Рубрика: Family

What should a modern dad be like? What makes him the best for his child? Who are the modern Super Dads, and what qualities do they possess? In this article, we’ll try to answer these and other questions.

Spider-Man once said, «With great power comes great responsibility.» This quote has been repeated thousands of times, and it fits perfectly for men who have young children. And not just because dads are responsible for new life. The truth is, they are our superheroes. All kids believe their dads are omnipotent: they can run faster than the famous athlete Usain Bolt, lift heavy objects like the Hulk, and even have eyes on the back of their heads. That’s why the #SuperDad campaign, celebrating our “everyday” superheroes, is becoming increasingly popular online.

Let’s try to answer the most important question: “What is a modern Super Dad like?”

THE SUPER DAD HOMEBODY

Biography: The Super Dad Homebody expertly handles diapers, knows how to prepare finger foods, and can watch the animated series Peppa Pig for hours without going crazy.

Hobbies: This Superhero spends most of his time playing with his kids and driving them to school. You might also catch him listening to the Frozen soundtrack long after the child has already left the car!

Favorite Food: Cold leftovers of mashed potatoes from the kid’s plate.

Favorite Drinks: Coffee. No further explanation needed.

THE HANDYMAN SUPER DAD

Biography: The Handyman Super Dad believes he’s the best at assembling IKEA furniture (although that’s not always true). You’ll often find him staring thoughtfully at a wobbly shelf or a door hanging by one hinge. With the best intentions, he tries to involve his kids in the DIY process when crafting something with his own hands.

Hobbies: When this Super Dad isn’t running around hardware stores looking for the most powerful electric drill, he’s teaching his kids his skills and giving useful tips, using toy tools or watching Bob the Builder on TV.

Favorite Food: He loves barbecuing because it gives him a chance to impress guests and spend the day outdoors with his kids.

Favorite Drinks: Beer. It’s the perfect complement to a barbecue and a great refreshment for those who are handy.

THE TRAVELER SUPER DAD

Biography: You’ll find the Traveler Super Dad sitting in a tree in the forest or paddling down a river in a kayak with his kids happily singing along. The best family vacation for this superhero is long trips or nature outings. He also loves organizing fun games with his family.

Hobbies: When the Traveler Super Dad isn’t hiking or heading to the coast, he enjoys taking long road trips to the countryside, munching on tasty treats with the kids along the way.

Favorite Food: Cheese and pickle sandwiches, but the best is a family picnic at the end of an expedition.

Favorite Drinks: Tea in a thermos.

THE FUN-LOVING SUPER DAD

Biography: The Fun-Loving Super Dad is always the center of attention—kids laugh at his funny jokes or silly faces. He knows how to cheer up his family even during the toughest times. The imagination of this Super Dad is boundless. Every day, he can invent new games for the whole family, from the youngest to the oldest.

Hobbies: On Saturday afternoons, you’ll often find the Fun-Loving Super Dad flying a kite in the backyard or dancing in the living room with his kids, sometimes playing the role of the tickle monster!

Favorite Food: Biscuit cookies—Oreo, Choco-Pie… anything!

Favorite Drinks: Coca-Cola. Where else would he get all that energy?

THE SEASONED SUPER DAD

Biography: This is an extraordinary Super Dad—he’s the best! The Seasoned Super Dad always has interesting stories to tell and some sweet treats in the car, and he’s sure to have a jar of cookies for his kids. Moreover, this Super Dad is always ready to seriously and attentively listen to his child and share advice.

Hobbies: On weekdays, the Seasoned Super Dad often picks up the kids from kindergarten or school after lunch. On weekends, you might see him with the kids at a football match in a VIP box. He also enjoys doing many things that mom forbids.

Favorite Food: Hamburgers, because they remind him of his childhood.

Favorite Drinks: He tells everyone it’s beer, but in reality, it’s a strong whiskey on the rocks.

Everyone knows that life changes drastically with the arrival of a child, and for many young mothers, these changes can be a difficult trial. That’s why many women miss their pre-baby life in the first few months. One mother shares her feelings during this period, filled with longing for the past.

It took me five years to get pregnant. Those five long years of uncertainty completely exhausted me—physically and emotionally. Through tears, I begged the universe to bless me with a child. I promised that I would never stop appreciating this gift and would cherish every second of motherhood.

