I have a very long post for tomorrow. For today I would like to say – HAVE AN AWESOME 2010!!!! May next year be your best ever and my the new decade bring you love, health, happiness and wealth. May all your resolutions be strong. You might get a video later today too.

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I have some lights in the living room that require a 12′ ladder to change so I haven’t gotten to them in awhile. Today I sat down on the couch for a minute and my wife said “gee it would be nice to have some light in this room again.” Point made Point taken. I got out the ladder cleaned it off and went up to pull the bulbs out to find out what size I needed. It was a 65w 120 volt flood light. So off to Wal-Mart.

I get there an I’m looking in the lighting isle for the right bulb. Turns out there are 2 size indoor flood light and as far as I know there isn’t any indicator about which one you need. So I’m standing there in the isle trying to decide which is probably the right size and all of the sudden I notice a little girl probably about 10 or 11 and she is crying. Her Dad is there kneeling down next to her and trying to comfort her. I wasn’t intentionally listening in and I wish I hadn’t overheard the conversation.

Girl – she sobbing “but we don’t have money and can’t afford muffle muffle muffle.”
Dad – you don’t worry about that it’s Christmas.
Girl – but you we don’t have money
Dad – You don’t worry about that. That’s my job you let me worry about that. Okay. It’s Christmas.
The girl calms down and the Dad gets her to start walking with him.
Dad – Besides Santa has all the money he needs to buy gifts.

I was floored. I know I witnessed my worst fear happening. The poor guy obviously had lost his job and is probably terrified about how he’s going to keep his family in the house and keep them safe and protected. And here his little girl probably has just been watching and hearing conversations at home and has finally put two and two together and wants to make sure that her family will be okay. But the Dad rightly doesn’t want his child, his little girl to feel this burden so he has to hold it together make her feel better and still be scared to death about what will happen Monday, knowing that he has to make it at least another 2 weeks before companies start to think about rehiring. I admire the man for keeping it together. When I got out of the store I completely lost it.

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Wiggle your tushey all day long.
wiggle your tushey sing a song.
wiggle your tushey outside and play.
wiggle your tushey its a beautiful day.

Song by Abby age 3.

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If you haven’t read the book “Crush It” yet you need to. Gary Vaynerchuk started the Wine Library four years ago and built it into a $64 million dollar business using social media and connecting with his audience. In the book Crush It he talks about how you have to be willing to “bleed out you eye’s,” quoted from his speech the other day, to succeed.

I went to Gary’s book signing in Atlanta on Monday and stayed for his question and answer session. I had to oportunity to ask how his experience has been being a dad. Check it out.

By the way if your a Dad and haven’t completed the DADvocate project Survey yet, don’t forget to do it now!

I also want to credit @MaritzaParra and @JeffHerring from http://OnLineBizShow.com for providing the video clip.

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What is your faith? Christianity 56% Judaism 22% Islam 0% Hinduism 0% Buddhism 0% Taoism 2% Shinto 0% Rastafari Movement 0% None of your business 2% Don’t believe in any god or religion 5% Other 13% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. How often do you attend services? I don’t 33% A few times per year 31% 1 per month 7% 2 X per month 4% 3 – 4 X per month 0% 1 per week 20% 2 – 3 X per week 2% > 3 X per week 4% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. How strongly does religion influence the raising of your children? Our parenting philosphy comes from religion 20% Our religion serves as a guide 36% We teach our children to believe in God but don’t rely on religion 24% Religion and God rarely enter our parenting thought process 18% We don’t believe in God 2% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. Would you support your child if they live a homosexual lifestyle? Yes 87% No 13% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%. Would you support your child if they had personal beliefs dramatically different from yours? Yes 96% No 4% How often do you gamble?

I don’t 52% A few time a year 35% 1 per month 6% 2 X per month 4% 3 – 4 X per month 0% 1 per week 2% 2 -3 X per week 2% >3 X per week 0% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

How often do you get to hang out with the guys?
	<1 X per month 30% 1 X per month 30% 2-3 X per month 25% 3-5 X per month 8% >5 X per month 8% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

How often do you drink alcoholic beverages?
	I don’t 13% Just a glass when out at a social gathering 24% Moderatly at social gatherings only 31% a glass at dinner 15% A few beers during a football game 22% 1 -2 glasses ever day 16% More than 2 glasses every day 2% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

How often do you have sex per month?
	<1 X per month 13% 1 X per month 13% 2 – 3 X per month 22% 4 -5 X per month 20% 6-7 X per month 15% 8 – 10 X per month 13% >10 X per month 5%

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The Fat Chomper is a great blog that I was recently introduced to.  Today I posted a guest post there check it out and brows the rest of his site while your at it.

I found this fascinating quote today:

This is a great guest post from Kevin from MySpellingSucks.com.  Kevin has a great blog where he often discusses an issue near and dear to my heart…Family.  I hope you enjoy this post.  When you finish take a trip over to his blog and say hello.fatchomper.com, Chew The Fat, Feb 2004

You should read the whole article.

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I realize that I had a question that should have been published on the DADvocate survey. It was essay form so I removed it to make the survey easier to complete and I added it to the interview questions. The thing is I really wanted to get the story about how you approach parenting even as a survey participant. I guess I feel like I made the right discision to remove it but I’m impatient so if your a dad and reading this please leave a comment telling us about your approach to parenting.

Here’s mine -

First I love being a dad. I don’t think there is anything much more fun then playing with my kids as it gives me permission to act like the kid I really still am, but try to hide in professional situations. I think a lot of my parenting philosphy comes from my first child who does have CP, you can read about her elsewhere on this site. I can really sum it up in a single line “You need to get back up. I know you fall but get back up. I know it hurts but get back up. I know you think no one else falls but get back up. I know it’s hard but get back up. OH LOOK YOU’RE DOING IT! YOU’RE DOING IT!! YOU’RE DOING IT!!!! YES!!!!” Then its time to celebrate and know you can always do it. This philosphy can be expressed in so many scenarios and so many ways. If you’ed like to read more about how I apply it look at some of my other posts, here are a few that I think describe it well:

Video Interview of Haley about her book “I’m Not Weird”

Bris – Prayer for Isaac

What to do when they just smile at you

New Talent

Was I a good girl today after my rough morning

Father of the Year – This isn’t just braging I’m actually interviewed in this post.

Setting her own goals

Seven Years

The Race!

Saturday Mornings

pregnancy – In the waiting room of the hospital NOW!

Please leave a comment and let me know what your philosphy is.
Oh yeah don’t forget to complete The DADvocate Project Survey

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What do you think would you get in a crib? I think the crib would colapse if I got in.

Don’t forget to complete the DADvocate Survey

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