Featured Dad Archives - City Dads Group

Featured Dad Anders Benson

Eric Bennion — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 18:27:04 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Anders Benson.

He is a single dad with 2 boys and lives in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

“Where the Wild Things Are” reminds of the rich creative and fantasy filled lives that children live, which I should learn from.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

I have two wonderful teachers who never give up on me. My sons are teaching me to be the man they deserve to have as a father.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

It’s great to be around men who understand how to prioritize their kids and still be men.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

The Family Picnic.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad Adam Gertsacov

Eric Bennion — Thu, 12 Jan 2017 23:30:35 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Adam Gertsacov.

He lives in the Edgewater area of Chicago.

Adam is a professional clown & blogger/stay at home dad with 1 kid.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

When my son was very small, it was The Monster At The End of This Book, because it’s so clever, and I got to do the voices. Right now we are making our way through Harry Potter (we’re on Book 5), and although he’s an excellent reader, I’m reading it to him because I get to do the voices!

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

Watching my son figure out the world. Not too long ago, we had a house guest who arrived when both my son and I weren’t home, and that same day my wife had already left for a business trip. The next morning, my son says, “Where is Auntie Christina? Where did she sleep?” I asked him where he thought she slept. “Well, since mom isn’t here, with you!” Because in his world, the rule is that adults sleep together! I love seeing him applying kid logic to the world and figuring it out!

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

I like the community of guys. When my son was younger, I was going to NYC Dad’s group because I had questions. Now I am going more to hang out with my peers.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

Probably the Dad’s Nights out– Whirly Ball was awfully fun.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad – Al Watts

Eric Bennion — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 22:10:42 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Al Watts.

He lives in South Elgin out in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Al is a stay at home dad with 4 kids.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. It encourages kids to try new things. Plus the rhymes are addicting.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

I never miss out on any part of my kids’ lives. I get to be there for everything, good and bad.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

Chicago Dads is a community of like-minded fathers. It’s a brotherhood of guys who have great advice on childcare and are just fun to be around.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

Every Dad’s Night Out. I like getting away from the kids for a little adult time.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad Sean Wylie

Eric Bennion — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 01:55:36 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Sean Wylie.

He lives in Oak Park out in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Sean is a working father with 2 kids.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

‘If I Ran the Zoo’ and ‘Sneetches’ by Dr. Seuss. I have a long-running passion for almost all Dr. Seuss books (I brought some with me to college). The illustrations and concepts are so rich with imagination, while still carrying powerful lessons that are useful for both kids and adults. Stories like the ‘Butter Battle Book’, ‘Bartholomew and the Oobleck’, ‘Sneetches’, ‘You’re Only Old Once’ take on difficult topics, but still maintain a magic and innocence.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

My kids enthusiasm for my company. They are still very young and they give me such looks of joy when I come home or even just pick them up from their cribs in the morning. It is intoxicating to feel so needed.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

I play competitive, energetic basketball every week with Dads from our group!

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

The NFL Draft.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad – Kyle Eichenberger

Eric Bennion — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 22:02:19 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Kyle Eichenberger.

He lives in Oak Park out in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Kyle is a SAHD (Stay-at-home-dad) with 1 boy and 1 girl.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

Our family’s favorite to read aloud is probably Paddington. We love these classics that stand the test of time that kids still love decades and decades later. That’s when you know the author was onto something.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

Seeing what they turn into. They hand you this lump of a baby in the delivery room and you end up later with quirks and personality and these amazing people who you get to watch grow every step of the way.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

It can feel pretty isolating–especially as a full-time parent. I think modern dads have been great about building community. It’s nice to feel like there are others out there who share what I’m going through. We have a great group of guys…as fathers but also just as people who are fun to be around.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

Whirlyball for Dads Night Out is always fun. My kids still talk about going fishing last year even though they were bored and didn’t catch anything. The experience was everything!

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad – Michael Carlson

Eric Bennion — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 22:01:04 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Michael Carlson.

