http://daddyclay.gather.com Recent Articles on Gather by Clay Nichols en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:08:37 GMT 2010-01-08T10:08:37Z en-us Copyright Gather Inc 2009 http://www.gather.com/images/header/logo_gather.gif http://www.gather.com/ http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977543567 The pre-Christmas countdown period certainly has its sweet moments -- picking out and decorating the tree, time with family members you don’t get to see on a weekly basis, holiday parties -- but the family . . . Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:39:46 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977543567 Clay Nichols 2008-12-23T17:39:46Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977529512 Though there are certainly annoyances in Disney’s latest animated feature, I have not enjoyed a family movie this much since Pixar’s Monsters Inc .  Bolt, while certainly enjoyable as a piece . . . Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:38:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977529512 Clay Nichols 2008-12-08T18:38:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977516517 We took advantage of a weekend without sports obligations to ship the kids off to Baba and Bud’s house for two nights.  I know there are probably some parents that feel really guilty about sending . . . Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:14:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977516517 Clay Nichols 2008-11-24T20:14:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493932 Given the economic backdrop, it may be a good time to think about losing.   In the archetypical kids sports movie, the sad, diverse, middle-to-working-class team with crappy uniforms gets . . . Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:07:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977493932 Clay Nichols 2008-10-31T16:07:37Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977473717 In our very unusual neighborhood, we have decided to afford our ten-year-old a good deal of independence and freedom.  This is result is a result of our very conscious decision to encourage free . . . Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:03:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977473717 Clay Nichols 2008-10-10T17:03:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977457034 This may fall into the classic Blogger Overshare category, but I’m going to talk about my sleep schedule.  *Because* I think it has bearing on my parenting, and others may have had similar experiences. . . . Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:01:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977457034 Clay Nichols 2008-09-23T19:01:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977415368 1) Jellyfish stings: vinegar is good but urine is better We had a rash of jellyfish stings this summer, and I was even stung myself.  The sensation is not unlike getting about a dozen or so fire . . . Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:08:00 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977415368 Clay Nichols 2008-08-06T21:08:00Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977401218 I married very well.  At the moment of this writing I am aboard my FIL's trawler steaming from Martha's Vineyard back to Cape Cod.  My BIL has been hosting our family at the old home . . . Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:19:47 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977401218 Clay Nichols 2008-07-18T20:19:47Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977393470 I was feeling a little nostalgic and drifting back through years of family summer vacation pictures, including those I have just recently taken.  It struck me in this viewing that the children change . . . Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:56:10 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977393470 Clay Nichols 2008-07-09T12:56:10Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977389574 My family has been away on vacation for the past week, leaving me behind to have a career.  For a family man, time away from the domestic cohabitants is always disorienting, but remaining behind . . . Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:09:39 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977389574 Clay Nichols 2008-07-04T13:09:39Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977384201 (This post is a continuation of a previous column about my recent travels to Stockholm to investigate their family leave and daycare policies.) DadLabs is by no means alone on this press tour . . . Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:30:33 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977384201 Clay Nichols 2008-06-27T22:30:33Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977376131 (Our web TV team traveled to Sweden to see if it is indeed the most Dad-friendly place on earth.  What follows  is the first part of a travel blog of our "dadventure.") Day One . . . Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:31:08 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977376131 Clay Nichols 2008-06-18T20:31:08Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977361835 Several newly launched Dad sites have come to our attention in the last few days.  Dadosphere is a social networking site, brought to you by the team at type-a mom .  Obviously this site . . . Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:58:59 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977361835 Clay Nichols 2008-06-05T03:58:59Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977355683 With Father's Day approaching, it's time to look back to see how the institution of fatherhood has fared in the last 365. What are your nominees for the most significant moment in fatherhood in . . . Wed, 28 May 2008 15:13:43 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977355683 Clay Nichols 2008-05-28T15:13:43Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977350411 Being a coach is a tough way to make a paycheck.  