Rekindling the Christmas Spirit: A Dad’s Guide

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Ah, Christmas. The time of year when the air is filled with the scent of pine, the sound of jingle bells, and the sight of… teenagers rolling their eyes at your festive enthusiasm. If you’re like me, a dad trying to keep the Christmas spirit alive, you might have noticed that things change as your kids grow older. Gone are the days when they were thrilled by a visit to Santa or a simple string of lights. Now, everything feels a bit more procedural, like we’re all just going through the motions. But fear not. Here are some tips to shake things up and find that elusive holiday magic again.

Rediscovering the Magic: The Best Toys of the 1980s

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Growing up in the 1980s was a unique experience, especially when it came to toys. It was a decade filled with innovation and creativity, where every toy seemed to open a new world of adventure and imagination. If you were like me, the arrival of the Sears Wish Book marked the beginning of the holiday season, and it was our guide to the most coveted toys of the year.

The Sears Wish Book was more than just a catalog; it was a gateway to endless possibilities. It was like everything you wanted all packed into one book. For kids today, this was our iPad. I remember spending countless hours flipping through its pages, dreaming about the toys that I would put on my Christmas list to Santa. Among these, Star Wars and G.I. Joe action figures were always at the top.

A totally made up Top 25 ranking of foods voted by kids

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Parents, let’s face it: when it comes to food, our kids are running the show. Sure, we try to sneak in a vegetable here and there, but if our little ones had their way, every meal would be a carb-loaded, cheese-covered, ketchup-drenched masterpiece. Since I am starting to actually miss those days (young kids), I’ve compiled a list of the top 25 foods that I think kids would vote for if they were in charge of the kitchen. Spoiler alert: kale didn’t make the cut. Discuss amongst yourselves.

Parenting Truths: The little things that test our patience

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While parenting is a rewarding journey, it’s not without its frustrations. From constant interruptions to the never-ending messes, these small but persistent irritations can add up. As a form of dad therapy, I wanted to explore some of the most common things that annoy parents and how we can manage them with humour and patience. Spolier-alert, it’s not always possible, and that is okay. Let’s get started with some parenting truths.

Navigating teen smartphone use: A balanced approach

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Negotiating phone time with teenagers can feel like a constant battle. It’s as if their devices are permanently attached to them, making it challenging to encourage breaks from screens. Even when they do put their phones down, the temptation to check social media or messages remains strong. This behaviour often leads to prolonged screen time, despite initial intentions for a quick check.

Should Big Tech do more to help control our scroll?

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With the sports world mostly on a break other than the Paris Olympics (and the Blue Jays?), it also means a lot of my regular podcasts are also on a break.

So where do I turn? I turn to Trevor Noah and his insightful podcast called – What Now? With Trevor Noah.

I would describe it as a few people sitting around and talking about what is going on in the world, but they are not just complaining. They are digging deep into actual topics and having a very interesting conversation about them.

Parenting Teens: The next level of Dad life

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When you first become a dad, the world shrinks down to a few simple but intense tasks: feeding, changing diapers, and making sure this tiny human survives the night. Life is a blur of sleepless nights, first steps, and the occasional quiet moment where you catch your breath and think, “I’m really doing this.” But just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, your kids go and turn into teenagers, and suddenly, the rulebook gets rewritten.

I have entered that level of Dad life and to be honest, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around how to not only do it but talk about it. Because for those with teens, you know they are not that interested in their lives being shared by their parents. I believe that is referred to as cringe.

The joys of being a parent of a teenager

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Being the parent of a teenager can be like riding a rollercoaster that you didn’t know you had a ticket for. One moment you’re ascending, full of hope and admiration for the young adult your child is becoming, and the next, you’re plummeting into the depths of eye rolls and monosyllabic responses. But amidst the chaos, there’s a treasure trove of humour to be found. And let’s be honest, it’s the laughs that make it worth it right? Here are some of the funniest aspects of having a teenager, with a nod to the online community that shares in our collective parenting journey.

Exploring family-friendly activities in Parkdale

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Can you believe we are coming up on 8 years of living in Parkdale? It’s crazy how time flies when you are having fun.

For those that don’t know, Parkdale is a neighbourhood in the west end of Toronto and is one of the oldest parts of the city.

This west-end neighbourhood that we call home, boasts a rich immigrant history, with waves of Polish, Afro-Caribbean, Filipino, and Vietnamese immigrants have called it home. Today, Parkdale hosts one of North America’s largest Tibetan expat communities—and if you walk around, has the restaurants to prove it.

Many years ago, Parkdale was a part of the city I rode my bike through as quickly as I could on my way to work. It did not have a great rep. Funny enough, many years later it is where I ended up living. And I am very happy it worked out that way.

Today I wanted to quickly list some family-friendly activities in Parkdale. Whether you have little kids, big kids, or no kids, I think they all work.