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[yardydaddy-blog]

Teach what you know

Why teach your kids to do what you like at a young age? Because you're good at it. And because in their eyes you are right. I remember the times when I began playing baseball and hockey in the house with the boys and taking them to the rink to skate. Those trips to the rink when they were only 2 years old were back breaking because it was all me holding them up on the ice, and I'm 6'1". And playing ball at that age was really just me throwing or rolling the ball and then fetching it from who knows where. But eventually they got the hang of it and by the time they were 4 they could skate freely. And by the time they were 8 I could crank baseballs to them without real fear of them getting hurt. So now I've got two partners to play the sports I love. You know how they say just do what you love because you'll do it regardless of money? Well it really is true in this case because obviously no one paid me to play with our kids. But some days, especially on a warm July night when a player on the opposing team hits a hard liner to short and one of my boys catches it effortlessly I can smile knowing I had a small hand in that. Or when they dive for a ball and miss it but get up unhappy that they missed it, I know that they honestly gave it 100% effort. And in my book you can't always have success but you can always give 100% effort - dads. YD

[yardydaddy-blog]

Do your kid's activities affect your job?

It's 4pm and you have to get the numbers in for the day before you leave at 6 or sooner. No problem except your boss is now knocking at the door. "Hey Boss, what's new?" "Hey Worker, I was hoping to meet with you at 6 so that we can discuss the numbers after you're done. See you then." "Gulp! Sure." Boss leaves and you start pounding the side of your head with the stapler. Why? Because you were hoping to actually leave the office at 5 to get your kid to soccer practice. Oh oh! So like every dad with a kid in after school activities you call up one of the other parents to bail you out, again. Yikes! You start texting in shame while the parent that's going to get your message doesn't mind at all, yet you've built up your own level of shame, embarrassment and frustration because work is getting in the way of your kid's life. We'd like to think that everyone can have their own business so that they can come and go as needed to run errands or taxi kids to after school activities. But who would be the employees? Only dads with grown up kids or no kids? I know that when I think of different business to start I always plan it around my boys' schedules. That means I can't do anything between 4 and 9 pm to be on the safe side because of coaching. Hopefully I can create a business that revolves around be operating from my iPhone and as I relinquish my coaching duties next year I can manage the world from the bleachers. I didn't coach baseball last year and it was quite relaxing to sit on the sidelines. One thing I've noticed about minor hockey, minor baseball and all the other minor sports is that tournament organizers like starting events on Friday mornings. Really now! How do all these people have the whole family out to a spring hockey game on Friday morning? I often see very expensive cars in the parking lots so maybe it's mostly self-employed parents but I know this is not true. As a combination of both boys' hockey teams there are police officers, nurses, business owners, teachers, sales managers, marketing managers, custodians, electricians, physiotherapists, bankers, lawyers, firefighters, and real estate agents. Who is doing the work on Fridays during these tournaments. And who can do work after 4 on a weekday? If you could have the perfect job or business according to you, what would t be? Is it based on your children's activities or is it something else? Send me your thoughts. Have fun! Y D

[yardydaddy-blog]

Kid's Activities Dictating Your Vehicle Purchase?

Everyone has heard about soccer moms right? What about hockey dads, or soccer dads, or football dads? Did the term come about because the moms were typically in a minivan getting the kids to the game while the dads were at work or somewhere else? And did the name come about because the soccer moms would gather around in groups drinking coffee at the soccer games while the dads were running up and down the sidelines telling junior what to do?

Is the term soccer moms a bad thing? I don't think so but I could see the negative connotations because minivans are so practical and great on gas, yet there isn't a cool looking out out there at all - zero. But the moms get credit for just getting the job done. I'd like to think that when dads consider the options for buying a new vehicle it is based on cool first. I'd like to also think that there is something else that dads take into account when making this purchase, and that is what activities will be carried out? In my case hockey was the big factor. 

The guys I work with have pickup trucks despite the fact that they don't work construction, on ranches, or anywhere else they use in pickup commercials. But let's face it, a pickup gets it done and there isn't anything that you can't fit in a pickup. But if you're not in the market for a pickup then how do you consider? If you are into mountain biking or snowboarding or skiing then Thule and other companies make roof racks to carry your gear or bikes on the roof. There are also some heavy duty carriers that can slide in and out the trailer hitch if you beef up the suspension. 

