Every Summer one of the Chicago Dads Group’s favorite events is our family picnic.  We love the opportunity to get together with our friends from all over Chicagoland and celebrate the summer together.  This year our good friends at Plum Organics sponsored the event ensuring all we had to do was show up and enjoy fostering the connections that have made our group a great resource to Chicagoland dads.

Every year we have rented out an indoor facility (’cause you never want a picnic in the rain) and brought together between 100-300 people to eat, play, and swap the war stories of fatherhood.  This year was no exception,  Upon entering L’l Kickers Indoor Soccer facility you were greeted by a children’s snack table filled treats from Plum Organics.  Even the parents were sneaking a treat or two from the table (Mighty Dinos are for Dads too, right?) If that wasn’t enough there were some seriously yummy smells coming from the food tables where the guys from Big Bob Fritzy’s were cookin’ up a storm.  Italian beef, Burgers, and a Chicago Hot Dog bar, let’s put it this way there were big grins and filled bellies!

When we weren’t eating there were soccer games, soccer skill drills, and more bouncy fun sets than the kids knew what to do with.  One of the best things about this family picnic is hearing kids run up to their parents and encourage them to get in on the adventure play.  Kids and dads were bounding up and down the inflatable slides, scoring goals and filling the space with the happy sounds of childhood memories being made.

The cherry on top of this exciting event was a visit by Moana and Spider-man courtesy of Royal Princess Parties. They spent a whole hour engaging with kids taking pictures and even jumping in on some of their games.

This event is definitely one that everyone who attended is going to remember for quite some time.  It was also a great reminder of the friendships and connections that we have striven to make here in our Dad’s group.  If you missed this one, we sure hope to see you at the next one, or any of the other activities we have going on check out our calendar here:

Chicago Dads Group

Sponsors (Thanks for making our picnic possible):

• Plum Organics (Title Sponsor)
• Lil Kickers Chicago
• Royal Princess Parties
• Big Bob & Fritzys

The NYC Dads Group 8th annual pre-Father’s Day Picnic recently attracted 40 families from all five boroughs and beyond for a picture-perfect day of fun and food in Central Park.

Families sprawled out on blankets. Children frolicked after floating bubbles while balls and frisbees zipped through the air. Boxed lunches were enjoyed and tasty Plum Organics® snacks were devoured. Babies napped even while conversations were rampant.

And best of all, the company and camaraderie was top-notch.

Throughout the year, NYC Dads Group hosts hundreds of events for dads and their children. The pre-Father’s Day picnic is a special occasion because the entire family takes center stage as we gather both “veteran” families who have attended every year and some who are there for the first time. All are seeking a fun, social experience with other parents.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what a few of our attending NYC Dads Group members said about the day:

• “We had so much fun! My son probably ate three or four of those Plum Organic pouches. Great weather, great people and yummy food. Kudos to … for organizing this. Also, thanks to the bigger kids for keeping things running smoothly throughout the event!”  — Julian, Queens
• “It was a great day, and so nice to get to know and connect with all of the wonderful families in this group!”  — Rob, Bronx
• “What an enjoyable event full of wonderful people. Our family had a blast. Thanks so much for all the work that went into organizing it! And those homemade brownies were delicious.”   — Stephen, Queens
• “I had a lot of fun with my family, The weather was great, and everyone was super nice. A great first meetup for me. Looking forward to future meets.”   — Daquan, Manhattan

The best way to showcase this wonderful event was through telling a story with pictures, courtesy of  Chris Farber Productions.

NYC Dads Group has been partnering with Plum Organics® to provide healthy snacks and fun experiences this year at our events across New York City.

Do you love Plum and want to stay in touch? Then join their Club Plum newsletter today to receive feeding tips and special offers. Get $10 off in their online store just for signing up! As a company by parents, for parents, Plum makes the journey easier for every stage of this wonderful, wild ride called parenting.

