The Adventures of a Stay-at-Home Dad of 5
Men In Black International is now available on Blu-Ray and Sony has teamed up with Budsies to help spread the word. I was sent the following promotional material for free to help out. I'm sure you're all familiar with the Men in Black: the black suit wearing, mind erasing, alien fighting, secret group that protects…
Man oh man, things have been tough lately. I don't really know why but they have. Ok, well, I do know why they've been tough. It's because we have 5 kids. But when I say "things have been tough" what I really mean is "tougher than our normal baseline tough." There is always something to…
When I started this blog nearly 2 years ago to the day, I had no idea what I was doing, where it was heading or who would support me. I was blown away by the support of my friends and by complete strangers. I'm still humbled every time someone comments or shares one of my…
Four years ago on October 20, 2012 I was where I am many Saturdays in the fall, in The Swamp, watching the Florida Gators play football. We were playing South Carolina and it was an important conference game. The Gators were doing well. With about 3 minutes to go in the first half, I got…
I needed to go get my daughter's birth certificate today. She's about to turn 4 and somehow I hadn't needed it up until now. But now I did need it, so I figured I'd load up the crew and go get it. I would also get the two younger boys' birth certificates as well since…
There is nothing like a life-threatening category 4 hurricane barreling down on you to make you rethink what you value as important. Unless you were in a coma last week or a foreign country, you are likely aware that a massive hurricane named Matthew was projected to rip through the Caribbean and ride the coastline…
So, as it turns out, you aren't supposed to put your baby in a car seat like I did above. September is dedicated to baby safety and no one knows baby safety better than Britax . I had the honor of being invited to attend a child passenger safety event run by the Jacksonville Moms…
I'm all about great steak. Steak has been one of my top 3 favorite foods since I can remember. Lasagna came and went, pizza holds a spot frequently and hamburgers will often find themselves on my top 3 foods list. But steak. Steak has never left my top 3. There is just something about a…
Adding a 5th kid into the mix won't make a difference I said. Going from 3 kids to 4 kids was hardly noticeable, so I imagine going from 4 to 5 won't be a big deal either. I was wrong. It has been noticeable. It has been more difficult. It has been mentally exhausting. And…
So this is my 200th post. That's a lot of rambling on. Some posts have been funny , some touching , some terrible and a lot recently have been commercialized . The sponsored posts and reviews have turned into a monster I didn't foresee. Sure, getting free stuff and making money to do something I…
Sponsored post by Lunchbox. All opinions are my own. Learning to ride a bike is a childhood rite of passage. The falls and scrapes are all worth it in the end when you are finally able to ride free with the wind in your face and your worries at your back. For a kid a…
I know some of you aren't going to like to hear what I have to say, but sometimes you just have to speak up and say what others won't. Sometimes you have to speak up in a world of chaos and be the voice of sound reason. I'm going to type it plain and simple:…
Summer is finally here! Well it was yesterday, now it's winter again today. Seems to be a bunch of wild weather and temperature swings across the country in the past few days. Today has dipped into a very windy and chilly day in the 50s, but the past several days have been beautiful around here…
I've been a parent of 5 kids for a month now. It's been a little bit of an adjustment period for everyone but overall it's going fairly smoothly. There have been a few things I've noticed and I've decided I'd share them. I can't remember the baby's name. His name is Finnley, we call him…
I met my Grandma shortly after I was born. I was actually lucky enough to have meet all my grandparents hours after I was born. I was fortunate that all 4 of my grandparents were heavily involved in my life and I got to know all of them quite closely. I lost both my grandfathers…
As the days are counting down until our fifth baby is due I realized I needed to get my bag ready, the bag that I'll take with me to the hospital when my wife goes into labor. It's well documented what you need to take for mom and the baby but dad is often overlooked…
Kids don't come with a handbook and much of parenting is on the job training. Thankfully for all of you, I have learned a thing or two about being a great parent. As I prepare to become a dad for the 5th time I've decided I should share some of my pearls of wisdom with…
What is going on in the world? I know my blog usually doesn't have anything to do with world events but it seems silly to just type away pretending Paris wasn't attacked 3 days ago. It's a sad, scary and uncertain world we are living in today. The sophistication of the latest attack was virtually…
This is a post I wasn't sure I'd ever write. I wasn't sure I even wanted to write it. But with October being SIDS, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month I decided now seemed appropriate to write this post. We currently have 4 children and my wife is pregnant now. This is her 6th pregnancy.…
Five years ago my wife and I decided it was time to bite the bullet and buy an expensive camera. The problem was, neither of us really knew anything about cameras. I searched the internet for buying guides and was able to find a lot of technical reviews but most of that was over my…
Before I became a parent, I had a completely different notion of what gross was compared to now. Things that I formerly would have found to be utterly disgusting I now do on a daily basis without batting an eye. I have compiled a list of a few things I no longer find repulsive. Food…
