When ABC-TV’s Good Morning America show needed children dressed in superhero costumes for a special episode based around the movie release of Batman v Superman, who do you think the show called to save the day? The NYC Dads Group, of course.

That’s a perk of being a member of our group. When locally based media needs fathers (or, in this case, their children), we tend to be among the first they contact. That’s how a handful of our dads and their little ones got to appear on national television and meet Batman v Superman stars Ben Affleck and Amy Adams on March 24. The kids even got to ask them questions on the air.

Being a dad proved a little crazy in these parts last week, what with an appearance at a special “dad edition” of The White House Summit on Working Families, us launching this here website, and — oh — a few hundred media outlets around the globe deciding, “Hey, let’s ask these City Dad characters what they know about fathers playing an important role in their kids’ live” all at once.

For those who missed the media blitz, here’s some links and photos from all that happened last week:

“‘It makes me super proud’: A look inside the life of a stay-at-home dad” on the Today Show features Chris Bernholdt, co-organizer of our Philly Dads Group; Mike Hennan of the San Francisco Dads Group; and Pat Jacobs of the Chicago group, and a cameo by City Dads Groups’ Lance Somerfeld.

“Organizer Spotlight, Father’s Day Edition: City Dads Group” highlights our accomplishments in five years from just the NYC Dads Group to the national City Dads Group.

Sat Sharma of the NYC Dads Group and one of his daughters appeared in “Little Ones Weigh in on Why Dads are so Special” on the Today show

“5 ways today’s dads are changing the face of fatherhood” on Today.com has quotes from Beau Coffron, co-organizer of the San Francisco Dads Group. Beau also pops up in “Celebrating Superstar Dads that use Social Media”on Good Morning, America.

“Do Father’s Day cards that portray dad as an incompetent boob reflect today’s fathers?,” in The Washington Post quotes City Dads Group co-founder Matt Schneider.

Christopher Persley of NYC Dads Group appeared on Good Morning, America as one of “Three Dads Surprised by Kids’ Father’s Day Messages.”

“Redefining Fatherhood: What it Means to ‘Be a Man’ Today” on Today.com again quotes City Dads Group co-founder Matt Schneider. Matt also pops up in “Fewer Stay At Home Dads in US, Study Finds” on the CBS News website.

Matt and his co-conspirator in City Dads Group, Lance Somerfeld, are the focus of “Stay-At-Home Dads Move Past Stereotypes” on the All Parenting website. They are also offer their views in “Does the Media Reflect Real Fatherhood?“ on Yahoo! News.

Lance squared off against Chuck Nice in a special Father’s Day diaper-change, baby-bottle video challenge in “Daddy Do-or-Die Boot Camp” on the Veria Living website.

Now pardon us. We need a nap.

Two weeks ago, ABC World News With Diane Sawyer aired a positive segment talking about the “modern American family” and how stay-at-home dads fit into the equation. We were fortunate to have one of our own active NYC Dads Group members, Dave Lesser, his daughter Penny, and his wife Allister participate in a meaningful and compelling piece on the importance of being a caring, involved, and competent father.
Good Morning America, also on ABC, enjoyed the segment so much, they decided to use a lot of the interviews, footage, and b-roll to develop a more comprehensive segment (4 minutes long!) – Modern Families: Stay At Home Dads On the Rise.

On a day when Dave’s daughter Penny had pink eye and clearly was not herself, and wife heads off to work, Dave agreed to have a camera crew follow him around for the entire day to catch a “day in the life” of an at-home dad. Napping on her dad, consoling her while she is upset, trekking over to the pediatrician’s office, preparing meals, and pretend play as his daughter is the princess … no doubt Dave Lesser demonstrates his role in such a positive light. You can truly see the joy and passion he gets from being the primary caregiver – certainly more rewarding than his previous career in law.

My favorite part of the segment was the unique roundtable discussion with three of our NYC Dads Group members at the NY Children’s Museum of the Arts: Bruce Razza, Rune Lund, and Saxon Palmer.  These dads were on the hot seat sharing their candor, honest feelings about perceptions in society and on the playground, what a dads’ social/support group gives you, and how they stay engaged in their children’s lives.  Saxon Palmer said it so well: what does the NYC Dads Group community provide? “knowing you are not alone … that I got this posse of other guys that are doing the same thing so I am not an anomaly!”

Oh boy!  We move to the latest hot topic in parenting: pressure to potty train our children earlier and earlier!  Check out this recent ABC Good Morning America segment featuring mom of three Elizabeth Hasselback and several New York City Moms.

As a dad, I can’t say that I find this to be a controversial topic worthy of the Potty Wars title.  My son is 2 1/2 and enjoys going into his favorite poop spot and telling me to give him some privacy so he can take care of business.  Before taking a bath, he enjoys standing on his step stool and peeing in the toilet…but, aside from that, he gets zero pressure from me.  Let’s be honest, my son is not going to be 10 years old and still wearing a diaper.  He will be ready at some point, but I would be disappointed if I were pressured by a nursery school or peer pressured by other parent friends for me to start stressing my little guy to get with the program.  Is it just me?  Is it just dads that are more relaxed about it (notice that this entire segment focuses specifically on mothers)?  Is it because I am the father of a toddler boy who may be developmentally behind some of the girls his age? Potty Wars indeed.

It was surprising to learn that 90% of 2 1/2-year-olds were potty trained in the 1960s, but now only 22% are potty trained by that same age.  The segment includes some drastic programs (appalling to me), including a fast-track program for potty training as well as boot camps.  I realize potty training is going to be an interesting transition for our family and may require work that will be frustrating at times.  Consequently, shouldn’t it be a proud milestone – one that is accomplished naturally, without societal or peer pressure?

I am not turned off by potty training completely.  Sure, I am well aware of it and the challenges that parents face with the process. I have the Elmo Potty Training Book with the sticker reward system on-hand for potential use in the near future.  I am even planning to attend a webinar with our dads’ group about potty training.  Many of our dads group members with kids that are 2+ aren’t able to get together in a room with our kids to have a discussion about the sensitive topic, so we thought we would try a webinar with Janeen Hayward (of Swellbeing), our go-to expert for reasonable and practical parenting advice.  “The evidence of potty pressure is everywhere: on bookstore shelves, on mommy (parenting) blogs. There are potty chairs and cushions of every conceivable shape and size. There are even potty training iPhone apps.”

Not sure why ABC did not think to get some feedback on the Potty Wars topic from dads (as well as moms).  Interested to hear some thoughts on the topic here?

Most of America looked on after Drew Brees lead the New Orleans Saints to their 2009 Super Bowl victory. The media had a field day capturing the picture-perfect photos of Drew holding his son Baylon up in the air as the confetti was falling from the sky. ABC’s Good Morning America aired this Father’s Day segment of Drew Brees – going from Super Bowl to Super Dad. Matt S. called me and said, “it’s one thing for the guy to win a Super bowl ring as well as MVP honors, but to be a cool dad (expecting second child in October) who uses diaper changing to bond with his son – this guy is the man!”

In the segment, you will hear Drew clearly state that during his son’s first year, he “changed more diapers than his wife in the Brees household” as well as plug the brand that he is a spokesman for… Nope, not Wheaties, or Gatorade, or expensive cars, or shaving cream. He is the new daddy face for Pampers Cruisers with Dry Max. After sifting through all of the father’s day segments aired by the media in the past week & using very scientific criteria (none) – Matt S. gives this segment top honors.

Watch it and let us know if you agree. If not, feel free to post your favorite Father’s Day article in the media or broadcast segment…