April 2009

Mocha Dad Goes Camping

Okay. I did it. I went camping. Not the air conditioned cabin type of camping. I’m talking about the sleeping on the ground in a tent kind of camping. I know you’re surprised. So am I. But when my five year old son, N, looked at me with those big brown eyes and begged to [...]

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Earth Day: Water Fights

I am an advocate for water conservation because drought is a common problem in my home state of Texas and several other western states. Because of its limited availability, water has become a precious commodity in the U.S. and abroad. According to UNICEF, 884 million people in the world do not have access to safe [...]

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An Artistic Journey

One Sunday afternoon, my daughter, Nee, drew this portrait of me. It’s a striking resemblance isn’t it? We often sit at the kitchen table and draw pictures together. Sometimes we draw each other. Here is my drawing of her. Other times, we draw fantastical scenes with fairies, dinosaurs, puppies and superheroes. If we can think [...]

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Not So Easy Rider

My daughter, Nee, has finally learned how to ride her bike. It took two parents, one aunt, one godmother, one grandparent and one little brother to make the bike riding lessons sink in. Nee avoided riding her bike for months because she didn’t want to deal with the inevitability of my removing her training wheels. [...]

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Wednesday Wisdom:A Legacy of Financial Security

Life was a lot simpler when what we honored was father and mother rather than all major credit cards. – Robert Orben In order to feed our insatiable consumerism, many of us turn to credit cards. Unfortunately, this cash substitute has lead to massive consumer debt and has contributed to our current economic crisis. Total [...]

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Happy Birthday Nee

My daughter Nee just celebrated her 8th birthday. Because her birthday coincided with Easter, she had and extra special weekend. She began the celebration by visiting the Children’s Museum with a few of her friends. Next, it was Happy Meals at McDonald’s (she really wanted one of the “Aliens vs Monsters” toys). Later, her grandparents [...]

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Happy Easter

Happy Easter! I wish you and your family wonderful blessings. Stay strong, Mocha Dad

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Fatherhood Friday

I didn’t write a Fatherhood Friday post, but don’t fret. Your Mocha Dad visit is not in vain because you can do a few other things to make it worthwhile. First, read the Outback Steakhouse Giveaway post to find out how you can win a $20 gift card. Next, please read my post, Wednesday Wisdom: [...]

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Wednesday Wisdom: The Greatest Gift

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: he believed in me. – Jim Valvano I have always been tenaciously goal-oriented. In grade school, I made the honor roll each quarter, I was the first in my family to graduate from college, and I have achieved relative success in my career. [...]

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Fatherhood Fragments: Featuring Nee

At school, Nee was assigned a project to develop a new product. My budding marketing genius came up with Flight Sprite. One drink will give you incredible power to soar the skies like an eagle. I can’t wait until it’s in production. * * * * * * * Nee came running down the stairs [...]

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Wednesday Wisdom: Be a Grandparent Now

I did not enjoy my children as I wish I could have because of time absorption in earning a living. I missed some of the emotional satisfaction that I’m finding with my grandson. – From The Encyclopedia of Christian Parenting. When I first read this quote, I was struck but the author’s blunt honesty. As [...]

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