I have no idea who coined the term "sleep like a baby," obviously it was someone who never had a baby. Many babies have a very difficult time sleeping for extended periods of time, especially through the night. "Sleep like a teenager" is probably a significantly better term. I've seen teens go to bed at…
No, no, no! Just stop it right now. It's mid August. What is going on? Why am I already seeing Halloween costumes in stores? This nonsense has got to stop. Halloween is more than 70 days away. That's Seven Zero. My kids will change their minds on who they want to be for Halloween approximately…
Stay-at-Home dads are still relatively uncommon. We blend in with the crowd and look almost like any other guy but if you know the signs you can spot us from a mile away. I'm not trying to start some stereotype war , I'm just trying to have a laugh at myself. These may or may…
Well, summer as we know it officially ended this week. School started back up and my oldest (or is it eldest?) son started 1st grade. There were significantly less tears shed this year as he was getting on the bus as compared to last year. I'm talking about my tears. I thought I was ok…
As a parent, family vacations are anything but relaxing, quiet, peaceful getaways. On many levels it's more stressful than just staying at home, but I can't imagine not going on family vacations. Isn't this what you sign on for when you decide to have kids? Aren't crazy family vacations what you talk about and laugh…
This group of rag tag superheros is determined to fight for justice, combat evil, slide down slides, save helpless animals and have fun doing it. As long as they can get it all done before nap time. I love my kids so much. They are the most full of energy, rambunctious, sweet and crazy group…
I know what you're thinking: "Where is he going with this? I thought this was a family themed blog." Please just hear me out, I need to get this off my chest. I know a lot of my readers are women and you won't really be able to relate to what I'm about to say…
I was never big into the TV show Seinfeld. That puts me in the American minority, but I share a trait with one of the show's characters. George Costanza. He and I have giant wallets. It's almost guaranteed that if I pull out my wallet in a group of 3 or more people someone will…
There are 4 tiny little humans that live in my house with me. They are each capable of making copious amounts of noise and it seems like they constantly are. Sometimes they are just talking too loud, other times they are making bizarre noises with their mouth, and still other times they are banging on…
I'm not Superman and I don't have a cryptonite but if I did it might be mounds of paperwork. I'm not making some joke here. The paperwork that seems to build up in my house on a daily basis is relentless, it's maddening, it's stressful and I don't know how to get a handle on…
We were sprucing up our budget last month and I realized I had gotten lazy with our grocery budget. I buckled down and starting doing things that worked for us in the past. I've decided to share a few of the ways we try to keep our grocery bill as low as possible while feeding…
In the scheme of things I haven't been blogging very long, just over 6 months but in that time I have learned a lot and I have seen the blog grow and gain some good momentum. I never could have imagined the support I would have from people all over the world reading my posts…
Road trips with little kids can be a daunting task but it's not impossible and with the proper planning and preparation it can actually be a mildly pleasant time. The key is to fend off boredom and reduce the amount of times you are asked "Are we there yet?" We have taken several road trips…
Nothing is more awesome than the birth of your first child. You get to experience so many things for the first time. And while parenting is difficult and sleep is hard to come by, you persevere and you become the best possible parent you can. You have read the books, you have gotten advice from…
Due to the health benefits of breast milk and the catchy rhyming factor the term Breast is Best has been an oft repeated term that any mother of a newborn cannot escape from hearing. It gets repeated ad nauseam until you are tossing and turning in your bed at night mumbling breast is best, breast…
I started my blog a few months ago just as naive as a person could possibly be. I didn't read any blog regularly and would really only read a blog if someone shared a post on my Facebook timeline. A few people suggested to me from time to time that I start a blog but…
The days are starting to blur. Tuesday is a lot like Thursday, is a lot like Saturday, is a lot like all of last March. I struggle many days to remember what day of the week it is, they all look so similar. The monotony can be so overwhelming at times, maddening at others and…
It is so easy to take things for granted. It's easy to look back on your life and see the things that you took for granted and wish you had done things differently. I just wrote a post about all The Things I Used to Take for Granted before I had kids. It was a…
Before I had kids I took so many mundane tasks for granted. Staying home and watching 4 kids has taught me a valuable lesson about appreciating the simple things in life. Below I have compiled a list of some of the things I used to take for granted. Going to bathroom Long gone are the…
I can appreciate a great name. Parents spend hours and even years discussing what they want to name their children. There are even companies popping up that will help you pick out a unique name for your baby for the low, low price of $30K. I'm not even kidding, read about it here . A…
So many misconceptions swirl around Stay-at-Home Dads. As the workplace is becoming a more even playing field for women, many couples are finding themselves in situations where having the dad stay home with the kids makes more sense. With social media at an all time frenzy, people are free to share their thoughts instantly with…
What's the deal with Band-Aids? If you are a parent or a child care worker then you know there are magic healing powers inside band-aids. These special healing powers rival the secret magic of a mom's kiss. When my kids come running to me crying about their latest bump, my go-to reaction is "Here, let…
