Due to an oversight on my part, this article was not posted as scheduled on Father’s Day.  -Elliott

I’m on break, but it would be wrong if a dad blogger didn’t acknowledge Father’s Day. I have a freelance project that will take up a good part of my time this next week. I don’t want to be wrought with guilt on Thursday when I still haven’t posted. Yes, I’m on break. For real! This is worse than quitting cigarettes.

Father’s Day is a quiet day around here. I decided that instead of being treated like a king, it’s my day to reaffirm and reflect upon what it means to be a father and be the best dad I can be. Today is the day to do what you normally do, but better. Show your family why you’re the best dad ever:

• Call your own father and wish him a Happy Father’s Day.
• Say an extra “I love you” to your spouse and your children.
• Put extra special effort into a meal you prepare for your family. Save the shells ‘n’ cheese for another night.
• Help out around the house.
• Play video games and let your kids win… as if that doesn’t already happen!
• LISTEN to your children.
• Give your children one more hug.
• Laugh with your children.

I received a pleasant surprise yesterday. Chelle from It Might Be Love sent me 250 Entre Card Credits! She won Dance of Motherhood’s Dad Blog contest. Her first act of kindness was to nominate my blog. Then she upped the ante by giving me a share of her winnings. Thanks!

Here’s a shout-out to all the cool dads I’ve met in the blogosphere. I did the same thing for my favorite mom bloggers on Mother’s Day. Not all of these dads write parenting blogs, but each is written by a cool dad:

• Dad Thing
  
• From Mike
• Happy Family Matters
• Frugal Dad
• Metro Dad
• Pro Blogger
• Rice Daddies
• Steve Pavlina
• Strobist
• Surf Jedi’s Musings
• The Busy Dad Blog
• The Wisdom Journal
• TipDad

I’m on break (much of this post was composed a few weeks ago), so posts won’t come as frequently. Subscribing to my RSS feed is the best way to find out when I stop in to say hello again. You can still browse the archives. I left a hidden gem for you to find somewhere on this site.

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Happy Father’s Day!

Forgot my wallet and cell phone!

Oh wait, it’s supposed to rain? Where did I put that umbrella?!

Off to work! Probably getting off around 6.

In the mean time, look around and within the Archives. You’ll find entertainment there.

I have been experiencing things that I’m not comfortable sharing in a public forum such as this. These things are in the forefront of my mind, and it has made writing difficult. You can only write about what you’re thinking about.

My choice since day one of this blog has been to be open and transparent, while maintaining a fuzzy and invisible line. In most cases, I am withholding for the sake of others in my social sphere and not solely motivated by my own natural desire for some privacy.

Longtime readers know that I write quality content and that requires a significant investment of time. That is time that I cannot spend on higher priorities such as putting solutions in place.

I cannot responsibly spend time on activities that do not serve my family’s needs. I enjoy writing for this blog and interacting with my readers. Traffic has steadily grown since its inception. Ad revenue has not grown at the pace anticipated.

This blog has been a labor of love and inspired by love. With so much invested, it would be a shame to abandon it. Often, a blog’s breaking point comes shortly after times like these. With resources stretched thin, something has to give.

I am electing to go on a significantly reduced posting schedule instead of saying goodbye. You have to be steadfast in pursuit of your goals, but you also have to stop to smell the roses. You’ll hear from me, but not nearly as often.

This offer is subject to change. Void where prohibited by law. 21st Century Dad reserves the right to come back with quality content, a more frequent posting schedule, and do some butt-kicking of extraordinary magnitude.

Sound off in the comments. Anything goes except the usual forbidden topics like obscenity, hate speech, defamatory remarks, praise for Republicans, etc.

Let’s hear from you!

Photo: dbking

We have a 3 day weekend courtesy of the United States government. There’s nothing wrong with barbecues, picnics, or a trip to the beach. Just don’t forget why we have this occasion on our calendars. Regardless of your feelings about the current conflict in Iraq, the US military has done many great things.

I’ve been covering some heavy topics lately, so it’s time to take a little break.

Twilli Pie

It started as my daughter’s online moniker. Now we call her Twilli, Twill, or Twilli Pie all the time. Somehow, it stuck and it just fits.

When it was time to start thinking of names, we came up with Ariana pretty quickly. I didn’t want to feel like a slacker, so I made a sizable list. The trendy names and more pedestrian names were conspicuously absent. Renee and I both liked Ariana just fine. Sometimes the first choice is the best.

Here she is, sportin’ a faux-hawk.

The Accidental Freelancer

“Let’s start you off on a 1099 for now.” really means, “I don’t think we’ll need you for more than a month or two.”

I don’t get enough visitors and clicks to live off AdSense (yet). Employment from outside the home is definitely a high priority right now. However, a number of factors are influencing me to explore free agency.

The thought of living contract to contract is scary. Just like any endeavor with high risk, the potential reward is much greater.

Oh wait, I said we were taking a break from heavy topics. Oops!

Spending Less Time With Stanley This Year

Watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs is much less of a priority these days. Maybe it would jump the queue if the Panthers could get their butts in gear next season. I kept up with the scores online, but I haven’t watched a game until this past Saturday. I love hockey, but being a dad is priority #1. With my jam-packed schedule, something’s gotta give.

What The Blogosphere Looks Like From Here

I promised more lighthearted fare here today. I already tripped up. I’m outsourcing to Jim for the laughs today.

I’ve recently become a fan of The Baglady. I used to think there were only FOB’s (Fresh off the Boat) Asians and me, as the lone twinkie pariah. Xin’s personal accounts tell me that you can be socially well-adjusted as an Asian-American.

Ron at The Wisdom Journal just plain rocks. You can find insightful articles on personal finance, career advice, and killer guacamole. If that doesn’t entice you to visit, he can tell you how to get out of a speeding ticket.

Boogiemum has done the legwork on finding free or cheap activities for your children this summer.

This one is long overdue, but the topic is timeless. Laurel at Parenting Diva presents us with 20 Things to Consider Before Having Children.

This one is even more overdue. GTA4 is flying off the shelves. I promised to share. Tom Hanson from Open Education gives us a Q&A with Lawrence Kutner, author of Grand Theft Childhood.

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