3 Ways I Stay in Touch With My Daughter

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #CloudPetsForever #CollectiveBias

My daughter, Amberly, is my world. Her birth changed my life forever. She made me a dad, the most important job I will ever have. Deciding to separate from her mom when she was only two was one of the hardest decisions I've ever made, not because my relationship was ending but because I knew that I wouldn't see Amberly every single day. Ever since then, I look forward to the weekends when I get to see her (and her brother!) 

Over the past six years, I have tried hard to maintain as much contact with her as possible, not just every other weekend. It's important for me to have an open line of communication with her. It's important for her to know I will be there for her, no matter what. My ex (her mom) and I get along well so it does make things a lot easier on everyone involved. I stay in touch with Amberly all week long.

{ONE}

The easiest way to stay in touch with her is by calling. At first, we had a set time once a week where we would talk over the phone. Thankfully, she has always been a big talker and has always loved talking on the phone with me. Since she started school, the phone calls are more frequent, at least twice a week. She will call me or I will call her. We discuss homework, behavior or just a quick Wednesday morning call to say "Happy hump day!"

{TWO}

Sometimes phone calls are not enough! When I see her on the weekends, the first thing she does is run and give me a big hug. She does not let go. I know she has missed me as much as I have missed her. She is the cuddly type so when I heard about CloudPets™, I knew it would be perfect for her!

CloudPets™ are these cute stuffed animals that lets you stay in touch with your loved ones. CloudPets™ lets you download a free app, register your animal and then you get to send a message to the pet. Your loved one hears the message on the pet and then record a message back! CloudPets™ come with parental controls and only invited friends and family can send a message to your pet. 

{THREE}

Another way I stay in touch with Amberly is to be present. When she is around, my attention is on her. We don't see each other as much as we would like so why be on the phone or working when she is around? My weekend is devoted to her (and her brother!) when they are over. We play, read books, go on outings, always something and always together! Now, I am present, no matter what. If there is a school function, I am there. She can't understand homework explanations over the phone, I drive to her house and we figure it out. Always available and always present is the perfect way to let her know how much I love her!

I can't wait to see her this weekend and gift her her new CloudPets™ Unicorn. The unicorn is exclusive to Walmart. CloudPets™ are also available as a Kitty, Bear, Puppy and Bunny!

Have you seen CloudPets™ at your local Walmart? Who would you gift one too?

A Day In The Life of a Dad

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PowerfulProtein #CollectiveBias  

Being a dad, especially a working dad of three, is no easy task. I need to be 100% at everything: work, the gym and with the kids, so I don't miss out on a thing. I like being busy but I also want to be present. A lot of people ask me "How do you do it?" My response: "I just do." Since I get asked this so often, I decided I would document a typical day in my life and share it with you.

My days start off early, at 5:15 a.m. I wake up, get dressed for the gym and have a prep meal (usually a rice cake with almond butter and honey since i wake up starving!) or a pre-workout shake and eat/drink on my way to the gym, arriving at the gym at 5:45 a.m. ready to workout! I do Crossfit, so everyday is a different WOD (workout of the day.)

Normally, I do the workout of the day, which is about 20 minutes and some strength-training, like clean and jerks or snatches, since I also compete in Crossfit competitions various times a year. By the end of my training, I bust out my signature move:

After I scrape myself up from the floor, I rush back home. I try to be back home by 7:40 a.m. the latest. Ida is great at getting the kids up, dressed and downstairs ready for breakfast by the time I get home. We are on summer break now from school but we still need to be up and early since Ida and I both work outside the home. We have breakfast and are out the door by 8:10 a.m.

I get to work by 8:30 a.m.  I am an architect and usually work from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., unless there is a major project deadline and I have to stay late.

Ida works until 4:30 p.m., so she will pick up the kids from summer day camp and them pick me up at work. From there we head home and get started on dinner. Thankfully, the kids are old enough to shower on their own so they will do that while we work on dinner. During the school year, it's a lot more hectic since there is homework to do and sports practices to be at but summer is a little more relaxed and we can spend more time together as a family. After dinner, I will usually play a board game or some video games with the kids. This is our bonding time. We will usually play until about 8 p.m. when I send them up to their room, they get in bed and read. 

Once the kids are in bed, I go out for a jog. I jog for conditioning training and to clear my head. I will jog for about 30 minutes, come back home, do some yoga to get in a good stretch and then of course, eat! I am once again starving but I do not dare ask Ida to make me more food. I only know how to make fried eggs and that can get a bit tiring after a while so I went to the store and stocked up on the new STOUFFER'S® Fit Kitchen meals. 

I need a meal with lots of protein and once I saw that these meals have at least 25 grams of protein each, I knew they would be perfect for me. I could just take one of the freezer, pop it in the microwave and in less than 10 minutes, I have a delicious flavorful protein packed meal!

My favorite is the Cilantro Lime Chicken. It's white meat chicken with black bean and corn mix, seasoned brown rice with a verde tomatillo sauce. 

I usually eat my STOUFFER'S® Fit Kitchen meals while chatting with Ida about our days. This is our together time. We are very busy during the day at work and with the kids so really this is the only time where it is just us. After I eat, I will take a shower, go to bed (around 10 p.m.) and am back up at 5:15 a.m. the next day to start all over again!

STOUFFER'S® Fit Kitchen meals are available in  the freezer section at your local Walmart. 

Be sure to check out STOUFFER'S® on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest for more info!

I've shared a typical day in my life as a dad now tell me about your day!