Dads can create an invaluable record of their lives with and for their children through a recent series of guided journaling books that will help them share and safekeep their stories and memories.

Record your ‘origin story,’ fathering milestones

100 Questions for Dad: A Journal to Inspire Reflection and Connection, written by former Philadelphia Dads Group co-organizer Jeff Bogle, offers prompts to inspire fathers to open up about their lives, before and after kids. The goal: preserving their story for their children to enjoy for years to come.

The book poses various questions to help dads recall and record memories, milestones and moments. It starts with recording their “origin story” about their own years growing up. Some topics covered include childhood memories or school, first loves, first jobs and early inspirations.

The journal then moves on to fatherhood. Dads are asked to recount memories of early fatherhood, common traits they share with their children, and fatherly advice for the future.

Each prompt asks for, at most, a dozen lines or so of writing. This makes the journaling less intimating to newbie scribes. Quotes about fathers from famous people peppered between prompts offer inspiration.

Remembering life, love with papa

Bogle also composed A Love Journal: 100 Things I Love about Dad. This guided journal is for children to record what it is that makes their father special and memorable to them.

Kids are asked to create “top three” lists about dad, such his quirks, jokes and beliefs. Fill-in-the-blank sentences to complete help them record favorite memories, activities and times they have shared with pop.

This journal would be a great for a spouse or other loved one to work on with younger kids then present to dad as a gift on a special occasion. Tweens can fill it in themselves.

Guided journaling for Girl Dads

Bogle, who has two teenage daughters, didn’t write All About Dad and Me: A Journal for Fathers and Daughters but it doesn’t fall far from the tree.

This new guided journaling title from his publisher, Rockridge Press, focuses on preteen girls (ages 8 to 12) and their fathers. It hopes to create a collaborative effort just between them to share their thoughts about each other and their lives.

Through lighted-hearted questions, the book aims to not only share stories, funny and otherwise, but also open lines of communication. This will help with future discussions about feelings and issues that arise when navigating the often choppy seas of adolescence.

Photo: © LoloStock / Adobe Stock.

Dad 2.0, the conference for fathers wanting to participate in a conversation about the changing voice and perception of modern fatherhood, will bring its usual strong lineup of speakers and panelists for professional and personal development to Washington, D.C., next month.

Organizers of the event, dubbed Dad 2.020 for its ninth year, recently announced many of the topics to be discussed at the summit, slated for Feb. 27-29, 2020, at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Featured Dad 2.020 speakers will include:

• Dan Kois, author of How to Be a Family, a book about how taking his family with him on assignments around the world helped them grow closer.
• Donte Palmer, whose viral photo of him changing his child’s diaper while squatting on a bathroom floor started a national campaign for changing tables in men’s restrooms.
• Taylor Calmus, the creative force behind the popular Dude Dad YouTube channel.

Other topics to be discussed will include:

• Improving one’s work-life balance to feed both our souls and our kids
• Working remotely: Is it a workable solution for increasing family time
• Editing our lives by purging things that obscure our focus
• Coping with substance abuse, either with or as a recovering addict
• Pursuing a career in professional writing
• Trends in influencer marketing
• Creating a blockbuster Instagram feed
• Cutting-edge metrics to analyze your followers
• How to launch your passion project

Dad 2.020 will also feature in-depth information on the campaign for more state and federal paid family leave laws and the D.C. area’s #FlipTheScript campaign to combat negative imagery of men of color and highlight the important role of fathers in early childhood development.

Complete programming is expected to be announced Jan. 23.

The annual Dad 2.0 summit is a national three-day meeting where marketers, social media leaders, blogging parents and regular dads gather to discuss modern fatherhood. Dad 2.020 tickets are on sale now for $279.

++ Purchase your Dad 2.020 tickets here ++

City Dads Group will once again be a media partner for Dad 2.0, a role it has played since 2014. It uses the conference as a national meetup opportunity for its leadership and members.

“Dad 2.0 has been the place we have found the guys who organize our groups, write for our blogs, and help with our influencer campaigns with national brands,” City Dads Group co-founder Matt Schneider has previously said. “Our groups have very similar goals in helping further the importance and positive perception of being an active, involved father, and collaborations like this benefit everybody for the good of all parenting.”

