What if America’s sons didn’t have to grow up without fathers? What difference could it make? It’s been going on for too long. Oprah and Iyanla Vanzant are getting the discussion started with a special two-hour Oprah’s Lifeclass tonight at 9/8c.

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/packages/fatherless-sons.html#ixzz2SSKhtkuz

Here is a re-cap of Day With Daddy’s Launch Party & Fundraiser held on Fri, March 15th at Bob’s Steak & Chop House during SXSW. We had one hell of time, but more importantly, we raised $$$ towards our programs to connect Dads with resources in the Austin and surround communities. Get ready San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Montgomery, Atlanta, DC, and other cities around the nation. We are heading your way.

A special thanks to our contributors/sponsors/donors:
Round Rock Express, Texas Stars, Bob’s Steak & Chop House-Austin, LiveSmart 360, Panera Bread, Staples, Phoenix Arising Aviation Academy, DJ Dub Academy, Texas Pro DJs, JK Creative Events, Austin Tennis Center, Wristbands.net, Auto One Automotive, Custom Car Crafters, Michael & Jill Klucher, Kevin Childs, Denise A Nelson, Gregory Harrington, Pamela Sherman, Kenneth D. Thompson Sr., and to each of you who purchased a ticket and/or came out to the event.

Join our email list today to stay connected with more events that we will be hosting.

I’ll never forget a card I received from a friend of mine congratulating me on the birth of my first child. Always the jokester, his card read “You have everything it takes to be a good father, sperm”. I thought the card was hilarious, but then I got to thinking, its kind of sad in how simply it describes being a father. There has to be more to it.

Any healthy male can create a child, it takes a real special individual to be a father. I think President Obama said it best in his State of the Union Address this year when he said, “..what makes you a man isn’t the ability to conceive a child; it’s having the courage to raise one.” Wow that got to me.

There are only a few tools you need in your toolbox to be a father. Do you RESL your kids? First there is respect, respect your child as a person and their needs, then teach them to in turn respect others in the same way.  Then there is education, to teach your child to love and cherish life and the others that share it with us. Next there is support, to support your child whatever path they choose in life, also to pick them up and dust them off when life knocks them down.Then there is love, to love your child unconditionally no matter what.

The list can go on and on but I think you get the picture, there is no easy answer to the question of how to be a good father. Sometimes we need the help from dads that have been there or are there. Some things just come natural when you are a caring and loving man.

One thing however is for certain, the title Daddy is the greatest title you will ever work for and the one that you will prize above all else.

Good Luck Super Daddy!

Many young ladies think they need to have a boyfriend to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Often, they are moody or depressed if they find themselves single on Feb. 14 (even Wonder Woman). Boost your daughter’s self-confidence and self-worth by teaching her at an early age that Valentine’s Day is not just a holiday for couples, but also a holiday to celebrate love, including love of family.

Use Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to show your Wonder Daughter that she is special. There are two things every dad should do for his Wonder Daughter that special day in February.

One: Send flowers to her classroom

If you’ve never done this before you will only need to do it once to be hooked. And you don’t have to do it every year. In fact, you should vary it up, but having a florist deliver a dozen Carnations (which are inexpensive) or maybe half a dozen directly to your third grader’s classroom will not only make your child swoon, you will become the hit of her teacher and talked about all day long amongst the staff. She will also be the envy of her classmates and her smile when she comes home will melt your heart.

Two: Get her a charm bracelet

This is the “annual” clincher and a must. Jewelry for a little girl is often too expensive. C’mon she’s really not old enough to appreciate diamonds or rubies. She is, however, old enough to appreciate a charm bracelet. It is the gift which builds upon itself every year and just keeps on giving.

Good Luck Super Dads and Wonder Daughters!

I’ve talked about it for almost a year now. I’ve started a fan page on Facebook; I’ve written blogs about it; I’ve hosted charity events; I wake up each morning with a picture of two precious daughters staring at me with smiles that would make anyone want to pinch their cheeks. As I am writing this, I realize that this time last year, Day With Daddy did not exist. In fact, this time last year (February 9th), I was celebrating my Dad’s birthday who was called to the Gates of Heaven 35 years ago.

Although only knowing my Dad for a short time, I have grown a stronger connection to him as an adult and father. Throughout my childhood, I would always ask myself, why was my Dad taken away from me at such an early age? I struggled with it for years until I became a father myself just 8 years ago.

I like to subtly refer to my Dad in my adult life as “Pops”. Why Pops? Because I have grown a bond with him over the past 36 years – I converse with him, and he answers me as if he is here. As an adult, I feel that I have earned the right to refer to him as Pops, you know, like that you are now on the same level and you can now talk father to father.

What do we talk about? Just what a father and son talk about over a cold beer – football, cars (I remember his 1973 Buick LeMans), travel, hunting are a few. But many of our conversations lately have been about living life through God and raising a family that will remember you through eternity, which is what I remember about Pops. Hard working, dedicated, no excuses, never complained, just did what needed to be done. I also know that Pops was human and not perfect, but who is? More importantly, he molded me from a boy to man, simply through the short years of his life on mortal earth and the 35 years of discussions that I will have for eternity.

February 18, 2012 was a day that I vividly remember. It was a short 2-day weekend with my daughters, Lenea and McKenna. I had a well-thought out plan for a picnic on this day, but was quickly welcomed to not-so-pleasant weather shortly after leaving our home. As we were driving, I can remember my youngest one, McKenna, asking, “Dad, are we still going to do a picnic?”. Without saying no, I had to quickly come up with a Plan B – and Chuck E Cheese was no longer a Plan B option

I pulled over to Google Austin kid activities for that rainy Saturday – I was stumped that I couldn’t find anything or maybe I didn’t know where to look. But I am sure every Mom in Austin had the black book for kid activities. Through my frustration, I had a private talk with Pops and said it sure would be nice to have just one “day with my Daddy” right now. He answered back and said, “Each day that your daughters have a day with their daddy, you are having a day with me.”

“Day With Daddy” was born, but I had no clue what it meant. After almost a month of thinking back to that memorable rainy Saturday, I remember my reactions when I didn’t have a backup plan but was quickly reminded that the little time in the car was quality time with my girls. I didn’t have to do anything fancy, elaborate, or grand. Being present made them happy.

I never intended to conceptualize my one-day experience into a social cause. It was a natural progression that has provided me the opportunity to share my personal experience with hundreds of Dads and also learn from Dads that are doing their part in being the best Dads that they can.

During the past year, I have been introduced to some incredible people that have pushed me, encouraged me, and provided hours of advice in structuring my concept into a meaningful platform to provide resources to co-parenting fathers and mothers. Giving back feels good so why not do something that I love doing to help others?

I plan to continue to be an advocate for fathers in the great city of Austin through my vision and will use every opportunity to extend my reach through my supporters across the U.S. This year I am vowing to double my time in serving our community. This is my commitment to you!

On Saturday, March 9, 2013, we will be celebrating one year since Day With Daddy was conceptualized and will be hosting a launch party. We are still working on the specifics of the event and will share updates as soon as things are confirmed. I owe each of you the world and this would not be possible without you.

If you want to know more about how you can be a part of this great movement and receive updates on our future events, sign-up to our email list at http://www.daywithdaddy.com