Gyms are as crowded as Target on Black Friday. Salads have temporarily become the most popular lunch at the office. It must be New Year’s Resolution time! But, before you dust of running shoes and clear the treadmill of the neatly pressed work shirts, Toby Jurging – the resident health and fitness expert for The … [Read more…]
Baseball is my favorite game but my kids hate it. Nothing seems to sway their opinion. To my dismay, each of my kids despise their dad’s first love. They did not come around to loving baseball after seeing my joy as the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. My kids see no enjoyment in my … [Read more…]
“Not again!” I’m both anxious and livid as I stare at my silent phone. I’m two minutes into the start of an interview with Seton O’Connor of The Dan Patrick Show and we’ve been disconnected twice. Suddenly, though, my phone comes to life and a recognizable giggle echoes through the line, “Tobin?” All I can … [Read more…]
I am the last person to throw stones at other parenting styles – I’m no expert and I certainly do not live in a glass house. Some classmates of my oldest can walk home from school alone. I, on the other hand, have chosen not to allow my 10 year-old to do so. I watch … [Read more…]
Bartman did not break my Chicago Cubs fan heart in 2003 – it was already broken. I could blame Steve Garvey in 1984 or Will Clark in 1989. You see, I was sucked into the Cubs-fan-misery at birth. My dad grew up on the south side of Chicago but elected to root for the lovable … [Read more…]
Tonight I plan to stay up way too late to watch the opening of another National Football League season. My older boys will beg to watch with me. I’ll compromise their bedtime – allowing them to watch until halftime when they’ll vow to go to bed with no complaining. It’s become a tradition in my … [Read more…]
When I heard the news that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick refused to stand during the National Anthem in an NFL preseason game on Friday night, I was immediately angry. As I watched with my kids, I called him an idiot, unpatriotic and a poor example. As true as those labels might be, as … [Read more…]
Whether it be open houses, pre-school year meet-and-greets or a P.T.A meeting, opportunities are plentiful for us parents to be as active as we wish to be at school. For me, trying to get to everything for multiple kids can be a part-time job – one that I keenly enjoy. My kid-centric, hyper-focus has me … [Read more…]
The story of Simone Biles should have reignited an open discussion about the gift of adoption. Biles was adopted by her biological grandparents. Her story, like that of so many adoptive families, is one of triumph though struggle – of meager beginnings and extraordinary accomplishments. Over the past few days, though, the shine of the … [Read more…]
Reading about Pete Rose’s jersey being retired by the Cincinnati Reds over the weekend had my Good-Bad Dad senses firing. I was pleased for the baseball legend to be recognized for a great career. At the same time, though, I was uncomfortable fully applauding his accomplishments. I was a baseball-loving 11 year-old when Pete Rose … [Read more…]