I am a die-hard Minnesota sports fan. I love the Twins, Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves and Gophers. Even if I miss a game, I need to know what happens when I wake up in the morning. The Minnesota Twins have been in the limelight lately. They came back from 7 games back to win their division over the faltering Tigers. It was the greatest comeback in Major League Baseball history. A team has also never came back from that far back to win their division or from 3 games back with 4 games to go.

Watching the Twins since they have been playing the Yankees has been very frustrating. It was frustrating during the regular season when the Twins lead every baseball game and then ended up losing them all. The same holds true during the postseason. They have been leading in all of the baseball games against the Yankees during the playoffs. They ended up losing the first two.

Right now, I am typing this dad blog to take the stress out from being a fan of the Minnesota Twins. They are losing 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th. Of course, they just made a stupid play when they could have tied it up. Swear words wanted to come out. I wanted to say every swear word in the book. It could have been OK since my son was asleep. Instead, I said swear alternatives like darn it and ugh. It is good practice so I do not swear in front of Rylan.

I do admit I have sworn in front of my son, Rylan, many times. It could have been from me stubbing my toe to swearing at the Twins. I do not have much a potty mouth but it can happen at times, especially at night like tonight when the Twins are playing.

• This dad’s suggestion on how not to swear in front of your kids…
• Practice alternative words like darn-it, ugh, shoot, ouch or no.
• Just don’t do it. It may be hard, but it is possible
• Think of your kids. Be a good role model.
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Do not watch the Twins in post-season 2009.

Overall, it is disrespectful to swear in front of kids. It does make you look like the swear words you are saying. Thank you to the Vikings for easing my pain of watching the Twins, since the Twins just got swept. Ugh, shoot, darn-it, dang, shooty, squished bug, prune and ahhhh you stink Twins.

For a future post… How to act like an adult when playing sports.

Related Posts:  Baby and Kids Swearing

Cute Baby Picture

Real Dad Blog Version: If you are a dad and you enter your kids into a cutest baby contest, I am sorry, but you are not a real dad.

In the news lately, I have been hearing about those darn baby contests. They are online contests for who think they have the cutest baby or even kid. Gerber has three cute babies you can vote on. The cutest baby gets $25,000. You can check it out at The Cute Kid. I have to admit those are some cute kids. Their smiles will make you smile.

Your local newspaper may sponsor a cutest baby/child contest and you may have already entered your baby into a contest. OK, you better not have. It better have been your wife that entered your baby or child. It is OK for your wife to do this!

As a dad, how should you feel about entering your kids into a cutest baby contest? First, you should feel that your baby is the cutest in the world no matter what, contest or not. Even if your baby is ugly in everyone else’s eyes, you are going to think your baby is the cutest. Second, you shouldn’t even enter your kids into these contests. It is not worth your time. Your wife can do that and have high hopes. If you are going to enter these contest you are going to break a dad rule / man rule. You should feel these contests are wrong, especially for boys. Third and finally, you have better things to do like getting them ready for their future sports scholarship.

Cutest Baby - Dad's Little Boy

All I have to say to these cute baby contests and cute kid contests, is my baby is the cutest. Any dad would say this about their kids.

So Rylan, you are the cutest and more importantly the coolest. Wait!!! Saying that, did I write $25,000 earlier this dad blog post? I might just have to do enter my son into a cutest baby contest.

Note: This dad blog post is sarcastic and makes fun of dads who enter their kids into these contests. I do not blame you for seeing dollar signs in your future. How likely is that though? Dads can have dreams too.

New Dad's Blog Beer of Choice - Sam Adams - I am a True American Dad

Should I bring beer over to a party, or should I not bring dad beer over for a party?  That is the question.

All dads have been there.  You (probably your wife) have invited people over for dinner.  You get the food ready, all the snack food is out and people arrive.  Since you have invited people over, you have the fridge stocked with beer, probably a few different kinds.  For ladies, you have something else. Every dad or guy that arrives has beer in his hand.  Many times the beer is something you have not heard of and as a nice gesture, you say, “You didn’t need to do that,” or “That is nice of you.”  Of course, you have some of the beer brought over.

