meta-dad » dad

Hip + sexy for nursing mother

Meta-Dad — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:30:04 +0000

Post-baby pajamas and nightwear for new moms does not have to consist of an oversized t-shirt and sweatpants. Understand most new moms may not be feeling super sexy since their body is going through notable transitions and baby doesn’t really care whether he spits up on cotton or silk. But new dads (and established ones) can add a nice touch to her hospital bag by slipping in a new nursing pajama set.

If your wife does breastfeed you may want to consider getting her some cute pajamas designed specifically for nursing. For those dads out there who may not quite have a grasp on the differences between regular pajamas and nursing pajamas – let me provide some insight. Nursing wear tends to have very efficient and strategically placed snaps, gaps and “windows” to provide both momma and baby “access” to make the breast-feeding process both easy and discreet. I must admit this is some pretty exciting technology.

The stuff pictured above is from the fine folks at NursingPJs.Com, who have a fine collection of nursing wear that will please momma, baby and most definitely you (Dad). But be careful Dad and choose wisely or you may find yourself ‘expecting’ again.

20 healthy ways Dad can praise his child

Meta-Dad — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:30:45 +0000

As parents we love to praise our kids. A good grade they got on a paper, a touch-down they got or cleaning up their room without being told – these are all fair examples. We feel this is the proper positive reinforcement they need to grow into healthy, well-balanced adults, right? Based on the results of over thirty years of scientific study is revealing a different theory based on a “growth mind-set” that debunks this time-worn approach. This mind-set puts a particular focus on their ‘effort‘ and ‘persistence’ rather than their ‘talent‘ or ‘ability‘ and ultimately trains your kids to think of themselves as ever-evolving learning machines.

The popular model of praising a kids intelligence or talent galvanizes the idea that their gift is static or fixed. This sets them up for failure when they are faced with tough challenges because they have the expectation that that any challenge should be easy and achievable. Simply put – the growth mind-set upgrades the saying, “learn from your mistakes,” and presents mistakes as problems yet to be solved. It motivates your kid to actually adopt a mastery mind-set and look forward to challenges rather than be intimidated by them. What is most interesting about these studies is they imply that this growth mind-set not only applies to academic arenas but all aspects of ones life – from ones athletic or physical abilities to one’s inter-personal or social approaches.

So next time your kid throws you that, “look Dad, I did it!” look, think twice before throwing them that verbal dog biscuit and praise the effort or action rather than the results. He’s some variety to consider;

You should be proud of yourself!
You did a lot of work today!
You’re getting better every day!
Keep up the good work!
I am very proud of you!
You really outdid yourself!
Great effort today!
You make my job so much easier, thank you!
You’re really on top of things!
That’s sensational!
Good thinking!
Great effort!
That’s what I call a fine job!
You’ve really improved!
Now you’ve figured it out!
You worked really hard on that, great job!
You’ve got your brain in it today!
Way to go!
You’re really concentrating!
How did you think of that!

Sited Articles:
Scientific American | The Secret to Raising Smart Kids
Wikipedia | Benjamin Franklin

Motivating kids to be achievers
Breaking the Cycle: Fostering a Loving Relationship Between Siblings

Related Articles:
Stanford Magazine | The Effort Effect

Books:
Siblings Without Rivalry
How To Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk
Parenting From the Inside Out

Alphabet ice mold from Charlie & Marie

Meta-Dad — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:30:51 +0000

You thought a fun way to teach the kids the alphabet was restricted to condensed soups – chuff! I say! Alphabet Ice Trays. Really nothing much that we have to say about those, they are pretty self explanatory, made out of black silicone, pretty much everything can be turned into letters here – turn them into an alphabet jello mold, butter pads that ‘speak’ to the kids, etc. The set includes three trays for the entire alphabet!

$30 bucks [+ shipping] via Charlie & Marie

5 things parents should check before filing federal taxes

Meta-Dad — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:30:20 +0000

With everybody rushing to sign, seal and deliver their returns, you will want to take a moment to review recent federal tax changes and perhaps save a few bucks in the process.

