One of the biggest drawbacks of having a creative mind is my Adult ADD.

Mine was acting up big time as I watched the family in front of me in church.

I tried focusing on the readings and prayers but my eyes kept drifting to the couple in front of me and

their baby girl.

The baby was tiny, as many babies are and she had a big bow wrapped around her head.

I thought of the many times my wife put a bow around our daughter Marissa’s head in the first few

months of her life.  It made sense that we put a bow on our daughter because she was the best gift

either of us ever received. I saw that the young mother in front of us thought the same of her

baby girl.

Like me, She wasn’t focused on the readings, her sole focus was on her adorable newborn girl.

One of the best things you’ll ever see in life is seeing a new mother look lovingly at their child.

Seeing this in church reminded me of my wife Angela doing the same thing years ago.

I loved how she looked down lovingly at our daughter when she used to rock her to sleep or when she

would hold her closely on so many other occasions.

Next I saw the father of the baby reach his hand down toward his daughter. The baby girl wrapped her

tiny hand around his much bigger finger and the memories came flooding back to twenty plus years

ago. I recalled that magical feeling I felt the first time my little girl wrapped her tiny little fingers

around mine.  My heart was filled the kind of love you really can’t match in life.

Ironically, Marissa still has me wrapped around her finger and she still brings me plenty of pride and joy.

The couple scooted closer to each other and took turns holding the baby.  The husband rubbed his

wife’s back. It didn’t take a genius (thank goodness for me) to figure out this was a happy young

family.

As I watched them I thought to myself that was us twenty three years ago.

I recalled walking into church with pride, as I stood by my beautiful young wife and equally

beautiful baby girl. I remembered thinking “ gosh I’m the  luckiest guy on earth.”

Part of me was sad for a minute or two and I wished for that time in my life again.  Then I

reminded myself that I was still darn lucky to be at church with the two people I love the

most in this world.

I glanced down and noticed the newborn in front of me was fast asleep and I recalled my daughter

sleeping contently in her baptismal gown, I remembered her walking down to her first communion

in a white laced dress. I recalled her being grown up, gorgeous and confident at her confirmation.

I remembered the satin dresses at Christmas time and her bright colorful dresses at Easter.

I wanted to find the rewind button on life and go back to those days.

As mass ended, I thought of leaning over to the couple in front of me and telling them to enjoy all the

times they would have with their daughter, because those times will zoom by at an unfair speed.

Then I decided it was much better for me to just let them enjoy the moment.

The simplest moments with your family become life’s greatest memories and I didn’t want to ruin theirs.

The post Family of Three appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Trains were invented to transport things and a couple of weekends ago a number of trains transported my wife and I back in time. The trains were part of the miniature train sets that are displayed at Union Station in Kansas City each December.

The train sets were fabulous and they took my wife and I back to our childhoods. We each gazed in wonder at the displays. They included tiny villages, mini mountain ranges, amusement parks and much, much more. For as far as the eye could see there were train sets of every type and variety. When I saw them I recalled the thrill of receiving my first train set and my wife had fond memories of the spectacular train set and village her Dad had built for her brother and her!

Children surrounded us and they gazed at the trains, the décor and the sheer magnitude of the displays. Besides the trains, we saw giant Christmas trees, colorful nutcracker soldiers and festive Christmas decorations. At one point I glanced over at my wife and could see she was enjoying the displays as much as I was. I dodged a few kids that were racing back and forth to see as much as they could and then realized I was doing the same thing.

I noticed a young boy putting a letter in a giant red mailbox that said “Letters for Santa”. He folded the letter with care and made certain it went in the mailbox correctly…you can never be too careful when it comes to corresponding with Santa. I heard little girls singing Christmas songs that were playing over the loud speakers. I hummed along, if I had sang it would have ruined the moment for everyone.