***Disclosure: NYC Dads Group have been compensated by Plum Organics for participation in their ongoing Plum Parents Program.  Plum Organics snacks are healthy and delicious and we’re proud to work closely with a few quality brands that make products or offer services that we believe in.***

Being part of a local dad group has its rewards. It can motivate you to get out of the house during the week and take your kids (no matter how young) for some needed interaction with other kids. It can also give you a very-needed monthly escape for a dads night out (DNO) to catch a movie, or dinner, or drinks, or golf. Most importantly, it can give you a greater sense of community as you build relationships with other dads and as you watch your kids build relationships with the same kids during play groups.

I have been part of the Chicago Dads Group for 2 years and first took my son to a play group when he was 4 months old. I mentioned that I wasn’t sure if it made any sense to bring a 4 month old out with a dads group and was given some amazing advice from a fellow dad. “Play groups are just as much for the dads as they are for the kids. More so, sometimes. You need this. You need to get out. Now have some fun.” I’m still friends with that guy.

This year, the Chicago Dads Group has averaged over 20 meetups/play groups a month and as of late September, we have had 210 total meetups in 2015. A favorite event for the year is our Family Picnic. At the end of each summer we get the families together and have a pot luck style picnic at a venue with jump houses and large open fields so that everyone can run, kick, bounce, and just have an all around great time. It gives all of us a chance to meet the entire family and make fun of each other in front of our wives. Before it’s all over we have our Dad Olympics, which is always a huge hit.

This month, we had our 2nd Annual Family Picnic with over 200 RSVPs. Two of our members sponsored the event, $99 Per Room Interior Painting (www.99PerRoom.com) and Terrass Misher Real Estate (www.TerrassMisher.com) and helped make it a huge success. Another one of our members has started a professional photography business, and he lent his skills to the event and captured some great moments. So without further ado, here are some of the amazing pictures from our 2nd Annual Chicago Dads Group Family Picnic courtesy of Little Monster’s Photography by Mike Salazar (http://www.littlemonstersphoto.com/).

*to join the Chicago Dads Group, head over to our Meetup site and join the fun.*

*All pictures courtesy of Little Monster’s Photography by Mike Salazar

* All pictures courtesy of Little Monster’s Photography by Mike Salazar *

On Saturday, about 20 dads with their wives and children met in the morning by the Great Lawn for our 2nd Annual NYC Dads Group pre-Father’s Day playdate in the park.

What makes a day like this so special is that not only do I get to hang out with some wonderful dads, but I also get to meet the other half of the parenting equation in their family … which is such a rarity since most of our events are exclusively for dads.  The weather was perfect!  With blankets chained together under the canopy of shady trees (see pic by Scott H.), our children socialized, played ball, and worked on their sharing skills.  Most parents got to relax, unwind, and enjoy themselves.  Well, almost all of the parents.  Unfortunately, my son thought it was much cooler to race off outside of the fenced-in area rather than staying put so my wife & I can finish a conversation – he is 3 … so it’s par for the course. 

Either way, it was an awesome way to enjoy the ride of parenthood with so many other committed, caring, and involved parents.  A chance to spend time with dads I have known for almost three years as well as welcome some new dads within our growing community.  A few of the working dads that participated today had requested more activities like this on the weekends because they are unable to attend our events during the week.  A good point and something we hope to expand on in the future.

Most surprisingly, was my wife’s feelings about the entire event.  She is the career-oriented breadwinner of our family while I am primarily the at-home dad as the primary caregiver to our son.  She said that this type of event where she is able to talk shop with other working moms who are also the breadwinner of their families was a real treat for her.  Makes me think that other breadwinning moms are probably seeking camaraderie, socialization, and support in their unique roles.  My wife has suggested in the past setting up a mom’s night or parents’ night out so she can engage in more conversations with parents in a similar situation as our family.  Even more important for her, is to get to know the mothers of the dads that I have grown so close with over the years within our community. There are so many resources for stay-at-home moms but, what about the breadwinning moms? It certainly is a growing trend.