Bringing beer over is a nice gesture and I love it ending up in my fridge in the end of the night.  I have asked these people to come over for dinner and of course I am a real man and have my fridge stocked with ice-cold beer.  I expect the same from all dads and real men out there; when you invite others over you have the beer stocked.  When you are invited over and not asked to bring something, please do not bring beer. Being a real man, I will not bring beer over to your home unless asked.

Who is inviting me over for a beer?  I prefer Sam Adams, a true American beer.  On second thought, bring over beer whenever you want when you are invited somewhere.  Please do not remember the above post. The more beer the merrier.

Real Dad Blog Version:  The person who is having people over should provide the beer.  They are not a real man if they do not. You are always welcomed to bring beer over when invited over.

Side note:  It is ok if you do not drink beer or other types of alcohol.  Being a dad, that is totally cool and you should show your kids responsible drinking habits or not drink at all.  If you do not drink responsible, all other dads should beat you up.

Related post: Dad Play Softball – Drink a Beer to that

My Baby Getting a Kiss

Like father like son, Rylan is a stud.  Besides getting kisses from his relatives, mom, and dad, Rylan has already been receiving kisses from his little girlfriends; two to be exact.  For privacy reasons we will leave the kids names out who have kissed him.  They see my boy a lot and are quite fond of him and he is fond of them as well.

We all think we remember our first kisses.  I am guessing we don’t because Rylan has already been kissed by baby girls.   I sure

My Baby's First Kiss with one of His Girlfriends

hope I was kissed like that when I was my son’s age.  Mom, was I kissed like that when I was a baby? The first time I kissed a girl that I remember was back in 3^rd grade.  I had no idea what I was doing and really, it did not mean much.  I would much rather have been playing baseball or been sitting on my but playing Baseball Stars on Nintendo.  I had no idea what I was doing and I am sure she did not either.  My first real kiss was when I was 15.  I was like, oh, this what is a kiss should feel like.  This wet and slimy stuff – playing tonsil hockey is pretty cool.

Baby practicing his romantic toy skills

Rylan, I have some kissing wisdom for you.

1. 1,  The little cuties are kissing you right now.  Please wait until you are older, your mom would like you to wait until you’re married.  I think fifteen or sixteen is a good age.
2. 2.  In your younger years, and in your teenage years, sports and school come first.  All you better be thinking about is sports when you are in your younger years (mom says and her too).  Girls should be labeled as gross but OK to be friends with.
3. Never ever let this last picture happen to you again.  I realize
   

   Baby Caught of Guard from Kissing Baby Boy

   you’re young and innocent and obviously are caught off guard.

Real Dad Blog Version:  My son is a stud; girls are kissing him left and right.  Just remember Rylan,  sports come first (and mom) and don’t you ever let a boy kiss you again.

FYI… For all you political people out there, keep your comments to yourself.  (i.e. But what if he is….).  It is a blog.

For all new dads out there, you may find this post funny

A New Dad Taking One for the Team Getting Peed On!

Dr. Randy Pausch gets my first award of being a great dad even though he is not here to still bless the world.  He left us with a lot of wisdom that was actually left for his children in his “Last Lecture.”   My prayers go out to his family and to him.   This is one of the most touching videos ever made.  He states how to say I am sorry at 7 minutes 40 seconds.  Pay close attention.    If you have not seen the video, I suggest watching the whole video.  You may even shed a tear.

Dr. Randy Pausch states there are 3 steps to apologize.

1. I am sorry.
2. It was my fault
3. How do I make it right “that is how I can tell sincerity”

Even before I saw this video, this is how I have apologized.  I learned this from other people who know how to apologize because they have been sincere.

This is how the president of the United States should apologize.  I am sorry for stating the comment that the police officers acted stupidly as I did not know all of the facts.  It is my fault that my comments made things worse between the cultures of our society.  I am going to make this right by knowing the facts before I speak and listen to both sides of the story.  As the president, I should not comment like this.  I am sorry to the officer as I made things worse for him.   I am sorry to the American people, as I have disappointed many.  Again, I will not make a comment like this again.

