Young Environment

Your kids are never too young to learn about the environment and how important it is to us. My older son is now 3 1/2 and knows which materials can be recycled and those that can't. As we taught him why littering is a not acceptable, he asked why people do it. I told him because some people are just lazy (which is the truth). Now whenever he sees a piece of trash on the ground he not only reminds us of the lazy people, he proceeds to pick it up and throw it out. He's more responsible than most adults!

Among many of his holiday gifts he got the Bill Nye Paper Recycling Kit. This is a great way to teach your children about recycling andf it's a lot of fun. (Walmart had the lowest price).

I always cared about the environment, but ever since I became a father my reason for caring shifted. Now I want the planet to be in good shape so my sons can enjoy it for their lifetime too.

Toddler Philosophy

When your baby is born you can't wait to see him crawl. Then he starts picking himself up on furniture and before you know it he's walking. Soon those garbled sounds turn into words and you're excited to hear each new sentence.



Now all of a sudden he won't stop talking!



For all of you fathers who have been though the toddler years and survived the barrage of "why"s, congratulations! Any newer dads that haven't gotten there yet, don't worry it's a lot of fun.



The toughest part is not saying "because I said so". Practice patience and try to give him an answer. I know you might repeat your answers a couple of times, so turn it around and give it right back. Get your child's brain thinking and ask him "why do you think the sky is blue." Now you're starting to have a real conversation.



There have certainly been a couple of days when I felt my son had reach his "why" quota for the day and I couldn't hear one more. I'm glad my some asks a lot of questions and I'm always happy to help him learn. That's one of the great pleasures of fatherhood!

Super Dad?

Nope, just doing my job!



What happens when one of your kids gets a cold? Mom and Dad pitch in and the little guy gets better. When Mom and one of the children comes down with the sniffles, it's Dad to the rescue! Well it wouldn't be fair to say the house would fall apart without me; rather, the house would be less orderly and neat. Especially since my wife refuses to stop working, either from the home or on the house.

Many men have a tough time taking a day off from work when they're sick, so those same men have an even harder time not going to the office when mom and the kids have a cold. I realize there aren't enough sick days to go around, but this is when the family needs you most! Have you ever heard the cliche, actions speak louder than words? Show your family how much you love them by cooking some chicken soup, cleaning up and just being there. Checking in from the office doesn't seem as caring anymore.

The concept of strong family values have been around for a long time; however, generation X fathers have shifted to the idea to valuing family. Do you see difference? I work and earn money for my family, but my priority is indeed my family and not my job. I enjoy being with my wife and my children, even when they're a little grumpy from a cold.

While some children or wives might feel I'm being a superdad because I'm putting forth extra effort, I'm much happier doing it because I'm a good father.

Dad's Health

You can check your blood pressure, you can have a cat scan, and you can take a blood sugar test, but here's the most simple and cost effective test you can take for your health. Look down and tell me what you see. Do you see anything except for belly button? When all you see is belly then either your little guy is in fact little or your gut has grown out a little too far. According to every major health study having a large waistline is the first indicator for elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.



It's though to be happy when you think about your face being paralyzed from a stroke or your foot amputated because of diabetes. There are many other benefits to practicing a healthy life besides not dying an uncomfortable death. For instance, when you exercise regularly I guarantee you'll have more energy. With more oomph in your day, those tasks you don't enjoy are easier to tackle. Increased energy translates into more productivity with every aspect of life. Work productivity, family fun and even your labido will all get a boost.



Practice eating healthy foods and your body will function as it's supposed to. Your memory will get better, your joints won't ache as much and your mood will improve. Choosing to practice a healthy lifestyle will save you money too. Less medical bills and saving with less doctor visits. Plus, more exercise and healthier foods will lead to better sex (I promise).



Your body and it's health are the most important aspect of being a happy father, so start practicing today.

Happy Man, Happy Father

Any man can be a dad, but a Happy Man will be a true father. Being a father takes far more effort than being a husband, son, employee, grandfather, uncle, friend or any other role you could have in life. Think about the value of personal reward you'll receive when you are the best father you can be. How would you feel if you know your son or daughter is missing out on 50% of life’s most important pieces? If your father wasn't there for you, is it right to do the same to your child? NO! Chances are when you don't give all of your self to your child, he'll follow suit for his children (and the story stays the same). Suppose you 're financially successful and are able to provide a nice home and quality education for your children; however, you're at the office more than home and travel frequently for work. Your child is still missing out on the value you bring as a man and.
Irrelevant of what stage of life you are in or what your past was; practice spending quality time with your children. Keep in mind you'll also benefit from your effort and time. You'll gain a friend, have more energy, and just smile more. Plus you have a better chance of not just being stuck in an old age home to rot if your children know how important they are. Practice being a happy father and you'll be a happy man (with a happy son and a happy daughter).