In the center of the hall, kids were riding a small train that carried them around the grand decorations. They all smiled from ear to ear. For a minute or two I envied them and wished I could be a kid again, then I realized that at that moment I was!  During that time, I was experiencing one of the best parts of Christmas. I was taking part in the anticipation of the big day. I was feeling nothing but warmth and joy! More memories of my childhood came flooding back when I saw brightly colored gift boxes and giant stuffed animals under a huge tree. The entire scene was mesmerizing to me and it made me forget all the hustle and bustle us adults get too caught up in during the holidays.

In a grand old train station in the middle of America my wife and I received an early holiday surprise. For a few hours, we forgot about our worries, our responsibilities and we were young again. As I walked past another gleaming tree on my way out of Union Station it occurred to me: if a couple of middle aged adults can become wide eyed kids again, then how can one doubt the Magic of Christmas?!

The post All Aboard appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

As soon as I saw the commercial showing that the Wizard of Oz would be playing at

The Schuster Center, the memories came flooding back to my grade school days.

When my 1^st grade teacher made the announcement I was thrilled.

Our class was going to do a play and it would be the Wizard of Oz!

I loved the movie and had a soft spot for the Tinman. He was my favorite character in the show, because

he needed a heart. I was born with a damaged heart, so I could relate to him.

I thought I would be perfect for the role, but It turns out I was wrong.

I wasn’t tall enough, rugged enough and my voice was too squeaky for the role.

As it turns out I was perfect for another role, the head Munchkin. When my teacher told me that

I would be a munchkin, I muttered under my breath. I said something like “I’d rather be a flying

monkey”.  Since I was always the smallest kid in class, I took offense to being made a Munchkin!

To make matters worse, my best friend Eric was picked to be The Tinman. For a day or two I felt as bad

as the witch that had the house land on her, but once practice started and I saw my costume I became

more excited about my role as head Munchkin. I even got some important lines. I announced that

“The witch was dead” (Which old witch…the wicked witch) and I was the first one to tell Dorothy to

“Follow the yellow brick road”. For a munchkin, it doesn’t get any better than that.

The play went off without a hitch, I got big laughs and a loud applause for my performance.

I was proud of my friend Eric for playing the Tinman perfectly.  My entire class did a great job.

The play was a fond memory for me and one that has lasted a lifetime.

Seeing the Wizard of Oz at the Schuster Center could be a lifetime memory for you

and your family as well. I highly recommend it for kids of all ages. They have performances, tonight,

tomorrow and Thursday. Each show starts at 7pm. Tickets are available for all performances!

The post Follow the Yellow Brick Road appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

The Dayton Dragon’s and Anthem Blue Cross / Blue Shield sponsor a program that gives children in the Dayton region a once in a life time experience while they are in the midst of battling a serious medical condition. The program named The Anthem Home Run for Life gives the honoree ( A deserving kid) a chance to take a home run lap around the bases at Fifth Third Field during the game. The usually sold out crowd cheers them on, the home run horn is sounded and the child is given a certificate proclaiming them a member of the Dayton Dragons after they step on home plate. Often they are given a signed ball, bat or other gifts from each team. Both teams line up along the first and third base lines and the players offer high fives to the honoree during his or her run. The recipient also has their picture taken with players and mascots from the Dragons.

These kids truly deserve this moment. Some of the past participants have battled life threatening Bone disease, Leukemia, Advanced Child Diabetes, Chronic Heart Disease and Cystic Fibrosis just to name a few. The courage and joy they show as the make a run around the bases is heartwarming to see and having witnessed it first hand I can tell you the audience is filled with emotion (some were brought to tears).

Many of these kids have spent much of their childhood being in and out of the hospital and the program gives them a positive moment and some extra inspiration as they continue to fight a difficult childhood disease.

I spent my share of time in the hospital after having major Heart Surgery when I was a young boy and I can tell you first hand that a program like this means the world to these kids.

