From the set of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’, to shaking his groove thing on Season 4 of Dancing With The Stars and baring it all on a Chippendales stage, it goes without saying that Ian Ziering has lived quite the exciting life. We recently chatted with Ian about his busy schedule, his role as a father and husband, and what it’s like being named ‘Daddy of the Year’ by one of his favorite brands, DaddyScrubs.

AKA Mom: With such a busy career as an actor, spokesperson and entertainer, how do you juggle that along with being a husband and father of 2 young children?

Ian: I never lose sight of the fact that my family, my wife and kids are my ‘why’ for everything. I never lose sight of “work to live” and not “live to work.” I work to be a provider, to ensure [my family] has everything they need in life to propel them through it successfully.

AKA Mom: You’ve become a spokesperson for a company called DaddyScrubs. What is it about that company that made you want to get involved?

Ian: The company started with scrubs that said ‘I’m Daddy’. I think it’s great to pull fathers into it. Usually dads sit on the sideline while nurses run around and while the wives go into delivery. When I wore them, it made me feel like I was a big part of the experience.  I don’t know, why but it did… maybe because everyone noticed them. I love the font and the way it’s written. It was a way to proclaim ‘Here I am!’ Everyone acknowledged it with a smile on their face. Everyone was able to relate to me. It was a way to announce ‘I’m proud and a part of this experience’. The brand has become a bit of a lifestyle brand. It’s not just about scrubs anymore. It’s about creating situations and connecting. It’s about getting back to the dinner table, for instance. My mom always had food on the table and we all came together as a family. I’ve got so many great memories of those dinners that we had together. As you grow older, it’s not about money; it’s not material things that grow wealth. It’s the depth of the love you have for your family and friends. For me, and so many others, the dinner table is a place where it all starts.  It’s a time to come together and share and further build the bond you have with your family. That’s what DaddyScrubs is all about. 

AKA Mom: DaddyScrubs has recognized you as ‘Daddy of the Year’. That’s quite an accomplishment!

Ian: Yes, I’m very proud of that! My hat goes off to my dad who was my role model growing up. Because of the values and morals he instilled in me and because of the way in which he taught me, I really am just paying it forward. My dad taught me to be as hardworking as I possibly can. He taught me that failure is not an option and to commit to your success. I also have an amazing wife, and none of this would have been possible without her. She matches my energy and enthusiasm; she is such a dynamic woman and role model. Being a dad is the best role I’ve ever had. Being named Daddy of the Year is like receiving a daddy Oscar!

AKA Mom: Your wife Erin is a nurse. Was she the one who recommended DaddyScrubs for you during her deliveries?

Ian: Yes! She was in her first trimester, and she brought a pair home with her after work and I chuckled. They said ‘I’m the daddy.’ When I wore them into the delivery room for the first time, I had such a positive reaction; from the doctors to the nurses to the people in the waiting room, everywhere I went! I was so full of pride that day that I could have yelled from the top of a mountain how proud I was to be a dad. Wearing the DaddyScrubs added another level of enthusiasm for me.

AKA Mom: What is it like having two daughters sharing the same birthday now? Will it make the party planning process easier?

Ian: I don’t know yet! We celebrated Mia’s birthday a week early because we weren’t sure when Penna was going to be born. It’s so serendipitous! As the girls get older, I’m sure they are going to embrace it. I think when they have birthdays on the same day it adds another special layer to their relationship as sisters. I think we will have joint birthday parties until Mia is about 6 years old. I’m thrilled about it!

AKA Mom: Your daughter Penna was born this past April. How did you do in the delivery room during Penna’s birth compared to Mia’s?

Ian: Mia’s birth was much more difficult for my wife. Erin wanted to do it naturally without drugs and epidurals. As a man you don’t have the final say about that [giggles]. Erin was born in 45 minutes in an elevator. She thought she might have a similar experience during her deliveries. When Erin was 4 hours into contractions, screaming and crying, the doctor had said she was only 4 centimeters dilated, and that’s when she relented and asked for the epidural. Every time the contractions came, it was like torture. As a husband, it’s hard to see that. My wife is a strong woman and wanted to tough it out but it was just too difficult and hard to see her in so much pain. It was smooth sailing after the epidural though. Penna’s birth was much simpler. Erin took the epidural first thing and my daughter was born in the morning. Penna’s birth was definitely much easier on all of us. 

