About

2010

Hi! I’m Jeff, and I am the author of GoodFatherBlog.com. I am a father four times over, and my experiences have led me to write the articles you’ll find here. I have two older (teen) children from a previous marriage (henceforth referred to as ‘The Trainwreck’), and two adorable young girls with my wife of five years. My younger kids live with us in our house in Washington State - when I’m not blogging, I’m working on the house ;). We’ve spent a lot of time and money over the last several years on home improvement, which is a subject that will be a recurring theme from time to time, I’m sure. We also house 2 dogs and 3 cats. When my older kids are spending a weekend, the number of lifeforms in our home is a little humbling.

The title of my blog is optimistic: I want to be a good father, and I know from experience what it takes to BE a good father, from a father’s perspective. Am I always a ‘good’ father? I don’t think so. Have I always tried to be a good father? Sadly, no. In hindsight, the list of things that I wish I’d done better is pretty long. Some things I’ve done (or not done) can be corrected, but other critical, important, really-shouldn’t-have-screwed-that-up items can’t. I think that most of the business end of being a good father boils down to having a good attitude. You have to come to terms with the fact that you are sacrificing your life and money to raise your child. Everything you do as a person reflects the fact that you are RESPONSIBLE for another person (or in my case, FOUR other people, yikes!).

I make a comfortable living working for a software developer, although not enough to have figured out how to send four kids to college.  By nature, I’m a helping kind of person (I play a Holy Priest in WOW if that’s any clue), and I sincerely hope that my blog will help YOU, the Dads out there who are trying to make it work. We’re the ones who look out for everyone else: assemble toys, pay insurance premiums, pick up kids from daycare, put food on the table, and make sure everyone is safe when the lights go out.

But, no one is looking out for us.

I would be remiss not to mention my own father. He is a good father to this day, and was there for me when I was growing up. He didn’t always understand me, but he got me through my childhood (tough), adolescence (even tougher), and off to college. He taught me many of the themes of my articles by example: working hard, reading to your children, managing your household. I don’t get to say it often enough, so I’ll say it here: thanks, Dad.

Thanks for reading!

Jeff

Comments

Comment from Anita Doberman
Time November 28, 2008 at 8:39 pm

I really like your intro. Love how you say that you thank your dad

Comment from Bryan Tenenhouse
Time May 12, 2009 at 5:41 pm

I’ve just started blogging and have enjoyed doing my research by reading blogs like yours. Hope you don’t mind if I add you to my blogroll.

Comment from oshea12566
Time January 13, 2010 at 4:49 am

Stumbled upon your blog today and I am glad I did. Love the line :” We’re the ones who look out for everyone else: assemble toys, pay insurance premiums, pick up kids from daycare, put food on the table, and make sure everyone is safe when the lights go out.”

I am a father of one, police officer, and husband. Nice to know someone has got my back. You have a new reader….stop by my blog anytime, nevermind the mess.