This program occurs each baseball season, so if you know a child that is battling a serious medical condition and that would be a deserving candidate to participate in Anthem’s Home Run for Life, please contact either

Anthem or the Dayton Dragons. www.anthem.com or www.daytondragons.com 

The post Home Run for Life appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

I have many fond memories of my daughter growing up and one of the fondest is reading her a nightly bedtime story or two. Story time was our chance to bond without interruption. She would pick out a favorite book, hand it to me and then snuggle closely as I read to her. We sat on Marissa’s bed and she would listen intently. Sometimes she asked questions, sometimes she giggled and sometimes she would ask me to read the story over because she enjoyed it so much. It never took much convincing because I loved the stories and I loved her more. Nothing felt better than her tiny hand on my arm as I read and I loved seeing her reaction during the best part of a book. Her big blue eyes would always light up and her warm smile always let me know that she enjoyed story time as much as I did. It was an added bonus that I got a big “thank you hug” from her each night after story time was over.

It turns out story time had more benefits than warm memories for me and my daughter. Recent studies have shown that when you read to a child regularly, they grow up to be a better reader. Reading helps develop a child’s mind both from an intellectual and imaginative standpoint. Reading not only makes you feel good, it makes your child smarter and more interested in reading for a lifetime

Reading stories to my daughter also put me on a path to pursue a dream. Story time made me realize that one day I wanted to write books and tell stories of my own. If a story can bring a smile to a child’s face and grow their imagination then it is worth writing. I put it off for awhile, but a few years ago I finally did it. I began writing regularly and now besides working my regular job, I am a part time writer. I have been blessed enough to have had two children’s books published. Several of my stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul books and in various magazines. I also write this blog. I’m not telling you this to brag, I’m telling you what the power of reading to my daughter did for me. Reading is important for a child and just as important for a parent. I’m reminded of a quote from the writer of many children’s books Dr. Seuss “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child”.

If you love books and reading be sure to join me and many other Authors at the Eighth Annual Dayton Book Expo. The Expo is this Saturday April 29^th at Sinclair Community College. It runs from 11am to 4pm and features Ninety Authors and a Kid Zone which will allow you to meet me and other authors of children’s books. I will be a featured author in the Kid Zone from 1:30 to 2:30. I will read my books The Really Magic Marker and Mealtime Guests (a signed copy of each will be awarded to a lucky child). I will also discuss writing and creating children’s books to interested kids and parents.

www.daytonbookexpo.com     www.davidwarrenauthor.com

The post Bedtime Story appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

My favorite team has lost and my brackets are busted (I think they were busted from the beginning). Although there are some games left to play, for me basketball season is over. To me and to many in Dayton the basketball season is a way of life, now that it’s over I have a case of March Sadness.

My daughter attends Wright State University and she roots for the Raiders, but when it comes to basketball her heart belongs to the Dayton Flyers. This did not happen by accident. My wife and I have been taking her to Dayton Flyers games since she was a toddler. She grew up wearing UD sweatshirts and red and blue ribbons in her hair.  We encouraged her to love the Flyers and she did! Flyer basketball has been a tradition in our family for many years. My wife’s grandfather donated thousands of dollars to the University so that Dayton Arena could be built. For years his name was riveted to his seat in the lower arena.  My wife’s Grandparents and Parents took her to UD games since she was a little girl.  My parents took me to games as a boy and watched me dance in the aisles when the Flyers were winning big back in the 1960’s. This is amazing to me…because I don’t know how to dance.

During basketball season, the University of Dayton Arena is the place to be for us and many others in this area. These days the Flyers are competitive and fun to watch, they just made their fourth straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, they have a great coach and they play the game hard. They make Dayton proud. The fans love them, the community loves them and my family loves them.

We go to many games and when I’m at the games I notice the same thing over and over. I see families experiencing tradition, excitement and togetherness. I see Dad’s high fiving daughters and Mom’s hugging sons when a great play is made. I see collective family grins when the Flyers are winning and collective groans when they are losing. I have seen Grandfathers, Fathers, Sons and Grandsons sitting side by side at a game and they are all sharing fond memories.

