Dear Mr. Dad: Everyone says that as parents, we’re supposed to be good role models for our kids. That sounds like a great idea, but why do so many parents (and other people) behave in such awful ways? The phrase “good role model” seems easy enough to understand, but maybe it’s not. In your view,...Continue reading
Category: Parenting
Kindergarten: Life Starts Now
Dear Mr. Dad: My daughter is starting kindergarten next month. We’ve been talking about how much fun she’s going to have and she’s seems really excited about the whole thing. But here’s where it gets strange: I’m pretty nervous. What can we (the adults) do to get over our nervousness? And is there anything else...Continue reading
Does My Teen Have an Evil Twin?
Dear Mr. Dad: If I wasn’t in the delivery room for my daughter’s birth, I’d swear that she had a secret, identical twin. Sometimes she’s delightful and lovely to be around, other times, she’s a nightmare. Some days she seems to love us and need us, other days she’s hateful and nasty. People keep telling...Continue reading
Healthy Meatless Meals for Back to School
For parents, this time of year is all about getting the kids ready to go back to school. But August is not only the return to school supplies and changing schedules, it’s also a time to re-examine what we’re feeding our families. When packing your child’s lunch (and your own), aim for meals rich in vegetables,...Continue reading
Talk to Me, Baby
Dear Mr. Dad: My 13-month old says only two words: dada and mama. My best friend’s son is two months younger and she’s constantly bragging about how many words he knows. She’s got me worried that there’s something wrong with my baby. Do all kids start talking about the same age? Either way, what can...Continue reading
To Be (or Not to Be) a Dad: Ask the Doctor
Everything you ever wanted to ask your doctor—from conception to contraception. Although Father’s Day is in June, men are becoming fathers all year long. In fact, almost half of American men are fathers. Two-thirds of men first become dads in their 20s, although plenty of men father children sooner or later—into their 40s, 50s and...Continue reading
Summer Water Safety
Dear Mr. Dad: One of my family’s favorite things about summer is that we get to spend a lot of time in and around water, whether that’s at the beach or in a swimming pool. But every year I hear about kids (and adults) who drown and I’m really getting worried—especially since two of my...Continue reading
Can Your Fertility Save Your Life?
I know, it’s an improbable and largely rhetorical title for a lecture. But it was Nerd Nite SF, and they asked me to talk about something provocative and daring in medicine. Fertility as a tool to measure health. Smacked and Smashed The bar was packed with hundreds of San Francisco tech titans, gamers, developers and programmers, as well as...Continue reading
Yesterday’s Tomorrow: Make Learning about Finances Fun
It happens to everyone sooner or later: The big financial emergency that makes you feel like your life may crumble and fall. But if you have a good financial plan in place, those great big, one-time bills or financial emergencies won’t be as life altering as they might otherwise be. Saving money is critically important...Continue reading
College is Great–But Not for Everyone
Dear Mr. Dad: While I appreciate your recent column about the benefits of education, I encourage you to add the option for a career technical education (CTE) degree and/or certificate to possible educational endeavors. Not all students are destined for a four-year degree. Without the burden of substantial debt., large numbers of students can have...Continue reading