Dadcrossing

  Prepping Your Kids for the Christmas Extravaganza Hey dads, let’s chat about how to make Christmas Day as smooth and magical as possible for your kiddos. Here’s the thing—Christmas is huge for kids. Think about it: they only get 17 of these magical days before they’re grown-ups. That’s wild, right? Naturally, they’re psyched to see what’s under the tree from you, Grandma, Auntie, and Santa. But let’s face it, not every gift is a showstopper. When they tear into a box and find Auntie’s favorite sticky-bottom socks, it might be a little... meh. That’s where we step in. We teach our kids to be grateful, and Christmas morning is a great time to remind them. A simple, “Hey, remember—every gift you get today was picked out just for you. Let’s make sure we say thank you and be happy with what we receive,” can go a long way. This little pep talk might save the day from any gift-related grumbles. Nobody likes seeing their gift get a thumbs-down, especially family. Now, about the day itse...

4:    Making the Most of Christmas Break with Your Kids Hey dads, let’s talk about something that sneaks up on us every year—Christmas break. The kids are off school in a week (if you’re on our school system’s schedule), and they’re pumped for two weeks of freedom. But here’s the thing: those two weeks can fly by with all the Christmas and New Year’s craziness, leaving little time for those simple, meaningful moments that stick with them forever. I’m not talking Disney World-level memories here. I’m talking about the quiet, cozy kind—the ones where you’re sipping hot chocolate by the Christmas tree or playing a board game together. Those are the memories I treasure most from my childhood. Between family gatherings, work, church, and everything else on the calendar, it’s easy to forget to make intentional space for just your family. But trust me, finding that time—just you and your kids—is so worth it. So here’s my list of 10 easy, simple, low-cost ways to make memories during...

So, guess what? Covid decided to make a surprise visit this holiday season. Lucky me, right? And as if that wasn’t enough, I passed it on to my daughter. Fun times. Before you worry, we’re both fine—no mortal danger here. But yeah, it’s been a bummer. The endless tiredness, coughing up a lung, no smell, barely any taste—it’s all the worst . When life doesn’t go our way, it’s so easy to toss the whole situation in the trash. Plans fall apart, nothing’s working how we wanted, and we’re ready to write it all off as a loss. Covid was definitely not my plan. I had to cancel or reschedule seven meetings, push a mile-long to-do list to next week, and generally watch my week crumble. But here’s the twist: This week wasn’t what I planned, but it gave me something I never intended—three solid days with my daughter. She’s vibrant, funny, creative, and so full of personality that I often miss because life gets in the way. Or because she’s figuring out how to stand out under her big brother’s shad...

  The holidays are here again, and let’s be real—sometimes we’re all aboard the holiday cheer train, maybe even the conductor, waving like we’re in a parade. Other times, the year’s been so-so, and we’re barely hanging on to that end car. And then there are the years when life feels like it’s kicking us in the teeth, and all we want to do is flip the train off as it rolls by. I’ve been in all those places, for all kinds of reasons. As dads, it’s tough. We want our kids to have that holiday magic, even if we feel like Ron Weasley with a busted wand, where every spell just blows up in our face. But here’s the thing—it’s okay not to feel the holiday magic sometimes. Check in with your kids, especially if things are hard at home. Maybe they’re not feeling it either. The goal isn’t a Hallmark movie holiday; it’s connection. That might look like an extra board game night with hot cocoa or just hanging out in the quiet. It doesn’t have to be Whoville-level craziness. Even if thankfulness ...

  Hey, let’s talk about navigating the holiday madness with kids in the mix. You know how those family gatherings can get—everyone’s buzzing around, tons of noise, people hugging kids who may or may not be into it. It’s chaos, right? Well, here’s the thing: kids need some breathing room. It’s totally cool for them to have their own space, even if it’s just a quiet corner to chill. And if you notice someone smothering them—maybe Aunt Carol’s on her fifth hug in five minutes—it’s okay to step in and say, "Hey, let’s give them a little break." We’ve got to have their backs. Another thing: give them the playbook before the madness begins. Like, "Okay, here’s what’s happening today, here’s what I expect, and here’s where you can find me if you need a timeout." Knowing the plan helps them feel grounded. Now here’s the part I sometimes mess up: remembering that just because the house is full of people, that doesn’t mean my dad duties hit pause. If anything, it’s weird how...