Basketball is a big deal in Dayton and it’s a big deal because it’s about family and community. When a Dayton Flyers game is going on everybody in the community comes together. For a few hours we all forget our differences and just enjoy the moment. Everyone cheers for one thing -a Dayton Flyers victory and everyone is family!

Before the game, the anticipation builds. The band plays the fight song. Rudy Flyer, the mascot, makes kids smile and we all cheer loudly when the Flyers come out of the tunnel as the announcer says “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble”. Young parents put jerseys and cheerleader outfits on their youngsters and the older parents smile as we recall the days when our child was dressed the same way. Baby’s hold pompoms and Dad’s try to hold their tempers. Teenagers wear red and blue face paint and Grandmas wear big grins. The students have an excuse to wear crazy outfits and folks like me have an excuse to wear a red sweater vest!

We all yell and scream! My wife and daughter like to remind me that some of us scream louder than others….I can’t help it if the players and coach need my advice.

My wife, Daughter and I can’t agree on what TV show to watch, but we can agree that when a ref makes a bad call against the Flyers they should be booed. During a timeout, when the band gets the team pumped up we all know that at Flyers games you spell Dayton D-A-Y-T-O-O-O-O-N!

The season is over and thankfully March Sadness is only temporary. A new season begins next November. I encourage you to take part in it. Dayton Flyers basketball has turned our community into one big family and brought us fond memories. That’s what life is all about Family & Memories.

The post March Sadness appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

My daughter was home from college and helping me pick out some last minute gifts for my wife. We each noticed the hustle and bustle of holiday shoppers and then we saw the line. It weaved up and down a long hallway and seemed to go on forever. The line was filled with nervous parents and excited children. It looked pretty long and I was thankful I didn’t have to wait in it. I am not known for my patience and there are two things that make me crazy during the holidays. Those things are heavy traffic and long lines.

The line was at least forty five minutes long. I asked my daughter if she wanted to get in it so she could meet Santa Claus. My daughter looked at me as if I had suggested she walk on hot coals. “Really Dad” she blurted out.  I was joking of course, as my daughter is twenty one years old, but a part of me wished I was Marty McFly and could go back in time. Seeing the little girls waiting in the line with their green velvet dresses, red hair bows and big smiles made me long for the days when my daughter was a small child and waited to see Santa Claus. When my daughter was a little girl the line was just as long, in fact it might have been longer but I never minded.

From the year she was born until she was eight we waited in the line and each year it seemed to move as quickly as Santa moves on Christmas Eve when he delivers gifts.

The line moved quickly because the only thing my wife and I noticed back then was my daughter’s joy as she was about to meet Santa Claus. Marissa’s blue eyes would glisten with excitement as she would tell us what she was going to say to Santa. Her expressions were priceless when she spotted the over sized candy canes, giant wrapped boxes, gingerbread men, elves and decorated trees that surrounded Santa’s big gold chair. She became more animated and excited when she spotted Santa himself and knew her turn to meet him was just minutes away. The ability to see Christmas through our child’s eyes gave us so much pleasure that we never thought about the line or how long it was.

When my daughter and I got home from shopping, I turned on the tree lights and put my wife’s gifts in their usual hiding spot. Then I sat down and thought about Christmas time and I came to an important conclusion.

Christmas isn’t about cookies, gifts, fancy trees and finding the perfect Ugly Sweater.

Christmas is about children. It’s not only about the joy they experience, but it’s about the joy they give back. Christmas is one of those special times a year when we adults get to see things through a child’s eyes and we have a chance to become kid’s again ourselves. Christmas is the time of year when our children teach us about love.

It turns out that thanks to our kids the line to meet Santa Claus doesn’t last long at all. I’ve also come to realize that neither does childhood. That’s why it’s important to enjoy every Christmas you get with your kids. Seeing the joy of Christmas through your child’s eyes and receiving the love they share with you is the best gift you will ever get. It’s a gift you’ll remember forever!

