The Importance of Good Role Models

posted by Romy (@daddontlie)

The Importance of Good Role Models

Scott Jones is the perfect example of a positive influence for my son

Sometimes Kyrie looks up at me and playfully I grab a bucket and put it on my head. He thinks it's hilarious and laughs. I'll lay the bucket down and he will instantly grab the bucket and put it on his head and we'll both start laughing again.

If I start banging on his little drum, stop and give him the drumstick, he'll start banging away on that drum.

This guy is just over one year old, and he's starting to understand so much. This is when I start to realize that I'm a parent and I'm going to be a very influential person in his life. My hope is that I can always be a positive role model and not just some guy putting a bucket on my head for his amusement.

In Kyrie's lifetime, he will have a lot of role models influencing him in how he leads his life. It won't only be us as parents but grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, teachers and family friends like Scott Jones.

A Page Out Of The Cool Dad's Book - Lebron James

posted by Romy (@daddontlie)

A Page Out Of The Cool Dad's Book - Lebron James

Another dad cooler than me.

You know who's another cooler dad than me? Lebron James.

King James is trying to win everyone's hearts back. After being a villain in Miami for four seasons, he recently decided to correct some of his missteps in his NBA career and chose to make his return to Cleveland and rejoin his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers. He was widely criticized on his approach on "The Decision" back in 2010 and he gained a lot of haters along the way, including myself.

The Daycare Zombies - the transition to daycare

posted by Romy (@daddontlie)

The Daycare Zombies - the transition to daycare

Breaking your kid in for the world of daycare

When I brought my son Kyrie to his first day of daycare, I walked in the room and I felt like I was surrounded by zombies. These weren't your ordinary zombies, these were infants slowly hobbling towards me...arms out...crying...eventually latching onto my leg....looking for a hug, in hopes that either my wife or I would pick them up. One little boy even came up to me, clamped onto my legs and said "Mama."

Is this what I'm paying the big daycare bucks for? Paying money for Kyrie to get less attention than he was getting for twelve straight months at home? 

A Rookie Dad season is in the books

posted by Romy (@daddontlie)

A Rookie Dad season is in the books

Reflecting on that first year as a dad

My son Kyrie just celebrated his first birthday, just one day before Canada Day, meaning my rookie season as a dad is officially in the books. But this is a career with no offseason, it's a 24 hour a day, 365 day of the year gig. I still remember that Saturday night before heading to a Halloween party, when my wife Naomi screamed with excitement after having a positive pregnancy test after a few months of negative ones. We were both excited and scared at that moment but as the youngest of four siblings who all have children of their own, along with my parents who were first generation immigrants from the Philippines, I had a few parent role models in my life. So for fatherhood, I not only had Google as my teammate, but a number of family members to assist me along the way.