Last week, my family and I visited a historic local restaurant, an amazing old-fashioned delicatessen with lots of natural light and the comforting aroma of fresh bread and pasta wrapped in a century old building. The kids, as usual, were their lively selves, chatting and giggling, but mindful of their manners. We’ve worked hard to… Continue reading Twenty-Six: Reflections on a Restaurant Compliment
Tag: fatherhood
Random Musings #11
“I’m a boy mom!” “I’m a girl dad!” Gag me already. You’re a mom. You’re a dad. You’re a parent. Stop with this garbage. Being a parent isn’t about trendy labels like “boy mom” or “girl dad.” It’s about the real, messy, incredible work of raising a human. Those terms are just social media fluff,… Continue reading Random Musings #11
Twenty-Five: Six Months (or so) of Bring Back Big Families
It’s been a full and fast-paced six months here at Bring Back Big Families. Between swimming pool clean-ups, late-night reflections, and a deep dive into what it really means to be a strong dad, I’ve covered a lot of ground lately. The Dad Strong series unpacked the four pillars of strength—physical, mental, spiritual, and intellectual—and how they play… Continue reading Twenty-Five: Six Months (or so) of Bring Back Big Families
Twenty-Four: The Backyard Swimming Pool
Our backyard swimming pool is the heart of our summer chaos, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a modest ten-foot pool, nothing fancy, but it’s ours, and it (somehow) fits our whole big family, kids, parents, and toys. The kids go wild for it, splashing and shrieking with joy the moment they… Continue reading Twenty-Four: The Backyard Swimming Pool
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Four – Sharpening Your Intellectual Strength
A dad’s mind is a tool that needs constant sharpening. In a big family, where questions fly from “Why is the sky blue?” to “Daddy, in what situations would I need a gas mask?” (you might laugh, but that’s a real question from my eight-year-old/survivalist son), intellectual strength means staying curious and informed. By always… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Four – Sharpening Your Intellectual Strength
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
As a Christian dad, you’re called to be the spiritual leader of your family. In a big family, where challenges like financial strain or societal pressures can test your faith, your spiritual strength is a beacon. Speaking from my Catholic perspective and expanding on Catholic ideals (though these apply to all Christian brethren), spiritual strength… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Three – Leading with Spiritual Strength
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
As a dad, your mental strength is the bedrock of your family’s stability. In a big family, chaos is constant, from spilled juice to sibling squabbles to unexpected bills. Mental strength isn’t about never feeling stressed; it’s about adopting a selfless mentality that shows your kids how to face life’s challenges with grit and grace.… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part Two – Cultivating Mental Strength for Your Family
Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part One – Building Physical Strength as a Busy Dad
Part One of a special tribute series devoted to dads leading up to Father’s Day 2025. Being a dad in a big family is a marathon, not a sprint. Between work, diaper changes, planning and cooking meals for several picky eaters, and playing backyard baseball, finding time to stay physically fit sometimes feels impossible. But… Continue reading Twenty-Three: Dad Strong, Part One – Building Physical Strength as a Busy Dad
Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Our house is small, much smaller than most people would probably believe. I know people with half the kids I have who live in a house that’s literally 3.5 times the size of our house (not a joke or an exaggeration either) because they “outgrew” their previous house which was only twice the size of… Continue reading Twenty-One: The Beautiful Mess of a Big Family in a Little House
Sixteen: The Big Transition
Ever feel like you’re playing zone defense with your kids, still losing, and drowning in dad guilt? Here’s my take as a dad of five (six any day now). I read a story recently about a dad who shared his breakdown in his car on TikTok, freaking out about going from one kid to two,… Continue reading Sixteen: The Big Transition