Tools Of The Trade: The Mommy Hook

The Mommy Hook:

I'm a climber, not a great one but I have some really great stuff that gets used on and off climbing routes. So, this item predictably caught my eye. While the name is kind of annoying I have to say it's a handy thing to have in my daddy tool kit. It's useful for carrying bags of groceries home, looping jackets and things through and occasionally, like standard carabiners, attaching things to the stroller or diaper bag. The foam section really does make for a nice handle. Far more comfortable way to carry plastic grocery bags weather your walk is two blocks or twenty.

While it isn't rated for real "work" it's an honest improvement over what you might be tempted to use from your normal non-baby related life. The closest you'll get is going to be around $20 versus the very reasonable $8 for the Mommy Hook. So, if you can get past the name and the inevitable ribbing your likely to get from your friends you can get a Mommy Hook at any number of locations most notably Babies R Us, Toys R Us and Bed Bath and Beyond. As a bonus it will likely even perform better in this instance than your manly carabiner would have.

The website is just a simple splash page but the product isn't all that complicated...
http://www.themommyhook.com/

...Not a bad stocking stuffer.

Date Night: Tango

One of the most important things for many couples is maintaining a healthy romantic life away from the kids. A relatively inexpensive way to have a night out and break the mold of the traditional dinner date is an evening of dancing. There also comes a time in the lives of many when randomly shaking your groove thing to the latest pop sensation just doesn't cut it anymore.

Why not give Tango a try? Basic Tango is simple enough that with a small amount of practice even the least coordinated can manage. There are lessons available for as low as $20 per person. So, even tight budgets can fit in enough instruction to take their new skills out on the town.

Tango can be a great way to get a workout without going to the gym and it's also a great way to meet new people and make friends you might never have otherwise met.

Most cities will have at least a couple of places that offer lessons. A simple Google search should turn up some schools and dance venues where you can learn and apply your new skills. Try these in San Francisco.

Tango Vida on Pacific is great. Low key and not too serious, easy to find in Nob Hill.

BA Tango is also a fantastic resource.

Bay Area Outings: Classic Zoo Trip

The zoo is a time honored outing that most parents will either enjoy or endure a number of times. San Francisco is lucky to have a really good zoo. It's well laid out and manageable as either a family trip or a solo adventure. Since the exhibits were designed with kids in mind there are relatively few hazards and several areas where toddlers can stretch their legs given some supervision.

San Francisco Zoo

The zoo overall is a nice one but little folks will especially like the ample petting zoo and the playground. So, plan on some extra play time and maybe not seeing the entire zoo in one visit. It's a very spread out facility with a lot to see. Also plan on the kid(s) getting dirty.

We like the insect zoo and be sure to visit the birds of prey. One of the only places you can get close to large birds like owls, hawks and falcons. Very cool indeed.

The "Little Puffer" train is a lot of fun when it's running.

Bea loves the petting zoo goats but mind the horns. The goats tend to whip their heads around a bit and the horns are right about eye level for a toddler.

We also pack a kite and a blanket/towel for the beach after the zoo. The water is cold but kids will enjoy playing in the sand.

The Good Stuff:

Very kid friendly.

Easily accessible by public transit. Just take the Muni L and walk a couple blocks right to the zoo.

San Francisco residents get a discount but bring "proof" of residency. Get an additional dollar off with a Muni receipt. As low as $11 instead of the full price $15 admission.

It's a classic, good for the entire family or just dad and the little one(s).

Fun diner style places to eat near the zoo and close proximity to the beach if you want to make a day of it.

The Bad Stuff:

The food is mostly processed greasy stuff. OK quality but it's mainly pizza, burgers, breaded things and it's expensive. Maybe pack a lunch. (The food is fine for adults.)

Not a lot of shade. Plan on hats and sunscreen.

It can be both windy and cold. The zoo is right next to the ocean.

Beyond the Bay: Humboldt Redwoods State Park

Over Fathers Day weekend we took Bea on her first camping trip. We got to see some amazing things and it couldn't have gone better.

We got a great campsite in the Hidden Springs part of Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The restroom and shower facilities were cleaner than a lot of gas station and rest stop facilities, water was readily available and the campsites had enough privacy to keep us in the camping spirit. Firewood was available at the ranger station and each campsite had it's own "bear locker" for food.

Each site has a parking space and the roads in the park are well maintained. The well groomed paths are great for even the littlest campers. We felt safe letting Bea run around our campsite as ling as we kept her away from the fire. One nice thing about the fire enclosure was that it was roughly two feet tall and therefor high enough that she couldn't fall into it. Not to say that it didn't get hot and still need a watchful eye but it was way better than a simple fire pit would have been.