City Dads Group members play an active role in the conference every year. Some of our members scheduled to speak or be on panels include:

• Creed Anthony, Indy Dads Group: My Captain’s Log
• Jeff Bogle, Philly Dads Group: Out With The Kids
• Mitch Chaitin, NYC Dads Group: Gay NYC Dad
• Jim Joseph, NYC Dads Group: Out And About Dad
• Mike Julianelle, NYC Dads Group: Dad and Buried
• Marlon Gutierrez, Orlando Dads Group: Being Papa
• James Lopez, NYC Dads Group: Fatherhood Is Lit
• Aaron Sheldon, Columbus (Ohio) Dads Group: Small Steps Are Giant Leaps

Photo: NYC Dads Group member Jason Greene was a featured speaker at the 2019 Dad 2.0 summit. Courtesy: Dad 2.0

We have five City Dads Group members on the new Modern Dads Podcast who will put you a little more at ease by sharing their tales of raising tweens and teens in today’s crazy world.

City Dads columnist Whit Honea, a member of our L.A. Dads Group and the author of The Parents’ Phrase Book, discusses dealing with the excessive homework his 11-year old son receives from one of his teachers.

City Dads columnist Seth Taylor, a California-based college professor and writer, worries about the possible negative reaction his daughter will receive from classmates to her very public support of the gay community.

City Dads columnist Vincent O’Keefe, an at-home dad and parenting writer who is a member of our Cleveland Dads Group, remembers how he reacted when he realized his tween daughter had became a teen.

Leadership coach, speaker and NYC Dads Group member Devon Bandison recalls the exact moment he knew his 15-year old son was watching his every move.

And finally, blogger and photographer Jeff Bogle, a Philly Dads Group member, encourages dads to break down tropes and embrace being the fathers of daughters living in a modern world.

Two City Dads Group members received high honors from their parent blogging peers at the third annual Iris Awards last week.

City Dads Group blog contributor Jeff Bogle, a member of our Philadelphia chapter, won an Iris Award for Best Photography. Bogle is a freelance writer and photographer who publishes the Out with the Kids blog among his many online ventures.

Chicago Dads Group member Jim Higley received Philanthropic Work of the Year for his efforts on behalf of Camp Kesem, an organization that provides free summer camps and other events for the 3 million children nationwide affected by a parent battling cancer. Higley, a cancer survivor and the chief development and marketing officer for Kesem, is a former parent blogger who remains highly active in the community.

The Iris Awards honors “the art of parenthood,” according to its organizers. The awards recognize “the finest expressions in art, commentary, commerce, philanthropy, ideas and connections, all the while celebrating the emerging industry created by its pioneers and leaders,” according its website.

Nominations and award winners were determined by attendees of past Mom 2.0 Summit and Dad 2.0 Summit parenting conferences. The award ceremony took place April 29 in southern California.

The City Dads Group blog had been nominated for two awards: Group or News Blog of the Year and The Modern Dads Podcast for Best Parenting Podcast. Both lost to Life of Dad and Cool Mom Picks’ Spawned, respectively.

Iris is the messenger of the gods in Greek mythology. She linked all humanity with the heavens. She travels with the speed of wind from one end of the world to the other, and into the depths of the sea and the underworld. She is a parent and is associated with communication, messages and new endeavors.

We asked some of our City Dads Group members to reflect on what they took away from attending the recent fifth annual Dad 2.0 Summit in Washington, D.C. Here are a few of their thoughts: 

Kevin “Spike” Zelenka, Las Vegas Dads Group

I’ve been to dad conventions, and I’ve been to blog conferences. The Dad 2.0 Summit was the first event I’ve ever attended that really met the need of who I am: a blogger and a parent. I can’t stop talking about the opening and closing keynotes. They both really spoke to me as a father, and in different ways. The other programming I attended had a blog focus, and I learned a ton that I couldn’t wait to implement once I returned home. The fact that they have found such a magical combination in only five years existence is incredible, and I’ve already bought my ticket for next year.

Adam Gertsacov, Chicago Dads Group

There were lots of … great things, and lots of great content, but for me, the No. 1 reason I keep on coming is the community. Being in a community of these great dads (many of whom are also great writers and raconteurs) is just plain exhilarating. As a dad, you have your wife as a person to talk with, but she’s your wife. You are related to her.

