You have probably been seeing his book, “Geek Dad
How many children do you have? What are their ages?
We have two boys, ages 10.5 and almost 12.
What made you start a dad blog? And how do you keep up with blogging while doing everything else?
Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired magazine started the blog in March of 2007 as a place to post about projects he was doing with his kids. A few months later, he put out a call to the readership for writers/dads to join and write, and I was lucky enough to be chosen. 4 month later, he asked me to take over the blog and I’ve been running it since, overseeing a team of 20+ geeky dads and moms (I’ve tried very hard to make GeekDad (despite the name) a parenting blog more than a dad-blog.
Time can get compressed sometimes, but the family must come first, and for the most part blog-related stuff happens after the boys have gone to bed, or when we all sit down at the table to work on “homework.”
What kind of subjects and topics do you like to write about for your dad blog?
Oh, anything and everything, as long as it could be of interest to someone who is a geek and a parent. The heart of the blog is projects, but we do reviews of games and books, and some geek-culture social commentary.
What is something you would never thought you would do but has done since becoming a dad?
Become the editor of a blog. Write a book.
What is your favorite thing to do with your children?
Play video games and discover I can still beat them at a few things.
In your family, what roles or tasks do you have as a father? What are your daddy duties?
I tend to be the person who fixes things around the house more, and I’m often the one working with the boys on serious math homework (though my wife is a teacher, and can cover it just as easily as I can).
When it comes to parenting, what are your strengths and weaknesses? What about your wife’s?
On the plus side, I’m pretty calm with them when an issue is serious, and I try harder to talk them through what they did wrong or what they need to do to make something right, rather than stomp my feet and lay down the law without reason. And I’m a pretty huggy-guy, so they always know dad love them. On the negative, I’ll let some things slide, like certain social niceties, that I shouldn’t. My wife does a great job of keeping them aware of their obligations and keeping them on schedule to finish tasks on time, but she also tends to worry more about their success or failure at their pursuits.
What is the best and worst parenting advice you have received?
Best: very early on we read somewhere that it’s a good idea not to make a big deal when, as toddlers, they fell down. Just wave your hands like a baseball umpire and call “safe!” when they fall. That way, they learn that small things like that aren’t something to make a big bawling scene about. Worst: that’s a tough one. There’s not much we’ve done that we’ve really regretted, and bad advice we received way back we ignored, so it’s forgotten now.
What are your hopes and dreams for your children?
I want them to find balance in their lives. To have work they can receive enrichment from and pursuits that keep them happy and young at heart.
What will you be doing this Father’s Day? And what’s a gift you are hoping to receive this year for Father’s Day?
They haven’t told me what we’ll be doing (Mom’s and Dad’s days are usually secrets from the appropriate party in our family). All I really want is to share the time with them in a way everyone can enjoy.
» Tell me… What are some of your husband’s parenting strengths and weaknesses?
girl I LOOVe your blog! its so different from many other blogs I’ve read. I would love to get together with you sometime and make stuff! I am going out of town, but maybe when I get back?? fun! It was great to meet you!
I love this interview… It’s a great thing for dads to be involved in everything in their child’s life.. My hubbie is awesome at teaching our little ones to remember that they do have manners and that everyone deserves the right for you to “be nice” to them.. He’s also great at teaching them to learn to take care of themselves.. he’s awesome at teaching and having patience.. Of which i think i lack in a bit!
)))
Heather @ Vintagecreationsinc.blogspot.com