Master Coach Training, Denver, April 24th & 25th

I was blessed to attend Daddy Boot Camp Master Coach Training with other boot camp coaches from all over America at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver, CO this April.

This intensive two day immersion in Boot Camp principles included a live Boot Camp on the second day, where I and other coaches got a rare chance to step back and simply watch some of the most experienced boot camp coaches at work, and it was an eye-opener.

What I'm learning is the MORE time I spend coaching boot camp, the LESS I should be doing as a coach. In the classroom, at least. Nothing is more important than getting veteran fathers together with expectant fathers, and simply letting it happen. I've talked with teachers both in boot camps and in other fields and hear this over and over: 'The more time I 'teach', the more its about creating a learning space, not about me." Once these skilled coaches got these groups together, they did the unthinkable: nothing. They stepped back, and let the process happen.

Now back in Boulder County training new coaches and coaching Daddy Boot Camp classes, I'm spending more time on email and the phone making sure we have not just one or two, but three, four, or more veteran dads with their babies coming to Boot Camp Classes. Why more? Just having a 3 week baby and a 3 month baby together with their dads, for new fathers to see the amazing change and how to handle these two ages; what is going to happen to their newborn so quickly, brings a new perspective on handling these tough but special early days soon gone forever. If we can bring these men together to share their experiences and ask their questions, I will also do the unthinkable: Nothing.

FIRST LONGMONT DADDY BOOT CAMP in a LONG TIME!

MAY 3, 2009

I was thrilled to work with Daddy Boot Camp facilitator John McLean (centered above me) earlier this May as we fired up a new year of working with expectant dad's on ... what to expect!

This was a first for both John and I. It was his first class as a coach, and my first as a Master Coach, and we both learned a lot, as usual, from these great soon to be fathers. As a start up class in this area, we had only John's son, and are looking for our now 'veteran' dads to come back with their newborns and share experience with the next round of expectant fathers.

We will repost this with the remaining dates for Longmont Daddy Boot Camp 2009 soon. Thanks to the St.Vrain Family Center and Longmont Hospital for making this critical class available.

Daddy Boot Camp THIS SATURDAY 9-1pm! February 9th

Foothills Hospital, Boulder, CO. This class just this date is on the THIRD FLOOR OB ED room.

9am. Thanks!, Barney


Remaining 2008 Boulder Daddy Boot Camp Dates are:

Mar 8
Apr 12
May 10
Jun 14
July12
Aug 9
Sep 13
Oct 11
Nov 8
Dec 13

Note we skip July, so just don't have a baby then!


If the first class you request is full, please check on our Monthly (Except July) 2008 Class openings and register (Required), contact:

Coreen Schmidt

Executive Director

St. Vrain Family Center
P.O. Box 2174
Longmont, CO 80502-2174
Phone: (303) 776-5348

www.stvrainfamilycenter.org

If you are a Veteran Dad with a baby under 1 year old, PLEASE COME ANYTIME DURING THE CLASS For Free Coffee, Pastries, and a NICE CIGAR. If you know a dad with a child under 1 year old and bring him with his child to the class, your class fee will be REFUNDED.

Use Lijit Search to find info on Daddy Boot Camp and other Parenting Issues!

My Breath Stinks

I'm in a strange place with my 9 year old and math homework.

I get all excited about it, she just wants to get it done. I run around grabbing 'scrap' paper and showing her how fun to figure out the close multiples of 5 or 10 to work backwards towards the real answer, which is a multiple of 8, and she just says, "Your breath stinks."

This is one of the blessings of having children, this pronouncement. I know my breath stinks of course. I walk around and have long stretches of stinky breath. I mean I brush after meals, but this old cracker is not going to suck sugar all day to have fresh on the spot breath. Hey, I prep when needed, thats enough. For homework with the kids, I skip the Altoid.

Still its refreshing to be told. Its not like I can tell my boss, while they are asking me how a project is going, "Yes, they are very interested Bob, but your breath stinks." And they don't tell me. Adults just leisurely back head first away and try to keep their eyeballs from rolling. Kids shoot from the hip mouth .

2 Blue

I got to play the Game of Life last night with my 7 year old. As we started out, and I got to the STOP: GET MARRIED space, I went for the pink peg to add to my car, and STOPPED.