1. Increase in investment income amount. The amount of taxable investment income these children can have without it being subject to tax at the parent’s rate has increased to $1,800 for 2008.

2. Adoption Benefits increased. For 2008, the maximum adoption credit has increased to $11,650. Also, the maximum exclusion from income for benefits under your employer’s adoption assistance program has increased to $11,650. These amounts are phased out if your modified Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is between $174,730 and $214,730. You cannot claim the credit or exclusion if your modified AGI is $214,730 or more.

3. Earned Income for additional children decreased. For 2008, the minimum earned income amount used to figure the additional child tax credit has decreased to $8,500.

4. You may be eligible for the Recovery Rebate Credit. This credit is similar to last year’s economic stimulus payment, except that your 2008 tax information is used to figure this credit. The max. credit is $600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly) plus $300 for each qualifying child.

You can take this credit only if:

You did not get an economic stimulus payment, or
Your economic stimulus payment was under$600 ($1,200 if married filing jointly in ’07), plus $300 for each qualifying child you had for 2008.

5. Education Savings Bond Exclusion has been reduced. In ’08, the amount of your interest exclusion is phased out (gradually reduced) if your filing status is married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) and your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is between $100,650 and $130,650. You can’t apply the deduction if your MAGI is greater than the $130,650 threshold. For all other filing statuses, your interest exclusion is phased out if your MAGI is between $67,100 and $82,100. You cannot take a deduction if your MAGI is beyond $82,100.

Other categories you may want to scan before sending your returns out, education related tax changes, home/residence related tax changes and if you think you’re going to have trouble paying your taxes this year, check out the FAQ’s at the IRS website.

Go fly a kite!

Meta-Dad — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 11:30:40 +0000

Flying a kite with the kids is yet another golden activity that holds great potential for learning, bonding and just having a little fun. Ever wonder exactly why and how a kite flies? Chances are at some point your kids may ask you, right? With a little digging around I have found some great sites for explaining why and how kites fly, believe it or not NASA’s Glenn Research Center has a fantastic (and thorough) explanation of exactly how and why a kite flies.

While the forces on all kites are the same, each kite flies a little differently. Some kites are highly maneuverable and some kites are very stable. There are kites with multiple control lines that can perform stunts, while other kites can be flown to high altitudes. We can use math techniques that you learn in school to determine the altitude of a kite graphically. With a little more knowledge of mathematics, you can actually calculate the altitude at which the kite is flying” ~ Kite Flight, NASA’s Glenn Research Center

I got my kids into kites last spring with a simple $5 classic delta design and 200′ of line. I think it was a Diego design, surprise-surprise. They were thrilled at the action we got from the nearby ocean breeze. But kids being kids, they already have their eye set on getting one of those cool dragon designs where the long tail twists and whips about. They’ll just have to put it on the top of their “list” and wait for their birthday.

Regardless, it is yet another cheap and easy activity for dads to do with their kids. Remember, these are the kind of activities that hold the potential to build great memories, opportunities to connect with the little ones, be silly and show them you know how to have fun, too.

If you want to take it to the next level, you can experiment with building your own kite! There are some wonderful kits out there (check the links below) for DIY Dads and Moms for making a full array of kites, spinners, flyers and fighters – from traditional Delta Wings, Babu Khan Fighter kites, Kono Box kite or even a Bell Tetra kite kit. Evidently, March 28th to May 3rd is National Kite Month, I guess they can not fit all the festivities into the calendar month so they have to let the celebration slip over, a bit.

How to make paper airplanes for kids

Meta-Dad — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:30:01 +0000

There is plenty to be said about kids having a healthy dose of unstructured play in their life. No soccer practice to run to, no piano lessons to fret about. Those things are good to do, but the unencumbered afternoon is something to be cherished for kids.

As a dad, it may mean having a few tricks up your sleeve to get them going in the right direction, whether it’s a handful of dolls or action figures or even a few sheets of paper. That’s right, a few pieces of paper. This is arts and crafts, dad-style. There are a number of good sites that provide easy to understand directions (video too!) for creating a number of classic paper airplanes.