He and his family are from Prospect Heights in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Michael is a part time working, part time SAHD with 2 boys.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

The Fred and Ted books – simple and fun.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

Seeing my kids have joy in their faces when I do something special for them.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

Finding new places to take the kids that I had never heard about!

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

Pirates Cove in Elk Grove

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad – James C.

Eric Bennion — Sat, 16 Jul 2016 02:05:26 +0000

This week’s featured dad is James C.

He and his family are from Hyde Park just outside of Chicago.

James is a second generation Stay-at-home dad with 1 kid.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

The Wish;” it’s the story of two elephants that want nothing more than to have a little elephant of their own, but it doesn’t happen right away. They wait, and keep their faith until one day their wish comes true. It gets me every time.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

It is making this little human being laugh and smile and watching her personality start to emerge.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

I’ve been able to develop some quick friendships with other Dads who understand how fortunate we are to have this opportunity to raise our kids on a day-to-day basis. It’s also been very helpful to learn from those that are a little further along on the journey and watch their children develop a few steps ahead of my own.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

My favorite event was the National Baby-wearing Day at the Lincoln Park Zoo. It was so fun to walk around the zoo with a big pack of Dads wearing their kids and promoting it all over social media.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad – Steve McKone

Eric Bennion — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 21:17:11 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Steve McKone.

He and his clan hail from the Glen Ellyn in the western suburbs of Chicagoland.

Steve is a Stay-at-home dad with 1 kid and 1 on the way.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

I Love You Dad (Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood). My daughter’s 2 and just a couple of days ago when I was reading bedtime stories she couldn’t find it. So, we looked and both couldn’t find it. The next day when she woke up from her afternoon nap I walked into her room and she held it up high and said, “Here it is!” It was very sweet and the fact she was so happy to find it immediately made it my favorite.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

Being able to witness milestones such as my daughter rolling over for the first time, recording her first steps, hearing her first words, etc. is priceless. But, raising our child and not worrying whether or not a daycare and/or nanny is doing a good job is a nice perk.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

It has helped with the isolation factor by getting me out of the house and interacting with adults.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

I’ve only done a few, but the Dad’s Night Out for March Madness was great.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested.

Featured Dad – Jeremy Snyder

Eric Bennion — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 14:37:30 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Jeremy Snyder.

He and his clan hail from the Des Plaines in the northwest suburbs of Chicagoland.

Jeremy is a Stay-at-home dad with three kids and a registered nurse on the weekends.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

“A is for Activist” by Innosanto Nagara. I like to share my interests with my kids, and find children’s books that are inspiring, engaging, and alternative to the standard classics.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

Being present and spending quality time with my kids during their most formidable years. I love exploring all the resources Chicagoland has to offer.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

I am beyond grateful to have a group of dudes to hang with in the vast sea of moms and nannies whom traditionally dominate the weekday kids scene. Chicago Dads Group has eliminated that “lone dad at the playground” feeling, and instilled a lot of confidence early on in my SAHD path.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

DNO (Dad’s Night Out) night golfing

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested

Featured Dad – Eric Ridley

Eric Bennion — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 17:21:26 +0000

This week’s featured dad is Eric Ridley.

He and his clan hail from the Algonquin area in the northwest suburbs of Chicagoland.

Eric is a Stay-at-home dad with one kid and one on the way.

What is your favorite children’s book, and why?

Anything Star Wars related. My son is obsessed. He hasn’t viewed the movies yet.

What is your favorite thing about being a dad?

Watching my son develop and grow and having the opportunity to have a first hand knowledge that I helped guide him in the right direction.

How has being part of Chicago Dads Group been good for you?

Knowing that other dads are in the same situation that I am in and can relate to a wife being the sole income in the family.

What has been your favorite Chicago Dads Group event?

The Dads night out event for March Madness.

—

Do you want to be a “Featured Dad” Make sure you’ve joined our group and then send our editor an e-mail and let him know you are interested