AKA Mom: What advice would you give to expecting and new dads?

Ian: My advice for expecting and new dads is to speak to other fathers…starting with their own if possible. Take some classes on child rearing, go to the ‘Mommy and Me’ classes, learn baby CPR, and have a lot of patience and understanding. Be prepared! Your wife is going through so many changes; her hormones are so off-kilter and she might do some things that are unexpected. And if you find yourself stressed out, look at is as par for the course. Take pause and understand that weaker people than you have accomplished greater, so there is no reason why you can’t do this. Just immerse yourself in it. It’s so worth it!

AKA Mom: After watching you on Season 4 of Dancing with the Stars, everyone knows you’ve got the moves. And you can definitely light up the big screen. Will you be going for the triple threat and launch a singing career?

Ian: Oh, man! I sang on Broadway as a child. I still sing to my kids all the time, but I don’t know if I have the chops anymore. I did some cartoons in the 90’s that damaged my vocal chords. I can’t hit the high notes as flawlessly as I used to. I do love to sing though and can sing some things pretty well. But to embark on a singing career, that’s not me. To cut an album? No way. 

AKA Mom: What’s next for you, your career, and your family?

Ian: Well, career wise, with the success of Sharknado, there is a lot going on — the sequel to that is going to happen in the next few months. In terms of my family, my wife and I are on the gardening committee for my daughter’s preschool, so tomorrow we will be tending to planting beds. We will be replanting the gardens with fruits and vegetables for my daughter’s school. After that, one day at a time. I like to live in and enjoy the moment.

Want to keep up with Ian? Be sure to follow him on Twitter at @IanZiering. To learn more about DaddyScrubs and to get your own pair, visit www.daddyscrubs.com.  

Photo credit:  Courtesy Daddyscrubs

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In just the last 24 months the term Dadchelor Party has been heard across the USA, radio, TV, and magazine articles.  A lot of new families-to-be, as well as, experienced mom’s and dad’s that already have one or more children want to know; “Is it a good thing?”, “Should we have one?”, “Is it good for my marriage?”, “Is it like a bachelor party?”, “Why are dad’s doing this?”

I have thoroughly researched the topic and in order to experience what the Dadchelor Party is truly all about, I hosted one for a friend, had one for myself and proudly hosted several Dadchelor Parties for celebrity dads, as well.  I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are fun, great for male bonding, but more than anything help push the new daddy another step forward to be ready to engage himself as either a first time dad, or an experienced dad adding a new member to his already expanding family.  I firmly believe that any event, or process that enables dad to be ready to take one more step into the family arena for birth and beyond is good for any family.

I can tell you first hand that new dads-to-be want to be involved in the process, but they are nervous, and sometimes afraid to ask questions.  Simple things like changing a diaper, or swaddling, to the more difficult task of helping to calm the new baby, or dealing with a little post-partum depression with mommy needs to be understood by dad.  After the first baby, it does seem to get easier but, as well, with each addition to the family, the dynamic changes.  I have heard mom’s and dad’s say, one baby seems like a “piece of cake” compared to having two, or even having twins.  But to the family with their first new born baby, it is a life changing and sometimes overwhelming event that truly requires a team effort.

Thus the birth of what is now known as the “Dadchelor Party.”  This is not about going to Vegas, doing shots of tequila and making improper decisions, it is about bonding with your guy friends one last time before “daddy-lock-down”, as well as, getting some good and fun “dad-advice” and information from other dad friends at the party.