Having colleagues — work friends, if you will — with whom I can just hang out with for a few days, talk about parenting, and comic books, and make slightly obscure references to obscurer movies and books, and even on occasion talk about our hopes and dreams — this is why I want to come back to Dad 2.0

— Read Adam’s complete thoughts on his blog, Dadapalooza

Niel Vuolo, NYC Dads Group

Dad 2.0 — Was about connecting dads with brands. … about fellowship, community and trying new things. … about meeting new friends and reconnecting with old ones (even old friends who ended up getting carded at the bar!). … It was also about sharing ideas and inspiration. I can’t wait to attack this year and be more extraordinary when I get to Dad 2.0 in 2017.

— Read Niel’s complete thoughts on his blog, Great Moments in Bad Parenting

Jay Wisniewski, Detroit Dads Group

Honesty. It flows throughout the halls and ballrooms once the summit has taken up its residency. At times you will feel more comfortable talking to a random group of dads that you’ve stumbled upon than you’ve felt talking to your friend back home. It almost comes naturally because somewhere in its five years of life the creators of the Dad 2.0 Summit have fostered the growth of a collective of fathers that celebrates the successes of one another, provides wisdom through their struggles and failures, but most of all, never falters on their dedication to honesty. There are no perfect dads and when you spend your days and nights with these men, you come realize that’s totally OK.

— Read Jay’s complete thoughts on his blog, Inked Up Dad

Creed Anthony, Indianapolis Dads Group

Editor’s Note: Creed wrote this as a letter to the late Oren Miller.

I imagined you watching and listening as so many new voices were added to the collective voice. Men who weren’t shy about their love and involvement with their children. Women who supported the cause and played a role in helping to change the image of modern fatherhood.

I imagined you roaming the streets of D.C. with some of us, with your chin high, and that kind, gentle grin you always wore and realizing that the power of change isn’t simply found in the offices of the elected, but in the blogs, playrooms, kitchens, and carpools of the men and women in attendance.

— Read Creed’s complete thoughts on his blog, Tales From the Poop Deck

Victor Aragon, Chicago Dads Group

This was my second time going to Dad 2.0 and as much as it felt like my second home, I still felt out of place. I felt like the little brother that was trying to hang out with his bigger brothers and was accepted by all. I had a few people pull me to the side and ask me about my family and about post I wrote. It felt good to know that someone, other than myself, was reading my stuff and that it actually moved them.

Lance Somerfeld, NYC Dads Group

The fifth annual Dad 2.0 Summit was my favorite one yet. Dad 2.0 is a ripe opportunity for dads and dad bloggers to escape from hiding behind their computers and meet talented and caring dads face-to-face. A highlight for me was hosting a City Dads Group team meeting (photo at top) and being surrounded by over 40 organizers, active members and blog contributors. Community, family, friendship and beyond!

Another highlight for me was taking advantage of a little “me time” which is rare since the birth of our daughter 10 months ago. Strolling through the Capitol at night with a few good friends and admiring the world-renowned landmarks was a magnificent experience as was relaxing in a barber’s chair and receiving a professional shave in the Dove Men+Care suite.

Dave Lesser, NYC Dads Group

A lot Dad 2.016 recaps will probably mention the inaugural DadSLAM, a Moth-style public reading of blog posts. My roommate John Kinnear hosted the event to high acclaim. John read a hilarious article about his kid pooping in the McDonald’s ball pit and another guy read a different hilarious story about poop. Some stories left the room in nods and tears and not all of the essays were about accidental defecation. I don’t think. I’m actually not sure, since I didn’t go. It was an after-hours event and I went down to the room where it was being held to make sure someone showed up for John. The room, packed with attendees, was stuffy and warm, and there was no booze, so I quietly left. What can I say, sometimes I’m too big an asshole to let the transcendent moments happen.