Some camp areas in the Redwoods also offer activities for kids and families at certain times of day that are posted on bulletin boards near the restrooms. Bea was a little too small for most things as they are targeted more for school age children. Though, there was still plenty to do in the park and surrounding area.

It's hard to beat for $20 a night! We already have our next trip planned.

Bring a variety of clothing and plan on layers. It gets cool in the evenings but can get hot during the day.

Green Thumb: Garlic

One of the most rewarding things a person can do is grow something. Our family always had some sort of garden growing up and my own family has one now even living in an urban apartment. It doesn't take as much space as you might think to put some great things on your table. It also allows the little ones to better understand where food comes from. We'll start with a very simple one and expand in future Green Thumb posts. As children grow older they can take a bigger role in planting, caring for and harvesting. It's a fantastic way to get kids outside and let them learn basic responsibility in a way that directly rewards them as well as the rest of the family. While results aren't instant they're fast enough to be relevant in kid time.

There are countless gardening resources on the web if you want to really get into it. For now I'll suggest a few simple things that can be grown on a window sill or in a small sunny spot anywhere. Even picky eaters will sometimes eat things they have grown or prepared. We are admittedly a family of foodies so it's important to us that Bea not end up a picky eater. To encourage her to eat a variety of things we simply keep her diet varied and as fresh as possible. Bea loves fresh tomatoes, strawberries and herbs with her pasta but one of our family favorites is green garlic. It has to be one of the most rewarding and easiest plants we have ever grown.

It's wonderful stuff if you have never tried it. Simply the greens rather than the bulb of the plant, it grows easily and quickly making it ideal for children. It's also so inexpensive as to be a risk free item even for those who think they can't grow anything. You can!

All you have to do is take a basic grocery store bulb of garlic and pull it apart into separate cloves just like you would to cook with it. I gently peel the dried outer layer from the cloves so they can sprout more easily and plant them in any handy flower pot, mug or empty soup can that might be laying around. You'll see sprouts within a few days and have usable green garlic in a week or two.

This can also make an entertaining center piece on your dinner table that adults and children alike will enjoy taking greens from to put right on their plates. A decorative planter from Pottery Barn and a pair of scissors for snipping off greens can not only add flavor to your meal but your dinner conversation as well. (It's sure to impress the ladies in your life if nothing else.)

Cooking with green garlic is great. It lacks the bite and harshness sometimes associated with the bulbs and won't go bitter in a dish even if added at the beginning. using it is more akin to green onions than garlic. This also makes it attractive for people who may not normally be garlic fans. So, give it a shot.

We'll explore more Green Thumb projects in upcoming posts but for now you've got a great project that can be started on your next trip to the grocery. Grab an extra bulb of garlic and plant it.

Activity: Go Fly A Kite!

Kites are a kid classic that most will take at least a passing interest in at some point. They are easily built from scratch and you can buy an almost endless array of colors, styles and shapes of kites.

We carry a compact para-foil style kite on many outings, especially when we'll be close to the beach. The particular one we carry is a good flyer and doesn't have any "sticks" so it's very compact. Bea is still a little small to fly it but does like watching.

We took a trip to Ocean Beach recently with the nephews in tow and brought a small kite for each of them as well. Three kites in the air was a lot of fun.

A kite shop can be fascinating for adults as well as children. There is an excellent one right in the heart of Chinatown right in San Francisco( Chinatown Kite Shop) or you might try Games People Play on the main shopping strip in Sausalito. Both are easy to find and have a great selection of kites.

For the more DIY inclined crowd there are some great books on kites as well as plentiful resources on the web. Some of my favorite childhood memories are of making and flying kites with my uncle. I have a number of older books in the style of The Dangerous Book For Boys as well as The Magnificent Book Of Kites. The later is packed with history, design and instructions on everything from kite safety to computer design for kite making. Probably the only source you'd need to build most any kite you could imagine. (At the time of writing used paperbacks were going cheap on Amazon.)

Crissy Field is a great place to fly kites in San Francisco and nearby Sports Basement often has some very nice ones. We haven't tried yet but there have been a couple of discussions about flying kites from Nob Hill rooftops as well.

Small folks are often just as happy with a $2 kite from Safeway as a more expensive one you'll lament losing or damaging. I'm as likely to fly the cheap ones as well and they are often some of the best flyers.

