Choosing Hope with a Challenging Kid at #DadChat

Good Boy Roy - Zach Hix

We all read about having a “challenging” child. The challenges can range from simple behavior issues to a wide-range of diagnosed learning disabilities and illnesses. It seems to me it’s hard enough – these days – to raise good kids, period. Imagine when you add the stress of a real illness or a real challenging mental or learning disorder to the mix?

How do you cope? How does a relationship/marriage cope? What if you are doing the parenting alone? How much help is available in the public sphere? Do friends stay or abandon you? Do relatives? Who do you turn to, to simply rant or share a hard day’s frustration? THIS is the topic for #DadChat on Thursday, May 30 from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. PT/9:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET. Prizes tonight – read further for details and images.

read more

Social Media Social Good: Social Media Mistakes

#DadChat baseball hat

#DadChat recently discussed the mistakes we all make in Social Media with expert John Paul Aguiar. Using the transcript as a guide, I wanted to share the best tips and advice we learned from this topic at #DadChat.

Firstly, some overall impressions I took away from the discussion. Social Media is dangerous, to a degree, for all of us. The ability to hit “Send” can be done in a fit of creativity OR a fit or anger. The latter will usually come back to haunt us. The ability to reach out via a tweet requires little forethought and, again, can be harmful if we are reacting in the moment.

read more

Generation Gap: Kids as a Second Language

Funny baby photo

How big is the generation gap, really?  What were the slang words of your generation? Mine included groovy and bitchin’ among many others. Every generation has its own slang, dress, general look, and of course, its own music. Every generation looks back at theirs as the best and I actually think this is a darn good thing. For young boys and girls, dressing differently than their parents, listening to different music, and generally speaking their own language is the first step on the road to independence.

read more

Preserving Digital Memories at #DadChat – Video

iPhone mobile video app

Just click on the image above to download the Ptch iPhone app – FREE

After last week’s wild ride and scavenger hunt about photos, we’re turning to video – specifically mobile, but really all video – this Thursday, May 16th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. PT/9:00 – 10:00 p.m. ET, at #DadChat. There’s a FAB new app from Ptch – and it’s FREE for your iPhone! Download and play with it before #DadChat, during, or after. Our topic is how we preserve, capture, edit, and otherwise do our family’s digital memories. Our wonderful co-host is none other than TheGoToMom herself Kimberley Clayton Blaine! Follow Kimberley @TheGoToMom for the chat. Check out Kimberley’s awesome ptch page! Read what Fast Company has to say about Ptch! But, it wouldn’t be #DadChat – of late – if we didn’t have some prizes – which, of course, you will have to earn! Read on about Ptch and our prizes for this week’s #DadChat!

Retweet if you wish:

#Prizes, Fun, #Community at #DadChat when we look at #Video Thursday 6pmPT/9pmET

How do you use #Video? Win #Prizes, get a great new #FREE app, and more at #DadChat Thursday!

 

read more

Cross-Country Road Trip – Top Sites

Hours of video were taken on our cross-country road trip last summer, from Los Angeles to Boston, driving my son to begin his freshman year at college. It was an eventful cross-country road-trip, replete with break-downs, surprises, and flea-bag motels. Enjoy some of the highlights in this short 8-minute video of the top sites!

Watch Now