I've watched a lot of them up close in my dozen years of living on a boarding school campus, so I know.  Long hot afternoons on the practice . . . Wed, 21 May 2008 15:38:41 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977350411 Clay Nichols 2008-05-21T15:38:41Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977341085 I suspect that there are a number of Americans that would rather buy a new car than a new set of tires.  Buying tires may be the most arcane, arbitrary, and opaque of all major purchases in the American . . . Thu, 08 May 2008 04:21:15 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977341085 Clay Nichols 2008-05-08T04:21:15Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977330024 "Daddy, why were you wearing a napkin around your neck?"  Ri-ri asked with such disdain in her voice that my stomach knotted.  It was the most dispiriting criticism I've gotten . . . Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:05:56 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977330024 Clay Nichols 2008-04-23T03:05:56Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977293550 What use is it for a blogger to go to Disney, if not to come back and write a long, snarky takedown of the Happiest Place on Earth?  So here it comes. I didn't like the coffee. Is that . . . Wed, 26 Mar 2008 02:22:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977293550 Clay Nichols 2008-03-26T02:22:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977269406 Despite last year's Jet Blue travel debacle, I'm returned for the 2008 New York Toy Fair.   My generous and enthusiastic, but child-free host expressed interest in accompanying me to . . . Wed, 27 Feb 2008 04:26:49 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977269406 Clay Nichols 2008-02-27T04:26:49Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977256248 It's tough for a dad, no matter how evolved and dispassionate and balanced with values in the right place, to watch his child lose a game.  It's even tougher for a guy to watch his child . . . Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:30:16 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977256248 Clay Nichols 2008-02-12T05:30:16Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977249442 The studies hailing the health and well-being benfits of family dinner are numerous.  For children in the studies, frequent family dinners correlate with decreased alcohol, tobacco, drug use, eating . . . Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:08:25 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977249442 Clay Nichols 2008-02-04T23:08:25Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977248253 This is officially Not Funny Anymore.  The little punks have given me this flu garbage.  I've had it. I surrender.  They can have McDonalds every night, and watch all the TV they want. . . . Sun, 03 Feb 2008 18:21:07 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977248253 Clay Nichols 2008-02-03T18:21:07Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977246639 If you have a sick child, it is very important not to turn a day off from school into a carnival atmosphere.  Loads of coloring books, special movies, treats doled out to the sick child can obviously . . . Fri, 01 Feb 2008 19:59:05 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977246639 Clay Nichols 2008-02-01T19:59:05Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977244474 Day one was marked by a  clear sense of unease, a nervousness just beneath the surface.  I first picked up on this when I began dinner preparations.  Coop, who usually busies himself with . . . Wed, 30 Jan 2008 17:26:17 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977244474 Clay Nichols 2008-01-30T17:26:17Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977243604 I took one look at the thing and sprained both ankles and fractured my tibia.  Because skateboards are not nearly unstable and dangerous enough, someone went ahead and invented the Ripstik . . . Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:04:27 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977243604 Clay Nichols 2008-01-29T19:04:27Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977236882 On a typical MLK day, the kids accompany their mom on the march in downtown Austin. My observations are usually made from the office, unfortunately. Yesterday, however, the weather was miserable, unfit . . . Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:46:03 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977236882 Clay Nichols 2008-01-22T16:46:03Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977229675 Last week I read my son's report card, and it said to me, "You're working too much." The grades were down, not sharply, but noticeably. In her comments, his teacher tried to allay our . . . Mon, 14 Jan 2008 20:25:28 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977229675 Clay Nichols 2008-01-14T20:25:28Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977217767 This resolution has been made easier by the fact that both of our TVs have died in the last two weeks. The first to go was our 12-year-old 32' Zenith that my wife and I bought four our first apartment. . . . Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:43:40 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977217767 Clay Nichols 2008-01-02T01:43:40Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977206601 A quick poll of the DadLabs offices revealed a surprisingly low levelof concern about lead in children's toys. Most of this confidencederives from dads feeling like their kids are past the "everything . . . Tue, 18 Dec 2007 03:42:50 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977206601 Clay Nichols 2007-12-18T03:42:50Z http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977193709 When my oldest was entering Kindergarten, there was just one thing that I really wanted him to learn – not reading or math or social studies or science.  Good values are fine and all, and . . . Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:46:37 GMT http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977193709 Clay Nichols 2007-12-04T03:46:37Z