I know that moving hockey equipment was a big deal for me. I play in net and my older son plays net, while my younger son plays defence. So on the days where they both have practice I have to fit my gym bag to accommodate my skates, gloves and helmet. I also have to fit both son's gear and sticks. So what did I buy? A 3-year old Acura MDX. I'm not advertising for Acura but the vehicle comes with a third row which is usually down to fit all the hockey stuff and it's pretty good on gas. When we go on long trips that aren't hockey related it's fantastic because the boys sit all the way in the back and my wife and I can talk without hearing any loud talking from the boys. Let me change that - loud noise from their iPad or iPods.

My wife drives a Nissan Altima and it can fit the equipment of both boys but it's a piece of cake to throw their gear into my ride. Would I buy one again? In a heartbeat. Does my wife want one? Absolutely. 

I could have talked about cost factors but really, go read Car and Driver for those details.

So yardy daddy's, what's your story when it comes to your vehicle purchase?

Enjoy the ride!

@YardyDaddy

[yardydaddy-blog]

After my foot went through the backyard rink. Big hole. lol

[yardydaddy-blog]

Backyard Rinks

As I stood on my rink during one of my flooding sessions this week I asked myself the same question I've asked myself for the last 7 years. Why am I out here when it's -20 Celsius? 

A couple of years ago when I had discovered a major leak in the rink at 4am I ran out in my pyjamas and coat. I stuck my hand in, elbow deep and cringing from the pain, searching for the hole. I figured out the size of hole and how much repair tape I'd need to cut up to patch the hole. See, the hole wasn't just a hole, it was the enemy. Leaks in backyard rinks are like spies in the cold war. You are always worried about them, you know they can strike at any time, and you just hope that you can reverse the damage before it's too late. On that particular night I managed to seal the hole correctly (my wife came out to help too) and it was game on the next night after work. Yes, I went to work for 7am that morning.

While I was out repairing the leak that night I looked up at the windows of my neighbours hoping not to wake them up with my madness. I was sure they thought I had lost my mind to be out there playing with water at that time. It was only years after that they told me they liked watching our boys having fun out there. I guess it made the winter go by faster for them. The boys were probably 7 and 5 then.

Now the boys are 11 and 9 and I discovered a leak this week because of a typical January thaw. The rink was perfect before that. Here in Cambridge, Ontario you must suspect a thaw, but I never expected one of my boards to puncture the plastic and cause water under the ice to recede. That's what happened and as I was walking along the ice to flood it my foot went in - brrrrr!. I cursed something fierce and stomped off in frustration. My neighbours surely would have thought I lost it then. I regrouped and spent the next 2 hours fixing the problem that day. I spent 2 hours the next day preparing the surface and had a fantastic rink by 7pm that night. It had been -20 for the last 3 days.

So while I was out there shovelling and scraping and flooding in the freezing cold this week I began laughing to myself. I had a list of things to do for work and in the house but I was quite alright spending 6 hours over the last few days working on the rink. And I hate the cold but working on the rink made the cold a non-factor. Why? because I knew the kids honestly have a blast playing on it after school or after team practice. Yes, they'd rather play on it than go to school, but I'm pretty sure most kids would. 

So if a backyard rink could make a guy like me forget the frigid cold and other duties, and it allows me to play with the boys outside through a long winter, then bring it on.

[yardydaddy-blog]

Hey Fathers, You Might Be A Yardy Daddy if...

Ever wonder why you are where you are in this world?

They say that a man lives a life of quiet frustration. It all has to do with the choices we make. There's a cause and effect to everything, and if you have kids then you know what it's like to make that choice every day of do I play with them or do something else? Do I buy this for myself or do I get this for them? And whatever decision you make, it is the right one, but if they heavily lean towards your kids then you my friend, are a yardydaddy. 

Here are some more reasons why you might be a yardy daddy in no particular order:

1. When you buy a vehicle your kid's activities influence the purchase

2. When you want to go on vacation you can't bring yourself to go without them

3. You'd rather play with the kids than do repairs

4. It's -30 outside and you're happy to flood the rink in your backyard

5. It's +30 outside and you're happy to play catch in the backyard 

6. You've been at all of your kid's birthdays.

7. Your kids can mimic you to your face and it's okay

8. You make career decisions based on getting to spend time with your kids

9. You get your fashion sense from your kids

10. Your house or apartment has dents from pucks or balls because your kids are learning, and it's okay.

[yardydaddy-blog]

WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST HUMAN MEMORY?

Throwing something at my brother and hitting him over the eye with it. To this day he still has the scar. I was about 3 years old and he was 1. My bad.