Favorite kite spots in San Francisco:

Chrissy Field and Ocean Beach

Favorite kit shop not in San Francisco:

KaleidoKites in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. The Eureka Springs annual kite festival is fantastic if you happen to be in the neighborhood. Maybe even worth planning a trip for next year. It will be the 20th annual kite festival.

Beyond The Bay: Air Travel Tips

Bea and I once again set off for an air travel adventure. This time to spend 4th of July in Indiana. This was the third (or fourth) airplane trip we had taken together. A lot faster than our train trips but a bit more difficult as well.

Give yourself some extra time (as usual) and know that your small companion might not cooperate at awkward moments. Bea is a great little traveler but she still gets a nervous around TSA people sometimes. TSA is usually very understanding of parents traveling with children. Look for family lanes at security to help get through faster. No one wants a cranky little one to wait in line. (Most of the time TSA will direct you to family lanes.) Be sure to take shoes and coats/jackets off ahead of time as children have much the same requirements as you do.

Another thing I do is take off my belt, jewelry, watch and anything else that will set off a metal detector and put it safely in the diaper bag and try to wear slip on shoes. Taking care of that ahead of time helps things go smoothly and lessens the risk that someone will walk off with something valuable (As happened to me at O'Hare). It's easy to grab things out of a bins and trays, especially when you are distracted by your child. Don't risk it.

We use our backpack carrier most of the time in the airport as it leaves both hands free for luggage and travel documents. We check it at the door of the plane and have it waiting when we land at your next location. It can be easier than a stroller if you are up to it though it's not as handy for layover snack time.

Crackers and sippy cups can save little ones ears(and yours too). I try to avoid giving Bea snacks for a little bit before take off and time it for when her ears will be popping as we ascend. Make sure you have a full bottle or sippy ready for the descent as well. You'll likely save yourself some grief as ears pop naturally from chewing and swallowing action.

If there ever was a time for movies and games it's likely on the flight. One secret weapon is a trusty iPod loaded with a favorite kids movie. Just be careful of the volume on little ears. Non-earbud style head phones can often be heard without being directly on little ears.

It's not for everyone but one of the things I do is head directly for the rear of the plane. Sometimes the seats don't recline but you won't have anyone behind you, you're next to the bathroom if you are potty training and most often that's where crackers, water and juice are allowing you to aquire them much faster than if you were in a random location elsewhere in the aircraft.

Finally, make friends with the flight attendants. Bea is luckily pretty well behaved and social, making things a bit easier but I have several flight attendants to thank for going above and beyond to help us have enjoyable flying experiences. They can often make a huge difference in your childs flying experience... hopefully for the good.

I've had good service traveling with Bea on Southwest and Frontier but I'll probably never fly United again.

Back From Holiday

Bea and I went another solo air travel trip over the weekend. We spent the 4th of July holiday in small town northern Indiana enjoying all the best things the Midwest has to offer. (We are also happy to be home in San Francisco.)

Traveling alone with your child can be challenging and air travel is no exception. So, we've got an air travel article coming up to share some of what we have learned on our travels and lots of other great stuff too. We'll be posting soon!

Bay Area Outings: Lafayette Park

Set in the pleasant Pacific Heights neighborhood sits the large and somewhat underused historic Lafayette Park. A bit of a hike up the hill but very rewarding for a range of age groups.

The playground equipment is well maintained and interesting enough to keep kids engaged. It is also fenced in with a short chain link enclosure that will keep those who might otherwise stray safely in the play area.

A bonus is a second area that is a fenced in grassy space perfect for those too young for the sand and climbing friendly playground area. There are nice restrooms(for a park), ample space for a picnic and both shade and sun. Dogs are not allowed in the play spaces helping them remain clean and relatively safe for children who are not walking or still falling down a lot.

It's one of our favorites.

The Good Stuff:

Large, safe, clean play and picnic areas next to restroom facilities.

Located near great places to eat just down the hill in the Filmore.

Easily accessible from the 1 and 12 bus routes.

Great view in a beautiful neighborhood.

The Bad Stuff:

Located at the top of a hill and a little rough, not bad, with a stroller. Kids big enough to walk on their own will have no trouble at all.

Lafayette Park history and directions.

Bay Area Outings: Bea's 1st Giants Game

One of the best things about being a dad is taking baby on outings. Just because you have a little one doesn't mean you need to stop getting out and about. There are plenty of things that are at least relatively kid friendly and still fun for big people too.