My plea was entirely sincere. I truly didn’t understand the seemingly unfeeling mothers who acted as if a child was a heavy burden they wanted to shed. How could you desire children and then only think about taking a break from them?

A few years later, I fully understood those mothers. By then, I had a three-year-old and a newborn, both of whom I deeply loved, but I was utterly consumed by them. Their needs always came before mine. I neglected myself because I was always the last on my list of priorities, focusing entirely on the well-being of my children. I walked around with my hair in a ponytail, no makeup, and wore t-shirts with stretched necklines from breastfeeding, stained with spit-up, snot, pureed prunes, and other such things.

By this point, I fully felt how much life changes after having a child.

I couldn’t fit into my old jeans, and it bothered me terribly. Dressy shoes and blouses gathered dust in the closet—after all, my only “outing” was a trip to the supermarket. And even that took all my strength. I had to wrestle with car seats, diapers, manage the kids, and constantly say “no.” On top of that, I patiently answered endless questions like why a sliced banana couldn’t be made whole again.

All of this (and so much more) made me miss my life before kids.

One evening, my single, childless friend called me and began comparing our lives with a hint of sadness. It was a classic case of “the grass is greener on the other side.” “I’m so tired of living alone,” she sighed. “I come home after work, quickly cook myself something to eat, and sometimes just go to a restaurant by myself. Then I spend the whole evening watching TV because I have nothing else to do.” She then complained that weekends had become monotonous too, as she always met the same friends at the same bars and restaurants. In short, she was tired of the routine.

My friend wasn’t saying all this to gloat. She genuinely envied my life, filled with family duties and love. However, I heard something entirely different in her words. She talked about feeling lonely and bored. To me, it sounded like she was listing all the things I had lost. The quiet. The ability to eat what I wanted without having to consider anyone else’s needs or chop things into tiny pieces or cool them down. The ability to sit and watch TV without being interrupted. Heck, even just going to the bathroom in peace! The freedom to go wherever I wanted without worrying about who would watch the kids, and without feeling guilty for going somewhere without them and spending money on myself instead of on diapers.

My friend resented her freedom, while I had none of it left after the birth of my first child.

To me, her words felt like a lottery winner complaining about being too rich. I pretended to sympathize with her, but then… I hung up the phone and cried. And then I felt guilty for wanting to take a break from motherhood and cried even more. My old promises to the universe echoed in my head: “I will never want to leave my child, not even for a minute.”

At that time, I didn’t understand (and that’s the point!) that being tired doesn’t make me a bad mom—getting tired is normal. The period after a child is born is a marathon, a test of endurance. So why should we react to it differently than to any other challenges? We never get days off, even when we’re sick. After sleepless nights, we work full speed ahead—because we simply have no choice. Without blinking an eye, we constantly do things that would disgust our childless friends. And that’s not even counting the emotional burden of motherhood—the constant worries and anxieties, the realization of immense responsibility, the fear of doing something wrong.

Of course, we get tired. And of course, we miss the freedom we had, when we could put our own needs first and take care of ourselves above all else.

Yes, we’re moms, but we’re also human, susceptible to exhaustion just like everyone else who does hard work. Because life with a child often becomes a series of challenges. And the fact that we miss who we were before having children doesn’t mean we don’t love and adore our kids. It means that we love ourselves too, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s essential for our well-being and the well-being of our families.

If you, moms, feel exhausted and dream of a break—don’t blame yourself for it. Remember that you are still young women, essentially the same as before, no matter how much your life has changed after having a child.

The baby is born, the initial excitement has settled, the wave of congratulating relatives and friends has subsided, and new responsibilities start to weigh on the new parents, brought by the arrival of a newborn. While women often prepare for motherhood from a young age, for many dads, the changes in their lives become a real source of stress. Let’s take a look through the eyes of young (and not so young) fathers at the changes they have to adapt to.

The birth of a child is a pivotal moment in anyone’s life. You begin to learn a lot about yourself and what you are capable of under immense pressure and sleep deprivation. We know that it’s impossible to fully prepare for the changes a newborn brings into your life. Nevertheless, we decided to ask our favorite bloggers who write about fatherhood, as well as our colleagues on Facebook, what they have learned since the arrival of their child. So, if you know any expectant dads, share these sincere impressions with them.

