All Work, All Play

Hey, welcome to my blog.

I have no shocking hobbies, deep-ridden angst (ok, well maybe some) or corporate secrets to spill. So what's my excuse for blogging?

I’m a corporate professional on call at all times, so I know a thing or two about the relentless stress of the daily grind and what it takes to survive in the corporate world. Married to an awesome woman for 8 years, together for 11, so I know a LOT about the trials and travails of compromise and commitment, rewarded by the lasting company and comedy of my best friend. But perhaps the best title I’ve ever had is “Dad.”

I have two beautiful girls, 5 and 3, so I know about Barbie and ballet and have learned how little patience I sometimes have, but also have discovered a side of my typically jaded self I never knew existed – the one that can be stopped on a dime by the smallest gesture, word, look, smile or question from my daughters. And, I’m realizing that adults can learn more from a child than we can usually teach them. In fact, I’m learning more as a dad than I ever did as a student. But I still don’t have it all figured out -- which is perhaps the most vexing feeling I've ever known: to have a great life, to be educated and successful, but to not always know how to lead a child to the same fortune.

I’m in the business of toys, lucky to have followed my childhood passion for building by scoring a job at LEGO, so a big part of my job is thinking about kids – other people’s kids and most often my own experiences – to help me get the job done. I’ve talked with a lot of moms and dads in my travels. I read a lot about kids. About trends. About increasing societal pressures on time, creativity and innovation. About parents, like me, who are stumped when it comes to engaging kids in meaningful activities. About kids who crave realism at every turn. And how all of this will shape our future generation of leaders. And it gets me thinking about my life as a dad – with all of this information ingrained in my brain all day long – who still finds it hard to prioritize what I know is right and good for my kids as I juggle work and family and wrestle with my own selfish needs.

So, here I’ll share my thoughts on how hard it is to be a great, even good, dad in today’s world. How to focus on what’s most important, to be open to new things and new knowledge, to celebrate it. How to be consistent, decisive and committed to the evolution of a dad in today’s world. Between examples of great ways I’ve found with my own family to make play time my most important work, my observations of my own family (and maybe even some other families – anyone who knows me be on guard, I’m watching you now!), random magazine tearing, Web trawling and general discourse on the chaos of life in suburban Connecticut, hopefully I will inform and entertain anyone who drops by. Maybe you’ll find comfort in knowing you’re not the only dad trying to figure it all out day by day. I may even be lucky enough to have you help me in this giant game of connecting the dots to see the big picture. And maybe even find the inspiration to be a better Jack (of All Trades, that is).

I am yours truly,
Dad in Progress