Sure – as parents you sometimes catch yourself “upselling” an activity but paper airplanes needs very little selling. Being able to take a sheet of paper (preferably one that has already been used for something) and transforming it into a moth, stealth or ring plane is totally entertaining for kids, regardless of age. As kids discover the different tricks (loop d’loops and such) that can be achieved by simple modifications to their planes, they will be hooked.

For the more advanced designs, check out the patterns available at How Stuff Works. They have directions for planes like the FA Thunderhawk Paper Airplane and A7 Moonraider Paper Airplane, cool stuff.

Pat’s Planes | Learn to Fold Paper Airplane from Pat, the Aerospace Engineer
Zurqui | The DC3 of paper airplanes
Airplane Collectible Resource | Making Paper Airplane that Flies like a Real One [*check out downloadable directions midway down page]
Set your own world record with this design! [*PDF]

A trustworthy GPS tracking device

Meta-Dad — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:30:41 +0000

Via Blaugh.Com

Dads Can Learn Something From This Little Kit

Meta-Dad — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:30:13 +0000

Sure deep down we like to think we Dads have MacGyver potential but honestly, we fall flat most of the time. Think about it, to really pull it off you would have to have a sundry of supplies tucked away in every nook and cranny of your person.

Some Dads may already be on top of this, occasionally I have a moment of brilliance but most of the time it is pure luck. What is he talking about? I’m talking about having stuff on hand to entertain the kids on the drop of a dime.

Say, you grab one of the tikes to tag along with you while you make that visit to the post office only to find there’s only one window open and the line that bending around the corner conjures images of everlasting purgatory and your kid looks up at you and says with tender innocence, “Dad, this is going to take a long long time. Do we really have to mail these?” And most of the time (unfortunately), the answer is yes.

Well, the folks at Wire + Twine have a little sack of fun that may ease the pain for the little ones. What’s in it?

Instructions for 20 activities
Balloon
Bandage
Binder clip
Birthday candle
Carabiner
Cotton swabs
Dice
Emery boards
Flashlight
Glue stick
Googly eyes
Latex gloves
Measuring Tape
Mirror
Needle and thread
Paper clips
Permanent marker
Plastic zipper bags
Safety pins
Sanitizing wipe
Scissors
Rubber bands
Whistle (I save this for last because if the kid makes it this far, either you’ve fallen asleep in line or you need to make a ruckus and get the blood flowing in that line)

If you are cheap or just inspired, you could easily fashion you own kit. Regardless, consider getting one for the wife or perhaps a friend or family member, a portion of the proceeds go to Heifer International.

$25 [+shipping] at Wire + Twine

And Now For Your Moment of Zen…

Meta-Dad — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:30:12 +0000

Photographer Joshua Hoffline has breathed life into all of the classic childrens’ nightmares in our culture. His work licks sweet like candy and has all the production value of Disneyland, enjoy.

Via Joshua Hoffine

Parent Meetup Groups

Meta-Dad — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:30:34 +0000

Yes, there are a ton of online parent chat groups available to every imaginable parent type (gay, lesbian, single, incarcerated, pagan, et al.) and they all aim to serve their purpose. Heck, you can find them on CraigsList these days. I think that’s great, as they say, “it takes a village…”. On the dad-side of things, there seems to be a growing trend on Stay-at-Home-Dads (S.A.H.D.’s), which is kind of a sad anachronism (pun – intended) but a earnest group nonetheless.

Of all the outlets available online, I have stumbled on to Meetup.Com. According to their site, they’re the world’s largest network of local groups. More than 2,000 groups get together in local communities each day, each one with the goal of improving themselves or their communities.

What I like about the concept is Meetups are real people, with real connections, forming real
communities making a real impact. In other words, you are using the internet to get off the internet and talk with people! Meetup is not about virtual relationships, but face-to-face, honest-to-goodness interaction between neighbors.

If you are the more voyeuristic type, stick to the parenting chat groups, there is plenty of drama to be had (I know from experience), but if you want to throw yourself out there and meet up with people going through it just like you, check out MeetUp.

Related Links:
MeetUp.Com
Yahoo Parenting Groups