— Read Dave’s complete thoughts on his blog, Amateur Idiot/Professional Dad

Scott Posey, Baltimore Dads Group

The Dad 2.0 conference is … a meeting of minds to discuss modern fatherhood as it is portrayed in the media and in everyday life. This conversation takes place with a lot of the big movers and shakers of the entertainment [and retail] worlds and has the power to truly initiate change. There were big brand names here like Lego, Dove Men+Care, Kia, Esquire, and Lee (among others). These are brands that see a passion for fatherhood being championed across all corners of the web and are coming out to say that they not only agree, but support our movement. Panels were held to discuss the ever changing role of fatherhood as it corresponds to the workplace (something I’m very passionate about) and how people are fighting the good fight daily to ensure that parental leave is not only a right but one that is taken without fear of career suicide. Everywhere you looked this weekend, you could see this desire to better oneself as a father but also on a larger scale for all fathers across the world.

The other reason I wanted to attend the conference was to meet all of the fellow dads who I have talked with, shared stories with, and grew with as a father [online]. … It was amazing seeing and talking to these guys whose work I have read and been affected by since having my son. …  Attending a summit to help advance fatherhood is a great reason to attend, but hanging out with your friends and forming relationships in person is a close second.

— Read Scott’s complete thoughts on his blog, Father Nerds Best

 Carter Gaddis, City Dads Group columnist

I found a large, passionate, talented group of men and women who shared my interests and — incredibly, to me — seemed to care what I thought and wrote. The Dad 2.0 mission of bringing brands together with fathers of the Internet is great, of course. It’s been a privilege to work with companies that understand the importance of shattering the tired stereotype of the aloof, goofball dad so often portrayed in ads, movies and TV shows over the years. The networking is great, but I will always go back to the Dad 2.0 Summit because of the sense of renewal it provides. It is a reunion with my “tribe,” a chance to rejuvenate, a source of energy throughout the rest of the year. I’ve been to other social media conferences, and they were great. This one? This one is home.

— Read Carter’s complete thoughts on his blog, Carter Gaddis, Writer

Nick Browne and Benjamin Muller, Philadelphia Dads Group

This weekend, we spent four days in Washington, D.C. for the Dad 2.0 Summit. And in a few words: IT WAS AMAZING. Honestly, so many great people came together to put together a truly inspiring event. For details, listen to their Poppin’ Bottles podcast.

Want more? Read what our New York City members had to say on the NYC Dads Group blog. 

A dozen fathers, half of whom are City Dads Group members, will walk 80 miles — sea to sea — across northern England in July to raise money to benefit the children of parents with cancer and in the memory of one of their own.

These fathers will hike along the historic Hadrian’s Wall, a fortification built in the first century A.D. that once marked the northernmost point of the Roman Empire, to support Camp Kesem. Kesem provides free summer camps and other events for the 3 million children nationwide affected by a parent battling cancer. The camp has 70 chapters in 34 states.

The walkers’ goal is collecting $40,000 to start a Camp Kesem chapter on the campus at the University of Maryland, which is near the home of fellow dad blogger Oren Miller. Miller, a University of Maryland grad who died from lung cancer a year ago, chronicled his life as a stay-at-home dad online, using the platform to take on fatherhood stereotypes and pushing for fathers to be included in parental marketing — one issue in particular being to convince online retailer Amazon to change its baby-care subscription club from “Amazon Mom” to “Amazon Family.”

Miller also started a popular Facebook group for dad bloggers that now has more than 1,100 members.

The so-called Dads4Kesem or “Walking Dads” are:

• Chris Routly, Portland Dads Group, of The Full Routly
• Michael Moebes, Atlanta Dads Group, of Dadcation
• Whit Honea, L.A. Dads Group and City Dads Group columnist, of Dads4Change
• Jim Higley, Chicago Dads Group, of Bobblehead Dad. He is also the chief development and marketing officer for Camp Kesem.
• Jason Greene, NYC Dads Group, of One Good Dad
• Jeff Bogle, Philly Dads Group, of Out With the Kids
• Brent Almond of Designer Daddy
• Phil Corless of Idaho Dad
• Doug French of Dad 2.0 Summit
• Josh Misner of Mindful Dad
• John Pacini of Dad 2.0 Summit
• Brian Reasoner of Southern Bella’s Big Daddy

All the participants are paying their own expenses for the July 8-16 trip to England so all donations they collect can go to Camp Kesem.

You can:

• donate to their effort at Dads4Kesem.com
• follow the Dads4Kesem participants on social media at #Dads4Kesem and #TheWalkingDads.

