Tales from the Empty Nest. After raising two boys to adulthood and sending them off to college, I review the podcast episodes I recorded more than a decade ago and react to what I got right, and what I got wrong.
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
We had a lot of content 16 years ago! Autism awareness, Date Night, Family Movie Night vs too much screen time, Emergency Prep, Work/Home Balance and Lead by Example. Also, an article from TodaysParent.com regarding putting the camera (or phone down) and participating in life instead of trying to capture it all. https://www.todaysparent.com/family/parenting/why-i-decided-to-put-down-my-camera-and-start-watching-my-kids/ Fatherhood, Parenting, Podcast, dad, kids, daddycast
Review the techniques described in the Dr. Thomas Phelan book, 123 Magic. Which techniques did we try and what stuck? Also, decorating the Christmas Tree brings back a lot of memories and stories. Cherish the time together. 123 Magic PDF link: https://www.pdfdrive.com/1-2-3-magic-3-step-discipline-for-calm-effective-and-happy-parenting-e60737129.html Parenting, Podcast, Fatherhood, Dad, DaddyCast, Daddy, kids
Travel tips for the little ones and things we learned as travel sports parents. Also, training for the first child. Do pets help? And self maintenance- don't forget you (in the areas of physical fitness, mental health, spiritual wellbeing and community)
And interview with my college roommate, Dave, to talk about raising his three girls while he server in the Air Force. Also, a recap of episode 12 of The DaddyCast, which was a short rundown of our Super Saturday.
Hitting a groove in the old shows with a variety of topics from a visit to the doctor's office, a discussion on nightly routines, and allowance - how to teach economics at a young age. Also, how did we cope with boredom when we were kids?
Show 10 of The DaddyCast talked about adoption - made me curious what adoption was like during the pandemic so I did a little research and found some interesting (and contrary) info. Links to articles In April, they were scrambling to figure it out (like most everything) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/parenting/coronavirus-adoption-surrogacy-foster-care.html June https://www.oprahmag.com/life/relationships-love/a32961347/corovirus-adoption/ Having to adjust https://www.whsv.com/2020/10/01/adoption-process-adapts-during-covid-19-pandemic/ Record applications and mothers - more time at home and more last minute choices to put a child up for adoption, along with making the process flexible https://www.parents.com/parenting/adoption/how-covid-19-has-impacted-the-adoption-community/
The boys were finally off their medicine but I was on cold meds. It was back on this show in March 2006 that we began to establish our family dinner tradition. Also a look at what podcasting was like back then and the importance of keeping your mom informed.
A rewind of some of the tactics we employed to get the boys to take their medicine. I think in modern days this might be considered extreme and potentially some form of neglect. Also a false alarm about ODD. And does everyone expect their second child to be more mature?
Is there anything more stressful than trying to get a child to take Medicine? Also, your plan vs. their plan - how to pace your pushing them toward what you think is right. And, teach them to support their points of view.
What is best, to ask or tell? Also, what do the cousins have to say about traditions? And, a DaddyCast clip about time - how much I thought I had and how little I really remember. Parenting ain't easy!
Got a chance to interview my oldest and find out what traditions meant the most to him. Pretty enlightening conversation and very proud at how mature he has become.
More on what traditions have been important to us, with a clip from an interview with my youngest before he headed off to college.
You don't always know what will start a tradition but many times you create memories and great experiences that turn into something more than just an event. No clips from the old show (The DaddyCast episode 3 - March 2006) but I summarize our weekend at the beach. I also talk a little about diet and exercise, and my success with the CoachMarkCarroll.com challenges (next one starts October 5th) Send comments to DaddyCast@gmail.com. Check out the blog at TheDaddyCast.com.
Going back to The DaddyCast episode 2, there was a lot of depressing news to report. But it did open up the topic of liberty vs safety - how to helicopter parents find balance?
Not routine spanking, luckily the need to get their attention was rare. Reviewing the first episode from February 2006 where I talked about our Saturday routine and when spanking might be warranted. Also, some recent comment from my youngest on what he remembers about being spanked.
Bringing back the podcast. Intro to the concept, a review of what was shared on the original episodes between February 2006 and January 2012. This is just an introduction and an update on what has been going on since the original DaddyCast stopped over 8 years ago.