And Now For Something Completely Different – Funny Dads

This post is a bit of a departure from the content we typically include on the Costa DeVault blog –- but with Father’s Day coming up, I just couldn’t resist commenting on an article I just read in the Life section of today’s USA Today (“Today’s guys parent with new daditude”). Work-life balance is important to us here at Costa DeVault –- and being the father of two little girls, the subject matter obviously resonated with me. In the article, the reporter looks at the changing “norms” of fathers and their involvement in their kids’ lives. A shift from the traditional masculinity of the 1950s, today’s fathers are more involved in day-to-day and playful activities –- engaging their children using humor. Websites like dadlabs.com and daddytude.com are popping up –- providing dads with regular video advice and offering a forum for discussion about the new roles and expectations.

This new “norm” certainly seems like the only norm to me. I cut up with the girls all the time – teaching my oldest to say things like “there is no charge for awesomeness” (a quote from Kung Fu Panda) whenever she does something good … or offering to put fried worms on her bagel for breakfast. An offer that always gets a good laugh and an “ohh gross.”

While the article did a good job of summing up the reality for a lot of young fathers, it missed a very important point that, I suspect, many of us dads would have to acknowledge. Truth is: It’s our wives who make our stepped-up involvement and “funny dad” roles possible. My wife does the “un-fun” stuff: keeps the schedules, makes the lunches, signs up for the classes, packs the change of clothes – the list goes on and on. Her diligence allows me to get the girls up in the morning, drop them off and pick them up at pre-school … and have fun along the way. There are so many things I don’t have to worry about because she does … that I just get to be “dad.”

Nothing to do with PR or marketing. Just a commentary on life. And a shout-out to my better half.

Photo Credit: Ifindkarma

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