— Jason Greene contributed to this report.

Three City Dads Group chapters will help support children and families in need Dec. 2 as part of #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to helping others.

Members of the Chicago Dads Group plan to gather to pack meals for shipping all over the world to starving and malnourished children through the international charity Feed My Starving Children. For more details or to participate, visit the Chicago Dads Group Meetup page.

The NYC Dads Group has scheduled to spend the evening sorting, screening and bundling children’s clothing donated through Baby Buggy, a nonprofit assisting the 500,000 New York City families living in poverty. For more details or to participate, visit the NYC Dads Group Meetup page.

The Philly Dads Group plans to do some shopping for a cause. They will head out to purchase children’s clothing to make “Outfit Packs,” packages filled with a week’s worth of underwear, socks, shirts and more, that will be donated to Cradles to Crayons, a nonprofit organization providing kids in need under the age of 12 some of the most important basics of life. The guys are also accepting donations of clothes and money for the cause. For more details or to participate, visit the Philly Dads Group Meetup page.

#GivingTuesday was founded in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y, a longtime NYC Dads Group partner, in conjunction with the United Nations Foundation. The effort has engaged more than 10,000 organizations worldwide.

If you can’t participate in any of these events, you can visit us on Twitter and Instagram using hashtags #CityDads and #GivingTuesday to see pictures of our dads across the country supporting families in need.

City Dads Group members strapped their babies to their chests and visited the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, toured a professional football stadium in San Francisco, and climbed the famous “Rocky” steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art among the many activities our fathers participated in as part of last week’s celebration of International Babywearing Week.

All 13 City Dads Groups across the United States did something with babies on board their new baby carriers, courtesy of Britax — a longtime supporter of our organization. Our dads and their kids visited places as family-friendly as the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Ohio, as unexpected as Fremont Street in the historic Las Vegas downtown, and as potentially exhausting as hiking through Mariposa Basin Park in Albuquerque – all to promote the many advantages and benefits of wearing your baby.

Our teams’ efforts received praise around the world with articles and photo spreads in sources usual (The Good Men Project, Indy Star) and unusual (China Daily’s website).

Here’s some highlights from last week:

The Hollywood sign can be spotted behind these members of our L.A. Dads Group standing just outside the Griffith Observatory.

Yo! Adrian! Our Philly Dads Group climbed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art just like a certain fictional boxer did.

The World of Coca-Cola received a tour from baby-wearing members of our babywearing Atlanta Dads Group.

The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium was toured by our babywearing Columbus Dads Group.

Our babywearing NYC Dads Group stands tall with their babies along the city’s High Line park, a converted elevated subway track.

*Disclosure: City Dads Group received free Brtiax baby carriers as well as compensation for this babywearing week sponsored event.  We only work with brands that create products or services that we believe in and use ourselves.  The opinions expressed in this blog entry are authentic and our own.

Editor’s Note: We will, we will, rock you. Literally. At Smith Memorial Playground in Philadelphia, our latest stop in our week-long celebration of “Summer in Our City Dads Group Cities.”

The playground filled with laughter and activity that you just spent all day on is the size of six football fields.

The slide you just went down is over a century in age and made of wood.

Best of all, this place has been serving Philadelphia for more than a hundred years as the foremost resource for unstructured play in the city.

We are talking about Smith Memorial Playground, a gem of a play experience for the children of Philly to experience something unique and wonderful.

Smith Playground is a great place for dads and kids to interact with more than 50 pieces of unique, age-appropriate and accessible pieces of play equipment. It is a free, safe place to play designed for children 10 years and younger. The Playhouse is 16,000 square feet of play space for children 5 years and younger to explore.

Smith Memorial Playground is celebrating their 115th birthday this week, and Philly Dads Group co-founder Jeff Bogle has curated a one-of-a-kind opportunity there with Kidchella, a kid’s music festival to celebrate with families of the Philadelphia area. Kids 10 and younger and their caregivers are invited to rock out to tunes from Walter Martin of The Walkmen, Grammy-nominated Brady Rymer, and energetic Seattle pop-rock band The Not-Its!.

Kidchella will take place on the Smith Memorial Playground grounds in East Fairmount Park. Tickets are $10 but the event is free with a membership which is only $30 for the year!