As a dad I have many of the same varied interests we all do. I feel it is important for us as dads to have outside interests that can be our own, or if fate shall have it interests we share with our kids and wives. From sports to movies and so on I will continue to write about and present my viewpoints on such topics and interests as I believe that the every down in everydown dad includes be able to enjoy the things in life we enjoy that bring us personal joy.
I just want to outline some here and plan to go deeper into each depending on interest and feedback from my ferllow dads. Always good to have a back and forth with others who enjoy the same interests even if from a differing viewpoint as it is the best way to learn even more.
Sports/Outdoors
Ok why not start with what is my favorite interest which is sports. Ok maybe it is cliche but I do not care I have loved sports since I was a kid and never a need to apologize for it. I follow the four major sports like baseball, football, ice hockey, and basketball but I also enjoy golf and have dabbled in skiing and roller hockey. I do love to debater the issues in sports and I love to root for and debate issues with the teams I claim my fandom to. I look forward to posting about each during their respective seasons or during any interesting news time. I am an avid 49ers fan, a sad Mets fan, a hopeful Islanders fan and a disappointed Knicks fan lol.
As fas outdoor activities I do enjoy them when I can I am not big a camper but I am never opposed to the idea. I have recently gotten into hiking but have few really wonderful hiking areas here as I live on an island lol. Hunting is a topic I cannot really speak to as I have never hunted but I do find it fascinating. Now living on island there is no shortage of boating or fishing and I do enjoy being out on the water I just wish it was not such an expensive endeavor to own and maintain a boat.
So yes just a brief synopsis of what I enjoy and look forward to diving deeper into them with you all.
Movies/Televison/Music
These are a couple areas where we dads will probably land in different areas of each depending on our tastes as individuals. When it comes to movies I love a good comedy and anything from the raunchy 80’s comedies like Revenge of the Nerds to The Big Lebowski. As long as I find it funny I am in! Of course I grew up with some amazing action movies so I always love a good blockbuster and I can enjoy a good tear jerker or sports movie I still get a little teary eyed watching Rudy lol. I am a movie buff ok I get it lol.
Television was certainly part of my childhood and it continues to be part of my life as a dad. Clearly the times have changed with what is presented on television and the days of streaming have revolutionized the way we watch. I still love the classics and I am a Seinfeld nerd! Reality television I am not a huge fan of and watch select shows. I will say I I have no idea how I watched TV before DVR or streaming as commercials are annoying!! My guiltiest pleasure was probably the show Supernatural so you see I have a wide range of tastes.
Music is something that I tend not to focus on one genre or the other. I would say it depends on mood or if the music is accompanying a certain activity or event. If I hear a song and I like it then typically it does not matter what genre it is from.
Now all of these had a somewhat dramatic change once I became a dad as you have to shift focus to all the fun kids programs and shows and music I know you can all hear that Baby Shark song hahahahahaha. I know we can all share in fun of all that.
Hobbies/Interests/Cooking/BBQ
Fantasy Football/Sports Betting
Ok not a big gambler but this is the area I will dabble in most. Fantasy football is one of my joys and I do enjoy the studying of players and the fun competition you can have with friends or even strangers! I know there is a large contingent of us out there that enjoy all that comes with this and who knows maybe there could be an everydown dad fantasy league one day! Until I will continue in the misery of this season which is not a good one lol.
Sports betting I do get into a bit a few bucks on a gamer or a parlay here or there depending on my level of confidence in the game. Now my knowledge of sports gambling is limited as it only became legal here in New York within the last few years so I stick with football as I understand the way the lines and the prop bets work. That beer tastes much better when you win some money on Sundays lol!
Travel/Fitness
Travel is certainly an area that can be found in shorter supply after having kids and then the trips become more kid friendly for a while. However travel is something I really find fascinating especially when I get to go places I have never been. Having traveled to places like Panama, Rome, Barcelona, Prague and the Caribbean learning about these areas and experiencing the culture makes me want to travel as much as possible. I also love a nice cruise too as there is something about being out in the middle of the ocean that allows me to really feel the escape of the everyday life. For now I will continue to enjoy the family vacations and take in all those fun places I visited as a child myself but now can experience as a dad watching my kids experience the wonder of it all.
Our own personal fitness is something to be aware of. As we get older it is important we learn to watch our health and take care of ourselves. I know part of not wanting to miss a thing as an everydown dad for me is to be here as long as possible to witness my kids grow old and start their own journey. I used to not worry so much about my weight or overall health and would eat as much as I wanted when I wanted. It took one trip for a physical to see the weight and it woke me up and since I have become leaner lighter healthier and honestly happier. The hardest part is finding that time to continue on with the exercise with everything going on in our crazy lives. I am not a fan of going to the doctor at all but it is time I started with more regular check ups to try and catch issues before they arise.
These topics above I look forward to diving deeper into each on their own as we go as I cannot consider the everydown dad without considering every aspect. I just wanted to give a quick idea into topics that will be discussed and written about besides the whole raising the kids so continue to look for these topics along the way and please any feedback is appreciated as well as any ideas.