Fostering Dreams

My 16-year-old son has an interest in photography. To pursue that interest, he started posting his pics on Instagram (@nathaniel_osborne). He also has an interest in cooking. To pursue that, he has applied for a summer internship working in a kitchen. In all of his pursuits, my wife and I try to support and encourage him. As …

Accepting Accountability

What is your greatest strength? Think hard. What about you makes you most effective as a communicator, worker, social being, and parent? For some, the answer is honesty. For others, the ability to listen. Still others will say that their greatest strength is their work ethic. For me, it’s the willingness to accept accountability. Like …

Vaccinate Your Kids!

In 2008, actress/model Jenny McCarthy appeared on Larry King Live and argued that vaccines can cause autism. Since then, she and a couple of now discredited doctors have spread false stories and written books, giving rise to a growing anti-vax movement. We now have parents getting misinformation that can severely damage the lives and well-being …

On Your Last Nerve? It’s Okay to Say It.

The face of your own sleeping child is a beautiful thing. It's beautiful for the obvious reason - kids are adorable. But it's also beautiful because it's a moment of solitude for a stressed-out parent. You've just tried in vain to calm your screaming child for the last hour-and-a-half, and finally ... finally the house …

Feminism

Okay, buckle up Dads, this is just as much a men's issue as it is a women's issue. Today we're going to talk about Feminism. Mayim Bialik recently released a video urging us to stop calling women "girls," and after reading through a comment thread on a friend's Facebook timeline it became clear to me that …

What If Your Child Is LGBTQ+?

It's dangerous, isn't it; pointing out problems in the way someone else is raising their kids? If you're anything like me, that's a line you don't cross. I'm fiercely protective of my family, and equally protective of the way I handle my own business. I'm not at all receptive to criticism on that front ... …

Finding Time

Being a blog from the perspective of a progressive Dad, I'll be speaking to my fellow Dads today. Not that Moms don't struggle with the issue of finding time for yourself, but there are hundreds of Moms writing about it already, and lots of information out there. Anybody who has had a baby knows just …

Fed Is Best

A CBC article just released talks about a new campaign, one that I think is desperately needed. It's called 'Fed Is Best,' and it's designed to combat the constant shaming and demonization of parents who formula feed their children. I've written about my thoughts on breastfeeding vs formula in my post Breastmilk, Formula, and Good Parents, and I …

Decisions Decisions: Sports?

My wife is a Zumba instructor. Our 15-year-old works out most mornings and plays soccer, basketball, and volleyball on his high school teams. I enjoy Zumba as often as possible, and I do combination weightlifting and bodyweight workouts 6 days a week. We all enjoy the benefits of sport in our home. Sport contributes to …

Don’t Worry Dads, it’s Okay to Gush

I'm going to talk about being a 'blue collar' Dad today, at least my own experience and my take on one aspect of it. You may feel it's the same in 'white collar' culture, and if you do I encourage you to comment. My experience in the 'white collar' world is very limited so far, …