1. «When making ‘pfff’ sounds and playing peek-a-boo doesn’t work… it’s time to find Mom!» (Alex, Facebook)
2. «Before I became a dad, I had no idea what real sleep deprivation was. Now I know. Parenthood is relentless and unforgiving like nothing else; add minimal sleep to the mix, and you’ll understand what it means to be a parent.» (Albert, Dad Network)
3. «Your own baby’s poop isn’t that scary after all!» (Herman, Facebook)
4. «It’s amazing, but when you become a dad, you instantly realize how much you resemble your own father! I find myself constantly saying to my little one the same things my dad said to me when I was little… It’s eerie!» (Mark, Facebook)
5. «Never lift your child above your head like Simba the lion cub—they might spit up on your bald spot, and that never looks good on anyone!» (Victor, Facebook)
6. «Sleep is for the weak!» (Dan, Dad Network)
7. «Patience… It’s so easy to lose and so hard to find… Yet, whenever possible, try to keep your patience, because it’s so important for those around you.» (Pavel, Facebook)
8. «What is fatherhood? It’s when there’s never too much coffee and baby wipes.» (Lee, Dad Download)
9. «I’ve finally mastered the art of pinning down two arms and two legs to change the diaper of a squirming little one!» (Alex, Facebook)
10. «The main takeaway—don’t have more kids!» (Alexander, Facebook, father of 3)

You’ve probably heard about hygge on social media, and friends might have talked about this concept. Today, everyone is talking about hygge as the secret to Danish happiness, something everyone wants to experience. But what is hygge in family life, and how can a family live by this system?

WHAT IS HYGGE?

Hygge is a Danish way of life, and according to reports from the SDSN organization, Danes are the happiest people in the world. It’s no wonder that many want to understand how to live by the principles of this lifestyle. Hygge can mean many things: coziness, relaxation, close relationships with loved ones, and the ability to enjoy the moment and live in the present. Many Danes are taught these principles from a young age, so for them, practicing hygge is not difficult—it becomes a way of life. What is natural for Danes might seem like a challenge for others. It’s not always easy to live without worries, fully enjoying the present day and sharing this joy with loved ones. But don’t give up. The beauty of hygge is that it can enrich not only our lives but also the lives of our children. Its foundations are happiness, unity, and a warm atmosphere for the whole family.

HOW TO APPLY HYGGE AT HOME?

Shifting from a hectic life to a calm, measured way of living might seem impossible. But the secret of the Danes is that they try to dedicate at least one evening a week to spending most of their time with loved ones, cherishing every moment.

1. SPEND TIME TOGETHER

It sounds simple, right? But this means spending quality time together without distractions. To do this, you need to turn off phones, laptops, and tablets to fully enjoy conversations with your loved ones. If you have restless little ones and need to keep them entertained, why not come up with activities that bring everyone together? Play board games or make crafts together. Original puzzles, brick-building sets, and drawing boards are great tools because playing together is a wonderful way to have fun as a family.

2. CREATE COZINESS

Perhaps the most popular aspect of hygge is the unique home coziness. The hygge style in interior design involves many details that create an atmosphere of closeness and relaxation. Create a warm and cozy atmosphere at home, bake an apple cake, light some candles (placing them high enough so small children can’t reach them), put on your favorite pajamas, and cuddle up together under a warm blanket. This will help create a pleasant feeling of unity for you and your family. Under a blanket or by the fireplace, you can forget all your worries and enjoy the time spent together.

3. STAY POSITIVE

Bad moods are contagious, and if you show them while spending time with your family, other family members will quickly pick up on your feelings. If you had a tough day at work or are worried about the state of the world, don’t bring those troubling thoughts into your home. Spend the evening recalling pleasant memories. It’s important to be grateful for the time spent together, experiencing it on a qualitatively different level without expressing negative emotions. This will also lift your own spirits.

If parents had to write a story about summer vacations, it would be very different from the one children would write. As summer vacations approach, parents eagerly await their start, but by September, they often wonder how long summer vacations last and whether they should suggest to the school principal to shorten them next year.

