Tag Archives: Ideas for Guys

Hot Days Are Coming (A to Z Challenge)

09 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Activities, Blogging, Busy Dad, Challenge, Dad, Family, Kids, Parenting

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Tooting Bec Lido, in South London from www.wikipedia.org

 

I’m talking about the hot days of summer and the fun kid activities during those days. My kid’s are tired and done with snow and is starting to ask about going to the parks and playing outside. They are also asking about one of their favorite activities dealing with water and it is not fishing.

I hear every other day the same question over and over again. My youngest daughter comes up to me and says, “Can we go swimming today?” As the rest of them follow her into the room my wife and I are in. I see now that they are sending the youngest one in to ask the question they all want to know. How clever they are.

My kids have been around water since they were babies. It is an activity my wife and I love doing with the kids. I benefit of doing this activity is that all four kids will be to bed and asleep early on the days they swim.

So we try to go every time we can to our local swimming pool. Our local swimming pool has a diving board and several slides for all ages as well as a play area for the younger kids close to the zero entry point of the pool. We always have a blast going to the pool.

On the days it is too cool to swim, we tend on going to the parks around town so that they can play on the park equipment. This year this might be a little different since so bad things have happened with some of the equipment at parks in a town nearby. But that is for a different time and different post.

I hope that it doesn’t get to hot this summer. Last time it gotten in the 100 degree range we didn’t go outside as much since to was extremely too hot. Time will only tell.

So what are your favorite family activities during the summertime or is your family more of a wintertime family? What memories do you have during those family times do you remember? Please feel free to leave your answers in the comment section of this post.

Thank you for taking time to read my posts and leave comments. I was also thinking about starting a podcast but I’m still not sure about it yet. I’ll have a poll up later about that topic your you to answer.

 

H

 

Games You Play With Your Kids (A to Z Challenge)

08 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Activities, Advice, Blogging, Busy Dad, Challenge, Dad, Family, Kids, Parenting

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Pawns from a game from www.wikipedia.org

 

Today is kind of an extension from yesterday’s post “Having a Fun Day With the Kids”.  Some of the fun days we have are playing all kinds of different games from card games to board games.

My younger kids like playing matching games and a couple different board games we have including some Disney game with have.  I can’t remember the name of it right now.  They also have “Hungry, Hungry Hippos” as well as “Connect Four” and “Go Fish”.  Both games I remember playing when I was a kid.  At least “Connect Four” I do remember.

My older son likes to play the same games as the younger ones as well as others.  His favorites are “Battleship” and “Monopoly: Tournament Edition”.  He is quiet good at both games or I’m getting worst at playing them (Insert your old age joke here).  At least he has his name on the trophy from the Monopoly game for the last 5 or 6 games we played.  He also is willing to learn and try learning card games like “Cribbage”.

But the best things about playing these types of games is the interaction that I have with my kids and having them smile and laugh when they are beating me at the games.  There have been several times that tears have been shed at the end or during games in my house.  But I address them when they come.

Since my kids are getting older and starting to play with the Nintendo DS’s, Tablets, and Laptops We own, we are seeing these types of games getting less frequency then they have been in the past.  This is the hard part of being a parent.

So now it’s your turn.  Do you have some type of game night or any certain games you play with your kids?  Do you have any memories of games or game nights with your kids that stick out to you?  I know I have a few and if I list them all, then this post would be 2,000 to 3,000 or more words and I want to keep the posts short like the rules state.  Leave your comments below.

 

G

 

A Date Day or Night in Your Parenting Routine? (A to Z Challenge)

04 Friday Apr 2014

Posted by in Activities, Advice, Blogging, Busy Dad, Challenge, Dad, Family, Kids, Parenting

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Cinema 4 at HOYTS, Forest Hill Shopping Centre, Forest Hill, Victoria, Australia. from www.wikipedia.org

 

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly. Every married couple with kids or even without kids should have a Date Night or in my case a Date Day. There are several reasons you need should have one, but I’ll explain why my wife and I have one.

My wife and I have a date day once a month. Why once a month, because it fits our busy schedule that we have. I know a couple that have one every other week. I also heard of couple having one once a week as well. It is not how often you have one, its having one period.

You need to have one to spend quality time with each other and remember why you are spending your life with them. I know kids are part of the family, but you do need time away from them. In my opinion, this is true if you have multiple kids in your family.

I my case we have a date day. It is just easier for us to take time off from work and send the kids to school or to the sitters for us. This way we have a day to enjoy having each other’s company as well as go out for lunch and sometimes do some shopping without having to worry about what the kids are going to do. We even sometimes go out to a movie as well.

Another positive thing about having a date day or night is that you can re-energize yourself emotionally. At least that is what if fells like for me.

So now it is your turn. Do you take date nights or days in your relationships? What type of thing s do you do? (Yes I know that was a loaded question, but please remember this is a kind of kids friendly site with humor.) Leave your comments below.

 

D

 

 

Inspiring Words From The Movie Courageous

02 Saturday Feb 2013

Posted by in Advice, Blogging, Busy Dad, Dad, Family, Kids, Parenting

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This is from the last scene of the movie Courageous.  It is very heart felt to hear and as a father of 4 kids, it makes me think very hard about my life and my kids life.

“I now believe that God desires for every father. To courageously step up and do whatever it takes, to be involved in the lives of his children.  But more than just being there providing for them, he’s to walk with them through their long lives and be a visual representation of the character of God, their father in heaven.

A father should love his children and seek to win their hearts.  He should protect them, discipline them, and teach them about God.  He should model how to walk with integrity and treat others with respect, and should call out his children to become responsible men and women who love their lives for what matters in eternity.

Some men will hear this and mock it, or ignore it.  But I tell you that as a father, you are accountable to God for the position of influence He has given you.  You can’t fall asleep at the wheel, only to wake up one day and realize that your job or your hobbies have no eternal value, but the souls of your children do.  Some men will hear this and agree with it but have no resolve to live it out.  Instead they will live for themselves and waste the opportunity to leave a godly legacy for the next generation.

But there are some men, who regardless of the mistakes we’ve made in the past, regardless of what our fathers did not do for us, will give the strength of our arms and the rest of our days to loving God with all that we are and to teach our children to do the same, and whenever possible, to love and mentor others who have no father in their lives, but who desperately need help and direction.  And we are inviting any man whose heart is willing and courageous to join us in this resolution.

In my home the decision has already been made.  You don’t have to ask who will guide my family, because by God’s grace, I will.  You don’t have to ask who will teach my son (or/and daughter) to follow Christ because I will.  Who will accept the responsibility of providing for and protecting my family? I will.  Who will ask God to break the chain of destructive patterns in my family’s history? I will. Who will pray for and bless my children to boldly pursue whatever God calls them to do? I am their father…I will.  I accept this responsibility, and it is my privilege to embrace it.

I want the favor of God and His blessing on my home.  Any good man does.  So where are you men of courage?  Where are you, fathers who fear the Lord?  It’s time to rise up and answer the call God has given you, and to say I will, I will, I will!”

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