provide advice. This is solely for entertainment purposes. Use any of these techniques at your own risk. We can’t be responsible for what happens during the tantrum or to your child later in life because of the way you handled the tantrums. This Episode 104 offers 9 ways to diffuse a tantrum: 1. Avoidance –...
Feb 28, 2017•21 min
We have an epidemic on our hands. It’s a disease that has been in our society for a long time. It seems impossible to get rid of and looks like it might be here to stay. I’m talking about SWEARING or CURSING. Today’s topic for Episode 103 is “How to Handle Your Kid Cursing – Your Guide To Minimizing Swearing“ Was it always this bad? Did our parents talk like this? Where did we (and our kids) learn to talk like this? 1) From Us – The way we talk. How many of us have had a word come out of our mou...
Feb 21, 2017•28 min
“All negative emotions, especially anger, depend on your ability to blame someone or something else for something in your life you are unhappy about” – Brian Tracy (famous motivational speaker) We allow others to effect our emotions. Think of some of the phrases we have heard since we were little and we still pass along to our own kids: – Don’t say that. It hurts his feelings – The way you are acting is making me really upset. – That hurt my feelings – I can’t believe what she just did. That mak...
Feb 14, 2017•23 min
For episode 101, Jason’s father Steve joins in on the podcast to discuss 12 reasons why grandfathers are better than fathers. This list assumes the grandparents on not the primary caretaker of the child nor do they take care of them very regularly. The list is really about the grandparents that get to see their grandkids ever so often. 1) They get to feed them sugar and treats and not feel guilty about it. You also can include fast food on this one. Grandparents don’t care if the kids eat some b...
Feb 07, 2017•21 min
We are celebrating our 100th episiode. I wanted to celebrate the occasion by bringing in my dad, Steve. Even if just for selfish reasons to be able to document this conversation, I think the listeners will gain some valuable insight. I wanted to get the perspective of fatherhood from the previous generation and gather some insight from someone who has now been through the full life cycle of being a dad. He is the father of 3 and the grandfather of 8.…
Jan 31, 2017•52 min
In this episode 99, we provide tips and techniques on how to teach our children respect. Respect is very close to manners. It’s essential we teach our kids respect for people, places, things, and themselves. Here are some tips: Create house/family rules – Agree on how you want to handle these kind of situations with your wife. It’s important to be on the same page. Make a chart of family rules: for example – “be nice to each other” “talk with a calm voice” Include the child in the process. Set r...
Jan 24, 2017•21 min
I don’t care whether you have a boy or girl, we as dads should be teaching our kids the following. These are in no particular order or have an age requirement. Just get out there and do it: 1. Ride a bike 2. Light a match 3. Light a barbeque (both gas and charcoal) 4. Setup and light a campfire 5. Tie a knot 6. Use a hammer 7. Use a screwdriver 8. Setup a tent for camping 9. Change a tire 10. Iron a shirt 11. Bait a fishing line 12. Coil a rope, hose, extension cord 13. Use a knife for carving 1...
Jan 18, 2017•28 min
Kids live in the moment. Cleaning takes them away from the moment of fun they could be having. We don’t cover “chores” or giving kids money for doing things they are supposed to do. Many parents get so frustrated with the topic, they just end up doing everything themselves. The reality is that kids are way more capable than we give them credit for. It is also up to us to teach them how to clean up after themselves and take care of things. We suggest establishing some overall cleaning ideas and r...
Jan 10, 2017•32 min
I am not sure how it evolved, I’m sure the product of my childhood, but I grew up thinking everything was supposed to be perfect. If it wasn’t, then something is wrong. Still as an adult, I struggle with this. I must be a perfect husband. I have to be a perfect father, etc. While striving for positivity and growth is good, it can also be a no-win situation. If you don’t have self-acceptance, you are screwed. I also fellt like those around me should be perfect as well. When we create these kind o...
Jan 03, 2017•23 min
Last year we offered resolutions for dads relating to their kids. This time we are offering dads resolutions to implement in their marriage. 1) Go out on dates 2) Give her compliments – not just physical 3) Tell her why you appreciate her – “I really appreciate you making dinner. I know it’s a lot of work” 4) Offer empathy – try to put yourself in her shoes 5) Listen instead of talking 6) Do not criticize her – If you have an issue, say what you do like rather than what you don’t 7) Create techn...
Dec 28, 2016•17 min
When you look back at the holidays, what do you remember most? Do you remember the gifts? Do you remember a location you were at or something you did? You remember the celebrations, the activities you did, the people you were around. You create memories. I think I might be able to remember a couple of gits out of all of the years of holidays. And my parents were really generous. The holidays are typically the time of year when people do spend time together – even when they don’t want to. sometim...
Dec 20, 2016•22 min
For episode 93, we offer 55 Tips For New Dads. You don’t have to go on this journey without information. Study these tips and be prepared for the road ahead of you. 1. Get sleep when you can 2. Talk about expectations before the baby arrives – expectations for the baby and each other 3. Buy butt paste for the baby – Use it at every changing 4. Put your baby at an angle, not flat….while sleeping, resting, eating 5. You may have trouble bonding with the baby for a while…could be months. 6. Go on d...
Dec 14, 2016•36 min
One of the items in the last episode about fighting depression with gratitude was to switch a negative thought you might have into a positive. I wanted to broaden this concept and apply it to our kids for this episode 92. It is really important for our children to hear what they are doing right. Focus on the good things your child does, not the things they aren’t doing. For most of my career, my job was to find the mistakes that companies are making in their online marketing or business operatio...
