Tools to Build your Family

Recently, I posted my first video of my new video series, "Tools to Build your Family."

The first in the series is the key tool, "Be Consistent." Many of the moms and dads I've interviewed stated this was the wisdom they learned when their children were young.

I have so much to say! With all the research done in areas of behavior, time management, decision-making, etc. to help parents, it will be easy to make short videos of helpful advice.

The series will complement the 7 small books, only 59 pages each, I've written to reach today's parents and grandparents raising children.

So check it out, subscribe, sign on to Google to leave a comment. Let me know what you think. We all have wisdom to share to make parenting easier.

Family & Medical Leave Act not so great for new dads

In 1993, the U.S. Congress passed the Family and Medical Leave Act. It allows workers to take time off work to care for family members or themselves. They get their job back when they return. Sometimes pay is received during the time off, sometimes not. It is wonderful for an adult child who has to tend to an ill elderly parent. Great for a spouse to care for a sick spouse. New baby? Great for mom but not so great for dad.

Sure, the first week is helpful for the new mom and to bond with the baby. After that, it becomes a drain and all the dad can think about is when he can escape to his job. Jobs are mostly reliable as to what is expected of you for the day. You don't have to listen to crying babies all day and all night. Your time is your own, not controlled by a little tiny being that needs to be held, soothed, fed, burped and cleaned up.

With a new baby in the house, you can always recognize the worker who is a new dad or mom by that exhausted look on their faces as they muddle about doing their job. Most employers accept this. After about 3 months the baby should be sleeping through the night and mom and dad will return to their normal selves.

Consider this if you are going to be a new dad: How much time do you really want to take off work? Can you handle chaos from an 8 pound version of you? Will the noise drive you up the wall seeking normalcy? I'm not being chauvinistic when I say moms are more nurturing and can usually handle it better, realizing there is a wonderful rainbow at the end of the first few weeks.

What a great dad!

Did you see the video of a recent Philly's baseball game? A foul ball was knocked into the stands. A man caught it then gave it to his very young daughter who promptly threw it towards the baseball game.

Some dads would have been angry and shouted at the child. This dad laughed and hugged his daughter. That was the best response.

Congratulations, Dad, for following Number 2 on Single Parent Wisdom scale of advice: Be Patient and Loving. Way to go. I'm proud of you and your daughter is fortunate to have a loving dad like you.