This blog is now a teachable moment to all  parents on how to apologize.  I hope it is a teachable blog to the president of the United States who is, also, a dad.  It is important to model your children the 3 simple step to say I am sorry so they grow up and learn how to apologize.   Say I am sorry properly to your wife, children and everyone you do wrong to.

If you would like to donate to a great dad’s (Randy Pausch) cause. you may so here Randy Pausch Foundation

Real Dad Blog Man’s Version:  Learn how to apologize.  Use the 3 simple steps above.  Real dads and real new dads can and will apologize.  Randy Pausch should be remembered as a great dad.

Rylan getting into the garbage. The scratch in the wall is from the dog. The scratch has now been fixed

Before I get into how to tell your kid “no”, I have over 8 years of experience of telling high school students “no”. They are high school students who have heard “no” their whole life but someway, somehow, got what they wanted. My job is to get them to accept the word “no”. It is hard because they never understood it from the get go. I sure have my tricks though.

Telling your kids no is one of the easiest things to do in the world. You just have to make it easy. It can be cute when you have a little one and they are trying to get into something they shouldn’t. You may even want to laugh about it. It is also hard to tell your kids “no” when the tears start because they want to play with their friends but you have somewhere important to go like Church or they want the next hot Xbox game that they are a little too young for. Just get use to saying “no” and start the no’s early.

Rylan is only 9 months old and we are already starting to tell him “no”. Starting this young helps them understand that they need to listen to their parents and there are certain things they cannot do. In the video below, Rylan is getting into the garbage can. Yes, I said it all cute and stuff because it breaks my heart to tell him sternly, telling him “no”, sure seemed to work. The reason it did work is he has been trying to get into the garbage on his walker for the last few weeks. We tell him “no” once, if he doesn’t listen, we tell him again and redirect him. We have been doing this with the garbage. Telling him twice in the video worked. The most important thing is we followed through with the “no”. Since he has been rolling around he has been getting into wires and other things he shouldn’t be getting into. We have been telling him “no” with this, and he stops and goes the other way. He is only 9 months old and understand the word “no”. He is still the happiest baby alive!

We were at Target the other day and a little girl was in the Barbie section and really wanted a Barbie. Of course, the mom just let her scream, and then started yelling at her to stop. Of course, she kept on screaming because the mother had no follow through and the girl is probably used to her yelling. In the future, this little girl will not be so little. She will be in her teens and getting what she wants.

How would I handle this situation? I would have told her that she cannot have a Barbie and would have told her why she cannot. One reason is that we may not have the money to buy the Barbie right now and tell her how she can earn it. Telling your child why helps them think about why they cannot have something or do something so you do not always have to explain yourself in the future. If she would have kept on crying, the next step is to redirect her behavior. The mother could have told her we are leaving this isle and going directly home or that we are going to go directly home now since we are not acting store appropriate. Of course you will have to explain what is store appropriate is. Then, you have to follow through.

I have given examples of how to tell your child “no”. Overall, you can tell your child “no” in 4 simples steps.

1. Tell your child no.
2. Tell your child why.
3. If they do not quit doing the behavior, redirect the behavior.
4. Follow through on everything, always!

Also make sure to tell your child “yes” a lot more than “no”. Telling your child “no” from the start will make alot less no’s in the future.

Pictures not to take of your baby. Looking out for you Rylan and you little Butt!

There are also pictures where you were naked in the bathtub that shows up at wedding receptions, grooms dinners and graduation parties. My bathtub picture showed up at both my graduation party and grooms dinner. You have seen the celebrating parties get red in the face after seeing the famous little pee-pee shot (I guess if your lucky, a big pee-pee shot).

Melissa took a picture of Rylan naked on a blanket the other day, well, a few of them.  The picture below, I have blacked out to protect Rylan from future humiliation.  When he gets married though or has a serious girlfriend, it will come out for some good parenting fun.

To all my friends who have sent out naked baby pictures, this post is in good fun even though I have had made fun of you for it.  For my guy friends, I am sure your wife’s made you do it. There are many things you can make fun of me about, especially having a blog about being a dad.

After writing this blog entry of pictures never to take of your kids, I realized it had to do more with boys.  It is a good idea also never to dress your boys up in dresses or doll outfits.  It’s embarrassing to us dads.