Father’s Day is a great time to appreciate the men in your life who share all of those silly jokes, have crazy dance moves, and own more polo shirts than Ralph Lauren himself. So why not treat those special guys to something special? Here are a few favorite gift options for every type of dad out there!

Razor MD

For the dad who loves his beard, look to Razor MD to provide him with all the things he needs to keep his beard trimmed, silky, and smooth. They have everything from great razors to essential oil based products that help style and condition his beard. Help him take his beard game to the next level with all of the tools and accessories he needs!

Photoshoot

Grab your semi-pro photographer friend, find a fun spot-think large field, wall with cool street art, etc- and get the kids dressed up for a photoshoot! Bonus points if there’s a theme! While it may take an entire day, 12 juice boxes, and 20 bribes to get them all to pose, it’ll definitely be worth an adorable picture of everyone. Plus, you’ll be able to use this as a Father’s Day gift for every dad in your life, and it doubles as a gift for you too! If you want to turn to a professional photographer, look to Groupon to find great deals on pros that’ll help you take beautiful pictures!

Annie B’s Popcorn and Caramels

For the dad who just wants to snack and watch the game, get him something truly delicious to try from Annie B’s Popcorn and Caramels! They offer a wide array of popcorn flavors like Jalapeno, Triple Threat, Original, Sea Salt, and Sharp Cheddar, along with an incredible number of different flavored caramels, such as Coconut and Cappuccino- yum! Pair this with his favorite beer and you just won Father’s Day!

Bespoke post

If you want to get him the gift that just keeps giving, try Bespoke Post. You can get him monthly subscription boxes that include limited edition products he wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else! You can also peruse their online store to find beautiful gifts that he’s sure to love!

Custom Pint Glass

These are the perfect edition to any man cave/ living room after the kids go to bed. The Wild & Free Prints shop on Etsy has a ton of options for customizing the perfect pint glass, wine glass, or even mason jar! The glasses are etched and made to order, so you can truly make it his own.

Turn their artwork into a gift

Take your mini Picasso’s artwork and turn it into something really special that won’t just get put on the fridge! Use a site like Shutterfly.com to help you put their artwork on mugs, pillows, and even on an actual canvas. All you have to do is scan or take a clear, high resolution photo of the artwork, then peruse the website for your favorite way to display it!

The post Get Dad what he really wants this year! appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Parenting is all about balance, and it can be quite difficult to feel as if you’re giving your children enough attention while also trying to balance work, life and good relationships. It’s all about finding the right balance and eliminating the dreaded feeling of guilt in relation to parenting. Remember: If you’re doing your very best, you’re doing it right.

Daddy guilt exists as much as mommy guilt does just in different ways.  I believe most dads think that they do not spend enough time with their kids.  However, as with most guilt it is really an internal process, and the kids themselves are likely quite content with the level of attention they are receiving.

I’ve put together my top tips for alleviating the feelings of daddy guilt and being more engaged, involved and connected – even if you don’t get as much time as you’d like with your kids.

When in Doubt, Play: After having 7 kids of my own and experiencing 50 plus years of life, I find I am a little less concerned about my guilt nowadays. If I feel even slightly remorseful, I push those feelings aside and simply sit down on the floor and start playing with my kids.  Together, we like activities such as: reading, building train track set ups, and just walking outside together to explore our surroundings. Building memories together, bonding and establishing a relationship is an important part of being a dad, and engaging in activities with your children whenever you have time will eliminate some of the daddy guilt you might be feeling from working too much or traveling.

Give Your Undivided Attention: For a working dad or mom, the key to avoiding guilt and building relationships is undivided attention.  When you have the time to be with your kids, do so, without the smart phone nearby and without any other distractions. Even fifteen minutes of undivided attention a day is better than an hour of being in the same room while distracted by a television, a computer or a phone.  Quality time is well spent sitting quietly, asking questions, and listening to your children. Your kids will show you what they need from you; they’ll lead you to their understanding of quality time, and you need to be ready to jump on that bandwagon.  Engage your children, make eye contact, and listen to what they’re saying. That is ten times stronger and more effective than force feeding activities or trying to simply entertain them.

Make the Phone Call: When your kids are grown and out of the house it’s important to connect with them, and that generally means logging onto Facebook, setting up a Skype call, sending them an email or making that phone call. Your goal is simple: check in, ensure they know you are thinking of them and give them your love. If you have little ones at home and your work demands you travel and are away from you family for long periods of time you’ll need to do the same types of things to stay involved and engaged. In our house we love Skype and FaceTime; it allows us to see each other face-to-face, check in, smile, and even play with toys or read a story together. Engaging in this type of activity – even when you’re far apart – will alleviate the feelings of guilt that might come with being away from your family for work.

Be Consistent: Be the man your family relies on and follow through – every time. If you work long days and are only home at night in time for baths and story time then be present, every single night, for those activities. If you work nights and only get to spend time with your children when they wake up in the morning then be present and make that time count. If weekends are the only time you get to connect with your children then be consistent during those times and be involved and engaged. Your kids will look forward to the time they get to spend with you, and when you consistently engage them you’ll be making memories and building relationships that will last a lifetime.

So my advice is really this: if Dad is feeling guilty, he should just jump in and spend time with his kids, whenever and however possible – it will benefit everyone involved. 

Sincerely,

Daddy Nickell

Robert Nickell, aka Daddy Nickell, father of 7, offers his “5 cents” worth of advice to expectant and new parents. Daddy Nickell is the founder of Daddyscrubs.com, delivery room duds and daddy gifts and apparel, and the DaddyScrubs blog where he covers topics about parenting all from a Dad’s perspective.

The post Time Spent with Kids Eliminates Guilt appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.