I'm certainly not the first person who has ever made this comparison and I'm sure I won't be the last. I think I first heard the comparison from my good friend Casey Grice a few years back but I'm sure he wasn't the first person who ever thought of it either. With his permission I…
We all want our kids to be safe and there are some basic and simple steps we can take to help them be just a little more prepared should a potentially dangerous situation arise. The first thing we have to do is talk to our kids about some of these situations they may encounter. This…
We're not pregnant. (That I know of) Furthermore, you should never, under any circumstances, ask a woman if she is pregnant. I though this was a no-brainer common courtesy issue but it seems somewhere along the line many people have forgotten plain common sense. Absolutely no good will come from you asking a woman if…
Here are a 6 practical, no frills pointers to help out any new and soon-to-be parents. Photo Storage System In about a weeks time you are going to have taken more pictures of your new baby than all the other pictures in your life combined. You will need to figure out a good way to store…
Here are a few practical, no frills pointers to help out any new and soon-to-be parents. Photo Storage System In about a weeks time you are going to have taken more pictures of your new baby than all the other pictures in your life combined. You will need to figure out a good way to…
So you are considering having a baby? Having a baby is a huge decision. One that shouldn't be made lightly. I've compiled a list of a few questions you should ponder in helping you decided if you are ready. Do I like sleep? Once you have a baby you can kiss any good sleep goodbye…
What's up with #2? Why is it that more often than not the second born child is crazy? That's certainly the case with our second child. I often think of him as my own personal Charles Dickens "He's the best of times, he's the worst of times" His name is Greyson and I have found…
Rules apply differently to toddlers, as anyone with a toddler can attest. They regularly say and do the most unexpected and socially unacceptable things. Often it's humorous and innocent since they are just beginning to develop their understanding of the world. As it turns out, they can get away with things that an adult simply…
With the Super Bowl just around the corner I decided to think back about all those lessons I learned playing football as a kid and see how they apply to fatherhood. Audible Sometimes what you originally had planned just isn't going to work out. Thought you were going to take your kids to the zoo…
Dear Summer, I'm sorry that sometimes I complained about you being too hot. I was just kidding. I really miss the beach. I miss being almost tan. I miss teaching my boys how to ride on a boogie board. I miss getting sand all in my car after spending hours at the beach. Ok, wait…
Parenting is exhausting, hard work. Take every advantage you can and regain your sanity with these tips.
Growing up, nearly everyday after school my father would take me out to the back porch and proceed to beat me. He got so good at it, sometimes he would take a paddle in each hand and alternate one after another. I lost count of how many times he beat me. I was powerless to…
As a Stay-at-Home Dad of 4 little kids, I can use all the help I can get to make my life easier. One thing I lean on heavily to help me keep it together is my iPhone. With a couple million apps out there in the app store it can be a little daunting to…
Have you ever lied about your age? As a kid and teenager I was always trying to look and act older. My best friend and I would regularly tell girls we would meet that we were a year or two older than we actually were. In turn we expected that girls were doing that to…
Dear Dad to-be, Congrats! Your life will never be the same. For better or worse, the birth of your first child is an event that will forever change you. So much of becoming a new parent focuses on moms. There is good reason, moms do all of the hard work for the first 9 months,…
There comes a moment in every child's life when they finally figure out how to move around. Gone are the days when you could place your child in the middle of the living room with a few toys and go to the bathroom knowing that when you returned they would still be right in the…
When did birthing a child make you an expert on all things? We used to have the notion that father knows best but the media and women's liberation groups have seen to it that we no longer go around saying that. Now the catchy phrase is "mom always knows best." I saw the above flier…
I want my family to be able to go on a wonderful vacation. A long trip to Disney or maybe even a Disney Cruise would be a great option. A strategic road trip visiting zoos, aquariums and museums would also be lovely. Ten days is how long I would like this vacation to be, ten…
You won't believe what I'm about to say. We've all heard the stories about the Bermuda Triangle and we're well versed with the unexplained goings-on in Area 51, but little to no attention gets paid to the unexplained supernatural paranormal activity that surrounds kids. It's a real thing happening all around us everyday. I'll discuss…
When you become a parent everyone, whether you want it or not, decides they need to give you advice. You hear about how "It'll be the best part of your life" how "You'll never get any sleep" "Your life will never be the same again" "Cherish them, they'll never be little again." How-to book after…
I was late to the coffee party. My dad drank one cup of instant black coffee every morning and my mom never touched the stuff. A few sips of my dad's coffee as a child effectively turned me off to the stuff. But then in my late 20s something happened. I had a job where…
When our first child was born all he knew was one on one time with mom or dad. When our second child was born we could still rather easily find the time to split the kids up and get some quality one on one time with each of them. When our daughter was born it…