Had lunch with the boys and after listening to how their experiences (and studies) in college are going, I feel we prepared them with the right tools to succeed.  Also a look back using imitation as a tool when they are young.  Be a good example that you want them to follow.

Back at the Daddy Panel with Dennis Gray of 101 Uses for Baby Wipes, Greg from Dancing with Elephants and James B of the Naval Cast and Face the music.  Great topics and discussion.  Very interesting to see/hear what our worries about TV screen time were back then compared to what screen time means today.  Enjoy!!

Jacko Willink mentioned decentralized leadership, and applying it to parenting.  I noticed that giving some freedom and choice so as they got older they could self manage was part of our progression as parents.  Also, Train Day and the Bedtime Blues.

There have been a couple of hazing deaths in the past several weeks.  As our youngest looks at pledging, be sure to remind kids that they can always walk away from any situation.  Social pressure should not (even though it might be hard to convince them) be more important than their safety.  This can go for fraternity/sorority pledging or just any social situation they find themselves in.  For the Rewind we talk about Mother's Day, screen time and how to deal with the blow up at dinner when you are in public (another "just walk away" solution).  #parenting #DaddyCast #podcast #fatherhood

Yes, long before the boys were teenagers I was sharing advice about parenting teenagers.  So how did that work out?  I will let you know.  Also, self esteem, saying no, when to stop the hammering, and more on this rewind to DaddyCast episode 21.  #parenting #daddycast #fatherhood #kids

Going back to May 2006 we were just past ear tubes round 2 for the youngest and pre-school graduation for the oldest.  It was super sweet to see how the pre-school grads had bonded over their early years.  Also, some tips for new dads from About.com.  And an update on current day, embracing discomfort through some health hacks (perhaps empty nesting is giving me too much free time).  #Family #Fatherhood #DaddyCast #Daddy #Parenting

This episode was the first Daddy Panel, a dream child of Dennis Gray (101 Uses for Baby Wipes) to bring together father podcasters to talk about father podcaster stuff.  On this inaugural episode we had James B (Naval Cast and Face the Music), Rob Walch (Podcast 411, Today in iOS) and Richard Brewer-Hay (formerly with Podshow, now with Splunk and always with the Elizabeth Street Brewery).  Richard was not yet a dad so much of the episode was based on giving sound (and not so sound) advice to the soon be be father.  Good time - these Daddy Panels were a lot of fun. 

The boys have been home and I have been focused on time with them so the show has been on hiatus longer than expected.  Back in May 2006 I was coming off an intense weekend of togetherness with the boys.  Looking back, I kind of miss those times (and in some ways, I don't).  Also talk about consistency in punishments and structure to keep the kids comfortable.  Internet use - how to monitor and how things have become harder to control over the years.  And the introduction of the "3 things" game.

We tried to develop a token system for rewards and incentives but it required structure, clarity and consistency.  I think we missed on all three.  I interviewed the boys and neither remember it but they remember a monetary allowance.  Also, what is their most memorable Christmas gift?

DaddyCast, Parenting, Podcast, Dad, kids, Christmas, Rewards, Incentives, tokens, allowance

Back in 2006 we were talking about surgery (ear tubes), Dad's time to tune out (not for the surgery, different topic), a little praise for Wim Hof (the Iceman) and principles of life from 14 years ago - what stuck and what didn't of those "10 ways to build self-esteem"?  

Podcast, DaddyCast, parenting, fatherhood, self-esteem, surgery, ear tubes, TV, video games, exercise, Wim Hof, Iceman