Parenting the endless sacrifice or the sacrifice for the future?

For a while now my wife and I have been talking about the sacrifices we’ve been making as parents. I’m sure you’ve made yours we all have is my take on it. Then it occurs to me that we’re a much more selfish generation (maybe one of the worst in history). I was once talking about how we’re so selfish as parents when another blogger chimed in and said that all kids are more selfish then their parents because our parents want them to be better then how they had and in turn work hard to provide more. I’ve been thinking isn’t that circle making it much worst for the future generations?

In having a similar discussion of the new graduates of college working in the PR industry one senior PR person joked these kids dont even want to get coffee or do real work; they all just want to sit around and try to become celebrities… I get it, clearly look at the cast of jersey shore – right?!

I worry about the future for many reasons – living in NYC I need to deal with education prior to Kindergarten, so we’re juggling the whole 2 income with school or nanny/child care or 1 income and barely making but with a stay at home parent.  I know my wife and I are really feeling the sacrifice these days mainly because we just had our second time alone from our child for more then 3 days.  It was great other then the fact they were some of the busiest days we’ve had in over 2 years.

My mom hung out for a while with my wife tonight and she even made a comment about how life’s a sacrifice and she’s proud that hers gave true to the fruits that are now me… and (here comes the mom jab) that I need to step it up and do more with my son…. (if you heard a car crash sound it was just me driving off a bridge)… I’m pushing myself to limits here to build a better life for my son.  Talking with my wife day in and day out about how we can do more with less or get more to do more… while others say money doesn’t buy happiness (I completely agree) it does afford you better aspirin! No really I get it – in NYC to live a good life you need some moderate amount of money…

I guess the long and the short of it is – are we always sacrificing for a better life for our kids? or are we sacrificing for our future? or is there a good balance of not just living in the now but not missing out on our kids?

Who are you? What makes you — you?

Who are you? What makes you — you?

Are we sums of the parts of our lives? Are we the jobs we take on to earn a living? Are we our children? I love to think that i can fix myself by making my child better, and i wish that was true and i know my last post touched on lifestyle and money and really thats not what this is about either. Its really about what defines us.

For a better part of my life I’ve wanted to give back; work for NGOs, nonprofits, find a balance of peace inside my brain that has been programmed to always think money. Everything I’ve learned since I was a child was to push myself for success. Must of us had this instilled in us as part of the American education, some of this was true, some i feel now was a twist on the shoulders of the education of our grandparents.

This has been on my mind for the better part of two months since the evo conference where Liz Strauss gave some  homework to think about your voice. Since evoconf this blog has never been the same I’ve limited the giveaways to products I use or truly believe in… I’ve posted less about my family some of that is about dynamics of what should i post verse whats a good read verse what is private and trying to find the balance… But mainly its because I wanted to think about the direction of dadarocks.

Ive finally figured it out I’ve always wanted to inspire other dads to be better. I believe that men need examples of other men to be better men, it doesn’t happen overnight it sometimes happens when you hold your child for the first time but usually it’s a learned process… So there are less giveaways (don’t worry soon enough you’ll hear news about were they went… There are less NYC postings that I can say is about to be announced, there will be a special NYC dad blog for upcoming events and local giveaways URL coming soon.

We are pieces of all the people who have influenced and who have made us better, who have given us knowledge for better or for worst…. We all everyone we come in touch with and when you live in New York City that’s a lot of people. and so I’m trying to be a better husband, a better father, a better man, and to you a better blogger.

Project Mom Casting

Its the year of the dad blog in case you havent hear – or Dad is the new Mom – these are all one liners that I’ve heard alot this year. They’re small jokes at the fact that Dads in this generation are being more involved.  Here is my vlog in hopes of being a inspiration to another dad.

Help donate school supplies to classrooms with Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward!

Help donate school supplies to classrooms with Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward!

Help donate school supplies to classrooms with Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward!

For me, doing the back to school shopping just started last year and I can tell that it will become more and more of a larger chore as my girls get older. I have to say though that though I am sometimes amazed at the number of supplies that one can find, Walmart makes it easy and their prices are great! Being a member of Collective Bias I was excited to find that they were working with Elmer’s to help Adopt-A-Classroom make a difference in classrooms across the country by donating up to $10,000 in school supplies!

How can you help?
It’s easy to join in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward – all you have to do is write a post on your blog to donate a virtual bag of school supplies. For every post written before 12pm EST on August 12, 2010, Elmer’s will donate $10 to Adopt-A-Classroom, up to $10,000. You can give as many virtual bags as you want!

ELMER’S VIRTUAL BAG IT FORWARD RULES

  • Copy and paste these rules into your blog post.
  • Create a blog post giving a “virtual bag of school supplies” to other bloggers or write about your Back to School shopping trip at Walmart.
  • Link back to the person who gave you a bag of school supplies.
  • Let each person you are giving a virtual bag of school supplies know you have given them a bag.
  • Leave your link in the Elmer’s Virtual Bag It Forward comment section. You can also find the official rules of this virtual #bagitforward program there.
  • Elmer’s is donating $10 for each blog participating in the Virtual Bag It Forward Donation to Adopt-A-Classroom (up to total of $10,000 for blog posts written by August 12, 2010).
  • Please note that only one blog post per blog url will count towards the donation.

So I was tagged in this by Chris S. of Dad of Divas [Link] and I’m passing this forward to Carol of NYCityMama [Link], Jessica of Momma’s gone City [Link], Isabel of Alphamom [Link], Stephanie of Dial M for Minky {Moo} [Link]. I hope you will all join in to help #bagitforward with Elmer’s. And please, if you’re reading this and have a blog – join in as well!

March Madness its brackets time!

March Madness its brackets time!

Here we are less then 36 hours from the start of the 2010 March Madness Tournament. If you’re looking to join in on the fun with some brackets, check out http://bit.ly/9QKMZh password: kids – Here is my pool for Dads and Moms out there.

Who are your picks? mine will be under lock and key until Thursday at noon, when the tourney kicks off.

Am I rooting for a team? nope, while Rochester Institute of Technology had sports (mainly hockey) I was a fan when I was there and certainly not a fan as an alumni (sad to say). I even thought about graduate school at a point because I wanted to be able to cheer for a school that had sports in its past and future.

Any tips in picking teams? nope, in years past I did great and never watched a game. Other years I’d watch a ton of college hoops and get my teeth kicked in.

I’m a mom blogger can my partner pick for me? Sure everyone is welcomed.

I’m a dad blogger can my partner pick for me? Sure everyone is welcomed.