Summer vacations are about to begin, bringing a whirlwind of emotions for all parents. Whether you’re eagerly looking forward to spending a full 12 weeks interacting and playing with your children, or waking up in a cold sweat at the thought of balancing childcare with work, business trips, and other responsibilities, summer vacation time is always a challenge for moms and dads. No matter how you feel about the holidays, the following thoughts are inevitable:

THE BEGINNING OF SUMMER VACATION

«Hooray! The holidays have started, 12 weeks ahead with our dear children and no school fuss. What could be better?» «How wonderful: the kids are on vacation, and we are on leave. It’s already 8 a.m., and we’re still in our pajamas… This is the life!» «I love watching the kids play together – something we really miss when they’re in school.» «By the way, where were we planning to go as a family during summer vacation?»

THE END OF THE SECOND WEEK

«My goodness! Another ten weeks of all this? I dream of at least five minutes of peace. How can I keep them occupied for another hour?» «Monopoly is the longest game ever when you’re playing it with an eight-year-old…» «Is it too late to buy summer camp tickets?»

WEEK FOUR

«Have my kids always been this annoying? How do teachers handle them?» «Does daily bribing with ice cream mean we’re bad parents?» «We’ve been to the park four times this week. Next week, we need to come up with something new.» «Maybe we should come up with some sort of summer vacation program…»

WEEK SIX

«Hooray! The beach! It’ll be fun!» «The gentle sea and sandcastles remind me of my childhood – finally, the kids are silently occupied with something.» «Why is there sand in our food? If the kids eat sand, will they get sick?» «Okay, we’re never going to the beach again. Sand in my bed? How did it even get there?»

WEEK EIGHT

«We’re going on a trip! Food is packed, tablets are charged – let’s hit the road!» «If I hear ‘I need to go to the bathroom’ or ‘Are we there yet?’ one more time, I think I might cry…» «Finally, we’ve arrived at the amusement park! The kids are thrilled!» «An hour-long wait to ride? Great! A whole hour in line with whining kids just to get on a train ride…» «80$ for lunch? I’m afraid I’d have to mortgage the house to pay for family meals by the end of the trip…» «I hope they sleep on the way back!»

WEEK TEN

«I’m looking forward to September when they’ll go back to school. Am I a bad mother?» «Maybe we should leave the kids with grandma for the weekend?» «Yes, a weekend without kids! I can have a glass of wine!» «My husband says he misses the kids…»

WEEK ELEVEN

«A children’s party with old and favorite friends? — Check» «A children’s party with old but not-so-favorite friends? — Check» «A children’s party with relatives? — Check» «A whole day in front of the TV watching cartoons? — Check» «New school uniform? — Check» «New backpack? — Check» «I did it! Or did I?»

THE LAST EVENING OF VACATION

«Please tell me they weren’t assigned any homework!» «Of course, they were…» «Summer vacation diaries and crafts?» «Spent all night making two albums» «It’s a good thing summer vacation is almost over…»

THE FIRST SCHOOL DAY

«Oh, they’ve grown so much!» «Posted 30 photos on Instagram» «Now I’ll see them less often, can’t wait for autumn break…»

Have you ever thought of something similar during summer vacation? Maybe you could tell a similar story about summer vacation with your little ones?

During the summer holidays, every mom has plenty of reasons to be happy, but also plenty to worry about. The constant noise, mess, and the need to come up with activities to keep the kids busy during the summer vacation become the main irritants for every mom from the first day of summer until the moment when parents are relieved to send their kids back to school.

Ask any parents how they feel about summer, and they’ll likely say it evokes mixed feelings. On the one hand, there are amazing moments captured on camera that bring back pleasant memories. But on the other hand, those same moments can also trigger unpleasant associations with a time when you were ready to pull your hair out in frustration. Imagine for a moment that you could write a story about the summer holidays if we asked you to do so.

The summer holidays are approaching. As the holidays draw near, you’re happy that school is ending, but you’re also a bit apprehensive. You’re ready to plead with the class teacher, «Our children are under your care for six hours a day, five days a week. Please, dear, don’t abandon us!»