First let’s look at the daddy-lock-down.  A first time dad quite often does not realize that the last month of pregnancy until the third month of life, the family unit will go into shut down mode.  First, during the last month of pregnancy, it becomes a waiting period, the Braxton Hicks (pseudo contractions) start up, the baby will normally double in size, mom has trouble walking, sitting, sleeping, and every burp causes concern about the baby.  As well, babies can come anytime once that last month starts up, so everyone has to be constantly ready to go.  The first three months of life will take some getting used to for everyone.  The first month will pass in a blur, and it will get easier after that.  For the new dad, this means a complete change in life style, going to the gym on Saturday morning, or hanging out at a Laker game during a week night needs to be put aside at least for the next four months, so the Dadchelor Party is the night to say thanks to the guys, and remind them that you will not see them for the next 120 days.  However, if dad really has some great friends, then they will set up a meal schedule and each of them take a turn at bringing over some food during the “lock down”, at least then they can say hi, offer to run an errand, or just say “hang in there”.

The other important part of the Dadchelor Party is the advice from current dads. Sometimes the most simple of questions go unanswered and become a worry.  Have you ever sat in a classroom, and wanted to ask a question, and then did not raise your hand because you thought the question was just not appropriate?  Then within a minute someone else asks the exact same question, and the teacher says “excellent question”!  Well that is where the dad-advice comes into play.  Listen up to the experienced dad’s at the party and discover that you are not alone, there are a lot of commonalities in dad’s role of raising children, going through labor and delivery, and learning how to integrate a new child into your family.  This is the time to not only hear first hand, but now to feel like you have someone you can reach out to during “daddy-lock-down”, if you need some further help or advice.

For my Dadchelor Party, we got together with about 14 dads and played Texas Hold Em’, drank some beer and wine, and I got a few “gag” gifts, as well as, some useful items.  Since I was a dad to be with number 7, I was celebrating with my guy friends and reminding them I would not see them for the next 4 months. For the Dadchelor Party I threw for a friend, we went skeet shooting, held a contest, ate BBQ, and had a few beers.  Everyone stood up, and rather than giving a toast, they gave a piece of advice, sometimes in a funny or teasing way.

There is nothing more important than getting the new or experienced dad to be engaged in the process of giving birth and having a new baby added to the family unit.  I believe that as a dad you can begin to bond with the baby in that last month before birth, and then just keep stepping up and doing whatever you can to help with the new born after birth.  Having a family is like a lot of life lessons.  “The more you put into it, the more you will get out of it”

Good luck and Happy Parenting!

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 The Dadchelor Party appeared first on AKAMom Magazine.

Navigating through Daddyhood can be tricky, and even downright confusing at times. I’ve come up with the 4 C’s of Daddyhood. These 4 C’s remind me of what’s most important, they show me how to handle various daddy situations and help keep me calmly on the (sometimes bumpy) road that is daddyhood.

1. Consistency: First things first – being a dad is all about consistency. Success in daddyhood requires consistency in all aspects of parenthood: consistently making it home in time for family dinner; developing a routine your children will consistently look forward to every day; consistently finding quality time to spend with your kids; consistently setting a good example for your children to follow.  You kids will look to you, their dad, for advice, for help, for ideas, for really just about everything, and you need to be ready to be a dad who is consistent.

2. Communication: One of the single most important things you can do to navigate smoothly through daddyhood is to communicate effectively – not only with your wife but with your children, too. If something is unclear, ask questions; if you’re expected to be somewhere you find out all the details; and most importantly you let your family know just how much they mean to you each and every day. Sit down with your children and talk to them about anything and everything. You’ll be surprised by the things they tell you and your father-child bond will grow because of this special time spent working on keeping open lines of communication.

3. Control: Yes, you’re the man of the house, but that doesn’t mean you control how that house is run day-to-day. In fact, if there’s one thing I’ve learned through daddyhood it’s that you’ll have to give up a great deal of control. Things are not always going to work out how you wanted them to and you’ll have to learn to be flexible and roll with the punches. Your wife will likely have control over the weekly calendar and schedule, and you should thank her daily for keeping your family’s lives moving smoothly from day-to-day. You, as the daddy, however, can find control in organization and routine; figure out what works for you and stick to it!

4. Creativity: Possibly my favorite of the 4 C’s is creativity. As we struggle through day-to-day life it can be easy to forget to have fun and find enjoyment in the seeming mundane everyday moments. As a dad I work hard to turn simple tasks into enjoyable moments making my wife and children smile and laugh as often as possible. Be creative every single day and strive to make every moment enjoyable as time is fleeting and your children will be grown up before you know it.

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.

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