Posts Tagged "moms"

Moms: Holiday gift suggestions for deserving dads part 1

Posted by Dad on Dec 12, 2008 in Family | 3 comments

With the holiday season is in full swing, I thought it may be helpful to moms out there if I gave some recommendations on appropriate gifts for dads.  Now, I don’t want to imply that those socks, ties or baked goods are just special. They are and we love them.  However, if you think dad’s behaved this year and he deserves that little bit extra, I think these gifts will be just the ticket.

In part one of this three part series, I’m going to focus on movies.  A DVD is a budget-conscious gift that any dad would enjoy. Of course, that is if dad actually likes the movie.  Remember, we’ve suffered through Barney, Wall-e and all the other Disney movies.  We want something for us. We want a dads movie.

1. My top-of-list recommendation is the awesome, adrenaline pumping movie, 300. It’s mind-blowing action 99% of the time and there’s a love seen in the middle.  I love this movie. It’s a raw, untamed, testosterone extravaganza! (Yes, ladies, actual testosterone will ooze from your TV screen. Exercise caution)

It’s about 300 Spartan soldiers led by King Lionides (see the top image) who defend Greece from the million+ Persian army.  Impossible odds, swords, shields, blood… just trust me.  Your husband will love it.  You, on the other hand, should excuse yourself and go do something else.  My wife HATES this movie.

2. The second movie I’m going to recommend is Father of the Bride.  This movie tears my heart out each and every time I watch it.  It’s not a very manly movie like 300 but it’s a wonderful story about a dad watching his daughter growing way too fast.  If you have a daughter, your husband won’t be able to hold back the tears.

3. Life is beautiful is also a favorite of mine. A dad makes things better for his son during their stay in a concentration camp.  It’s about the love of a father for his son and there’s nothing else I can say about that.

4. Last in my list is In Pursuit of Happyness.  This should be required watching for all fathers. It’s about persistance and obstacles and life’s challenges. It’s inspiring and shocking at the same time. In the end, it’s about a father trying to make a better life for him and his son.  I made my kids watch it with me.

So there you have it.  My top 4 movie recommendations for dad.  Do you have any other favorites we can add to the list?

Part 2 continues the gift giving ideas by focusing on budget-minded sport/fitness gifts.

All the best

The EcoMom Alliance – Go Green!

Posted by Dad on Nov 19, 2008 in Family, Parenting | 1 comment

One of our responsibilities as a dad is to try to make this world a better place for our kids. There are many ways to do this so I hope you’ve given this some thought. Thinking more about our environment and how we treat it is one way for us to make our world better. It’s a movement known as the “Green Movement” or “Going Green.”

As I researched how I can Go Green, I learned about the EcoMom Alliance. At first I was intrigued by the name as Dads tend to gravitate to all things Mom (yes, we are Pavlovian and you love it, ladies). However, after I read more about the organization, I really became excited about what it is trying to do and how quickly it’s growing.

The EcoMom Alliance was started by a remarkable single mom named Kimberly Pinkson. From very humble beginnings the it has become a rapidly growing, grass-roots organization propelling a sustainable future and helping to reduce the climate crisis. There are more than 11,000 members (of which, I am one) with 260 EcoMom community leaders who cater parties, events and lectures to “inspire and empower.”They even have their own online marketplace that sells organic and responsibly produced goods.

CNBC recently did a piece on the EcoMom Alliance Going to the Markets and it is how I found them. The article focused on their new EcoMom online marketplace.  Here’s a snippet from the interview with Kimberly:

Q: First of all—why “moms”?

A: The “mom demographic” is such a powerful one as a market force; it’s been reported that they are worth over $2 to $7 trillion. Moms have an incredible power over production, which is why we decided to go with the name. They are also a symbol of role models. For example, if you’re a mom who recycles at home, your children will grow up seeing and being influenced by that. Also, the name “moms” refers to the caretaking stewardship.

Q: How will these steps help people save money?

Fortunately, things that are helpful for the environment are also better for the pocketbooks. So for example, putting in leather stripping in your insulators will save you more than $200 a year for heating. By doing this, you’re not contributing fuel usage while at the same time, reducing CO2 emissions and saving money.

Also, go through the house and see what kinds of cleansers you are using. For example, natural products such as rubbing alcohol, lemon juice, vinegar, which are very cheap, work just as well as name brand $5 cleaners. The average home has 150 toxic chemicals. By using natural products as cleaners, this will save you $20 a month.

In terms of transportation, make an effort to carpool more with friends and try to walk more. This will not only save money on gas, but will also be healthier for your body!

Finally, be aware of the foods you buy at your grocery stores. Eating local and more seasonal food will save you money.

Q: What are the common mistakes people make in trying to go green?

A: I think that the biggest mistake that people make is that they approach it with an “all-or- nothing” mindset. Instead of starting just where they can, they say: “I can’t build my home green, so I can’t do anything about it.” Anything you’re doing is better than nothing. People get anxious when they find themselves, for example, using a plastic cup as opposed to a mug, and they feel guilty. I believe going green is a continuous move forward and looking for better answers.

One of the EcoMom Alliance slogans is “Because one of nature’s strongest forces is a network of mothers.” Let there be no doubt of the truth and wisdom in those words.  I’d like to think that some day we dads get our act together and get a little recognition for our persistence and willingness to support our wives, if for nothing else.

Please consider joining the alliance.  You’ll being doing something good for your family.  Tell your wife about it. Spread the word to the Mommy Bloggers out there.  Take the EcoMom Challenge.

Thanks for helping to make this world better for my kids.  I’m happy to do it for yours.

All the best