The last day of school arrives. You’re driving home in the car. The kids have big smiles on their faces, and you smile along with them in anticipation of the three summer months you’ll spend together as a family. But then you break out in a cold sweat: «Oh my God, three whole months!»

That’s the bittersweet truth. This time of year can be both wonderful and frustrating. Why, you ask? Here are just a few reasons:

1. Kids at HomePros: Your kids are at home. You can craft together, go on trips, or just watch silly cartoons. Sometimes, to get them outside, you let them play with the sprinkler. During the summer, your kids are under your constant supervision, so you’re sure they’re eating healthy food and going to bed on time. You’ll have the chance to do things you’ve been planning for a while but haven’t had time for, like gardening or reading a bestseller. Plus, you’ll constantly feel a close connection with your kids. Believe me, nothing brings you closer to them than the 78th viewing of «Madagascar» on a hot summer day, sitting in your pajamas under the air conditioner.Cons: In the summer, kids spend more time at home. If you work outside the home, you’ll need to find someone to watch them in your absence, or try sending them to a summer camp that, hopefully, won’t cost as much as your mortgage. If you work from home, be prepared for constant interruptions. The kids will howl when you start singing in the shower, and then casually mention it to their friends. They’ll shove each other, jump on the couch, constantly ask for food, and sometimes do something incredibly silly and dangerous, like starting a fire on the terrace.
2. Summer TreatsPros: In the summer, kids can enjoy all sorts of treats, from melon and strawberries to bright-colored popsicles. And homemade ice cream is simply unbeatable!Cons: During the summer holidays, you’ll often have to give them these sticky, sweet, dripping, and melting treats they keep asking for. As a result, they consume more sugar than they should, and their clothes are inevitably adorned with colorful stains. Try substituting sweets with tasty and healthy fruits like slices of melon or watermelon. It’s better than going bankrupt buying all those treats. This doesn’t apply to homemade ice cream, though!
3. Beach FunPros: Sun! Sand! Waves! A summer vacation isn’t complete without a trip to the beach. The kids build huge sandcastles while you relax under a beach umbrella, sipping a delicious cocktail from a glass with its own tiny umbrella. There’s an abundance of surfboards and boogie boards. After all the activity, the kids are exhausted, which means they’ll sleep soundly and for a long time.Cons: The sun is scorching. You constantly jump up to reapply sunscreen on everyone. Sand gets everywhere. The waves knock the kids over, leading to tears. Older siblings destroy the younger ones’ sandcastles, causing more crying. You nervously try to calm everyone down from under your umbrella, while sand gets on your cocktail umbrella, but you still finish your now-warm drink. There are too many surfboards, and you have to haul them all to and from the beach. The kids are already worn out, which means even more squabbles and whining.
4. Pool TimePros: It could be a public pool, a relative’s pool, or your own—it doesn’t matter. The main thing is the joy and relief you feel when you’ve brought the kids there with all the gear and can now relax for a couple of hours while they splash around in the water. You might even get to read an interesting book. Plus, in your swimsuit, sunglasses, and branded baseball cap, you look like a hot young mom.Cons: It turns out you dragged yourself there with masks, floaties, and a pile of silly pool toys only for your kids to play diving for coins they took from your wallet. The kids start splashing each other—a typical water fight—and of course, most of the splashes hit you. You can’t read your book peacefully because you’re afraid they might drown. In your swimsuit, you look like a pale vampire; your sunglasses are too big; and you think you look ridiculous in your baseball cap.
5. Unstructured TimePros: The days go by, and the summer holidays come to an end. It still seems like they’re bored, so you constantly come up with activities to keep the kids busy at home or at the dacha. They probably won’t be entertained by what you did during your childhood in the tough times of the ’90s. But you still hope that their spontaneous summer games won’t resemble adventures from the movie «Stand by Me,» based on Stephen King’s novella about the disappearance of teenage friends.Cons: Kids need structure. They hide under the furniture or jump on it, sighing heavily and complaining that they have nothing to do. For all the suggestions you make, based on your childhood experience, they respond in unison, «That’s boring!» until you leave the room and head to where they aren’t. If someone were to make a movie about kids’ unstructured summer fun, it might be called: «Minecraft and Fortnite*: In My Head, All My School Knowledge Is Gradually Being Replaced by This Junk.»