Dec 06, 2016•17 min
Let’s face it, as a dad (or any human for that matter) you have good days and bad days. For those that seem to have more bad days than good, this episode is for you. Now I am not a doctor so I am not providing medical advice. This may not be the answer for someone with severe depression or a serious illness. For that you will want to seek mental attention. What I am proposing is a way to get you out of your funk. We talked about teaching our children gratitude in episode 80. The most important w...
Nov 29, 2016•22 min
The last episode asked the women to take action. With Episode 90 we are now back to our regular scheduled programming and working on dads and what we can do. 14 Ways to Help Your Wife After The Child is Born 1. Have a meeting and divide the labor. Agree on who is doing what. 2. When you get home from work, immediately take the baby from her hands 3. Bring her flowers and tell her they are for being an amazing mom. Include a card. 4. Hire someone to clean the house. If you can’t afford it, you cl...
Nov 22, 2016•17 min
We have talked about how men can be more supportive to their spouse during and after pregnancy. What if he is not doing it? What is they the guy is clueless? A pain point with women is they often feel their men aren’t involved enough. As men, we might not even know what to do. I don’t think it’s often a conscious choice. However, the last thing on a woman’s mind when she is breastfeeding a 3 month old, is that she should cater to the guy’s needs. But is she wants him to be more involved and take...
Nov 16, 2016•25 min
In episode 88 we are joined by Jim, father of a special needs child TJ. His son is now 22 years old and he talks about the learning experiences he had, the impact his child has had on him, and suggestions on important actions to take when you child has special needs. While his son had learning disabilities and his motor skills are slower, Jim put forth tremendous effort for his son to have a “normal” life. Here are 5 Tips on Raising a Special Needs Child: 1. Have patience – If you want someone t...
Nov 08, 2016•38 min
We complain to get things “off our chest” not to resolve problems of fix things. This makes our complaints worthless. For example, we often complain about people: whether it is co-workers, spouse, or even our kids. However the complaining typically isn’t even to the people or person that can effect the outcome. We complain about traffic, food, friends, customer service, etc. How often are our complaints really reaching someone who can help fix it? If you are out to dinner with your spouse and yo...
Nov 01, 2016•23 min
Children look to their parents as examples. When parents don’t participate, the kids see this and may copy the behavior…choosing not to participate in things. I was talking to someone recently and they said they always thought there parents were boring because they never dressed up for Halloween or other holidays. While you may accept being boring, the are benefits to parents having fun with their kids: builds a family identity creates confidence in the children strengthens internal bonds can cr...
Oct 25, 2016•26 min
Why Do Kids Lie? You can’t take it personally or feel that you have failed as a parent. Kids are going to lie and try to push boundaries. It’s totally normal for them to lie. Whether they want attention or want to avoid something bad they all do it. The reasons they lie varies based on age. Toddlers and Preschoolers (Ages 2 to 4) They don’t yet understand where truth begins and ends. Reality is a little unclear School-Age and Big Kids (Ages 5 to 8) Often lie about school, classes, homework, teac...
Oct 18, 2016•24 min
In episode 84 we explore the 4 styles of parenting: authoritarian, permissive, neglectful, and authoritative. We examine how to recognize each style and how each style effects the child. 1) Authoritarian Parenting – strict, rely on obedience. Structure. Rules and structure are good but typically authoritarian’s take it too far. How to recognize Authoritarian parenting? – Do you use punishment to get your kids to do something you ask? – Not alot of being warm and fuzzy toward the child – Do you h...
Oct 12, 2016•25 min
This is a Public service announcement for women. Please pass this podcast along to every woman you know. Women, let dads parent their own kids! If they aren’t asking for help, don’t help them. I share a story of my daughter being upset before school last year. She had misplaced or lost something she needed before school and was crying. I was using my parenting techniques, offering empathy, kneeling down to help, and listening to what was wrong. I got this! A mom who knows my daughter comes over ...
Oct 05, 2016•20 min
Dr. Bill and Martha Sears wrote an article on 20 ways to deal with sibling rivalry. We touch on these tips and discuss their meaning and how we can incorporate them into our lives. 1. Make friends before birth 2. Make the older sibling feel important 3. Time share 4. Stay Positive 5. Begin the day in harmony 6. Raise sensitive siblings: in charge, comforter, minister, teacher, co-workers, co-sleepers, entertainer 7. Set Limits – no disturbing the peace 8. Hold family meetings 9. Humor is the bes...
Sep 27, 2016•34 min
When you have a baby, your primary focus is getting the baby to sleep through the night. When you have a toddlers, they love to keep coming out of their room, they need 400 stuffed animals, their bed needs to be perfect, etc. For young children, they just seem to delay the process as long as possible. I need to figure out what I can do to improve the process. I found some tips based on brain science by Katherine Eskovitz Too little of sleep causes serious problems for children. Studies suggest t...
Sep 21, 2016•24 min
In a recent Huffington Post article, Paula Spencer Scott of Kinstantly.com wrote about Psychologist Jeffrey Froh, a professor and leading gratitude researcher who wrote a book called “Making Grateful Kids: The Science of Building Character. He wrote about this thing called “culture of appreciation”. In order to do this we have to recognize 3 things: 1) The intent: that somebody put me first 2) The cost: what someone gave up for me 3) The benefit: what I got out of it An example you would say to ...
Sep 13, 2016•25 min