One recent adventure was taking Bea to her first Giants game. It was a rousing success and Bea had a great time. We went to an evening game down at AT&T Park and since she's still under two she came along for free. The whole family went on this one and the neighbors came along with their little one too. Bea did great at eighteen months. The game was mesmerizing for her and we managed to find OK things for her to eat in addition to the snacks we brought with us. The other little one that came along was a mere six months old. She snuggled with mom and dad for most of the game and didn't seem to mind what noise and commotion there was.

The staff gets a big pat on the back too. They were not only welcoming with our children they seemed genuinely excited to see little sports fans in attendance. The crowd was also more than sensitive to our fragile companions.

It was a great time.

The good stuff:

Kids seem to love the active setting and seeing something completely new to them.

They get a fun certificate for attending their first baseball game.

The food is livable for all but the most selective parents. AT&T Park has a lot of food options.

Even a fairly cranky child won't make enough noise and commotion to disturb people at a ball game.

Even if you aren't a sports guy, live ball games are a lot of fun.

The bad stuff:

Some little ones might not like the crowds.

While they are pretty tame, some parents may not like crowds of sports fans around their kids.

There is drinking at the park. So, if you are sensitive about people imbibing in front of your little one maybe think twice. Though, it is not a bar like atmosphere in any way.

Tools Of The Trade: Diaper Bag

Diaper bags are one of those items everyone needs to have and most are made with women in mind. There are some more masculine models out there but they still sort of look like a "diaper bag" maybe just made with a dad in mind. There may be a mental component to designing bags with the thought of them being a baby item in mind even though the diaper bag is an accessory for parents and babies neither care nor are really aware of what they look like. So, we found a different solution that not only fits the bill as a top notch diaper bag but will live on as a favorite after the diapers are long gone.

We use a Chrome Industries messenger bag. It looks great, outperforms most diaper bags and is designed with urban bicycle messengers in mind. That means they are durable, functional and adhere to at least a basic level of stylishness.

The only thing they lack is a changing pad but there is ample room for one. The best features, as far as using it for a diaper bag are concerned, are probably the "truck tarp" liner that cleans up with a sponge and the seatbelt-buckle on the strap that allows you to take the bag off while still holding your little one. Bonus, the waterproof liner makes the inside of the storm flap usable as a changing pad if you elect not to carry a separate one. It cleans well with diaper wipes.

I've had two bags from Chrome; one before baby and one for use as a diaper bag. The initial bag has survived several years of lugging around camera gear, climbing equipment, books and plenty of rough travel. The diaper bag is beginning it's second year with no signs of wearing out and mommy likes it too.

While it won't satisfy the Vera Bradley crowd it will keep baby's essentials dry in a downpour and save your back along with your identity as a man. Well worth the investment.

From their website:

"Built to last a lifetime: Guaranteed Our messenger bags are constructed here in the USA with the most rugged assembly of industrial materials and hardware available: military spec. seam binding, 1,000 denier Cordura outer shell, 18oz. weatherproof truck tarp inner liner, five bar seatbelt webbing, and nylon 69 thread.

� Functional Our messenger bags are designed with an anatomically correct EVA foam padded shoulder strap and cross chest load stabilizer. Our signature quick release seat-buckle closure allows for on-the-fly one-handed tightening and loosening of the shoulder strap, which features a Velcro accessory mounting strap.

� Weatherproof It's like a bag within a bag. The independently suspended weatherproof liner freely floats within the outershell, eliminating seams exposed to the outside elements. "

Welcome

Welcome!

This is a blog headed up by a genuine San Francisco Bay Area stay at home dad. We'll explore the bay area and beyond, review cool or not so cool places to go and things to do, visit restaurants and review products.

I'm JT and I am currently the primary caregiver of Bea, a whily 18 month old girl born and in the process of being raised right here in San Francisco.

A little pertinent background:

We are a family of three. Mommy, Daddy and Bea. We live in the heart of San Francisco near Grace Cathedral in a small urban apartment. We walk all over the city and beyond using our trusty Bob stroller and Kelty backpack carrier. We do not own a car but rent them on occasion for road trips. Bea and I travel by plane some but as a family we almost always go by car or train. You'll be getting the lowdown on that stuff too. I, JT, am home with Bea but am also a freelance photographer and writer as well as being a grad student working on my MFA.

This blog came about because I feel like there are relatively few resources specifically targeted at dads and even less for dads who are primary caregivers. Times they are a changing and dads have different needs as well as demands both from society and their families.

So, welcome again and feel free to write and let us know if there are places we should see, things we ought to check out or even questions you might want us to explore.