Why not use this little space in this Game of Life to bridge a discussion on homosexual lifestyle? "Can I be two men?" I asked her. "Sure" she replied, "My friend at school has two moms. One is 'Mom'. and one is 'Momma.'

It seems I was bridging to myself, my seven year old had been down this life course. "What will you pick?" I asked her. "Hmmm", she said, initially going for another pink for her car, but then considering. "I will close my eyes and pick", she said, and got a blue peg to join her pink one, totally at random. "I like that", she said, "You know I have Nedda." Nedda is a boy from the Netherlands she is friends with.

That was it for this topic that game. We had lots of other Life issues to deal with, car accidents, insurance, buying a home. 'How', I wondered as our two cars inched farther down the game of life, 'Do other parents, if they do, bridge the issue of sexuality to their kids?' Some I fear may with disdain for same sex couples, and how sad for the next generation if they are exposed to old hatred and fears. Not discussing does not seem a healthy alternative either, its here, as it ever has been, as long as we have been human. Unless your pegged in Iran, where they have no Homosexuals.

Watching the Superbowl? Will your daughter be around?

I'm a Jet/Met fan, but now living in the middle of America lean to any NY team, even the Yankees if just for their classy coach Joe Torre. Doh! The NY Giants are doing a Met's underdog run, on a tear like the Rockies finale winning all away games, and maybe, just maybe the 'David' Giants can beat 'Goliath' Patriots this Superbowl. Sure it would take a miracle, but why are you watching it then? Because it COULD happen. Patriots have won their last games by a single score. Lady Luck may have moved on.

Center On Media and Child Health's Brandy King knows from their November post about my family and the media I have 'issues' when great sports are on vs. our kids and media exposure. Knowing this, she tipped me off about dad's and daughters.org's SuperBowl Tips for Dads and Daughters watching the SuperBowl together.. Here are their first 3 of their 9 tips, please check this out, its easy, makes the game more fun for everyone, and makes your daughter lucky to have you for a father!:

Excerpt of Tips for Dads and Daughters Watching the Super Bowl Together

Read them all at:[ http://www.dadsanddaughters.org/PDFs/SuperBowlTips.pdf ]

Dads & Daughters watching TV sports together—one of life’s pleasures. But what about those

moments (like during some commercials) when you want to cover her eyes with your hands?

Here are a few simple tips from the national nonprofit Dads & Daughters for fathers and

stepfathers watching the Super Bowl (and other TV sporting events) with their daughters:

1. First, spend part of the pre-game afternoon tossing a football around with her! A Dad who plays sports with

his Daughter increases the odds that she’ll grow up healthy and strong!

2. If she doesn't like to play catch, take a walk or bike ride together. Let her know that you enjoy being with her.

The time together may give her an opportunity to share what is going on in her life. Daughters may see our

enthusiasm for sports and think we’re more interested in our favorite team than in her. Making time for her on

Super Bowl Sunday (and every other day) can counter that perception.

3. When watching the game, be aware that what your daughter or stepdaughter sees and what you see may

be entirely different. She may be struck by the cheerleaders, whose partially clothed bodies look so “perfect.”

Instead of enjoying the game, your daughter may be comparing her body to theirs and feeling inadequate.

Read ALL 9 Superbowl tips at Dads and Daughters.org

2008 Boulder Daddy Boot Camp Dates

The remaining 2008 Boulder Daddy Boot Camp Dates are:

Jan 12
Feb 9
Mar 8
Apr 12
May 10
Jun 14
July12
Aug 9
Sep 13
Oct 11
Nov 8
Dec 13

Note we skip July, so just don't have a baby then!


If the first class you request is full, please check on our Monthly (Except July) 2008 Class openings and register (Required), contact:

Coreen Schmidt

Executive Director

St. Vrain Family Center
P.O. Box 2174
Longmont, CO 80502-2174
Phone: (303) 776-5348

www.stvrainfamilycenter.org

If you are a Veteran Dad with a baby under 1 year old, PLEASE COME ANYTIME DURING THE CLASS For Free Coffee, Pastries, and a NICE CIGAR. If you know a dad with a child under 1 year old and bring him with his child to the class, your class fee will be REFUNDED.

Use Lijit Search to find info on Daddy Boot Camp and other Parenting Issues!