The post Another Long Line at Christmas appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

One of Dayton’s best known authors is Erma Bombeck.

She paved the way for Parent Advice columns, Parenting blogs and much more.

Her wit, wisdom and wicked sense of humor not only got her through parenthood it made her famous.

Her profound advice on parenting and life is as timeless as it is humorous.

As a fellow writer and parent from Dayton I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite Erma Bombeck quotes and add my own take on them.

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“I come from a family where gravy is considered a beverage”

 Family meals and what our kids eat are important.

The most important part of any meal is who you share it with.

Keep the gravy to a minimum, but make sure you have regular family dinners!

“Never go to a Doctor whose office plants have died”

Make sure to choose your child’s Doctor, Dentist and even their Hair Stylist wisely.

These people take special care of your children. In fact be aware of any adult who has an impact on how your kids think, act and feel.

“There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas Morning and not be a child” 

Make Christmas and the other holiday’s fun for your child. They will remember your presence more than the presents. Holidays are the days when it’s okay for all of us to be a kid again. This quote also reminds us that adulthood is tough. Be prepared to give your child the best advice you can when they become adults, their will be many times when they’ll need it.

“Guilt the gift that keeps on giving”

Kids are masters at using the guilt card so learn the right times to say “no” and you’ll both be better off for it. You are never going to make everyone happy and this includes your kids.

“Never lend your car to anyone whom you have given birth”

Be careful what you let your kids have. They are good at destroying things and not always on purpose.

Teach kids the value of money and valuables. If you really care about something keep it in a safe place….like another state!

“When humor goes, there goes civilization” & “If you can’t make it better, you can laugh at it”

Life and being a parent can get pretty serious some times, so it’s important to keep a sense of humor. None of us are perfect, so laugh at yourself, laugh at others and laugh with your kids. The moments of joy & laughter you share are the moments that you cherish forever.

“Before you try to keep up with the Joneses, be sure they’re not trying to keep up with you”

Teach your kids and yourself to be grateful for what you have. If you worry about what everyone else has and does you’ll be miserable. Most families have more than enough. Remember the most important thing every family has is each other!

“It takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to someone else”

Erma Bombeck dreamed of being a writer. She started with a daily news column and she somehow managed to make motherhood cool. She ended up writing multiple New York Times Best Sellers thanks to her wit, wisdom and common sense.

“Children make your life important”

Children make you lose lots of sleep, they borrow lots of money from you and as teenagers they enjoy making fun of you. They also rely on you, learn countless lessons from you and love you immensely.

Academy Award winners, Nobel Prize winners, Presidents and Erma Bombeck have all said that the most important job they ever had was being a parent. All of them are right. Our children make our lives important. They also make our lives better!

The post Honoring Erma Bombeck appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

Food for Thought

In the next few weeks the final school bell will ring and kids will scream with joy because summer vacation will be here. Local kids will play computer games, get together with friends, go swimming or have fun at a local park. The majority of school age kids will have a good breakfast and lunch during the day, but their will be many children in our area and across the country who will struggle to get a good meal. They will be lucky to get any food at all. During the school year these kids get a nutritional breakfast and lunch through their school’s meal program, but in the summer they are often left with little or no food. Eighteen million children nationwide depend on school meal programs for a decent breakfast and lunch. When summer comes along they often miss at least one and perhaps two meals a day depending on the severity of their family financial situation. Every kid deserves three meals a day and no kid should have to suffer the emotional and physical pain of being under nourished.

This is a heartbreaking issue but many of us can help these kids.

Here are three easy ways we can ensure a kid doesn’t have to go hungry on a regular basis:

1) Donate to www.feedingamerica.org

An organization has been established specifically to help under nourished children in need. The organization is called Feeding America.

They offer programs in communities across the United States and for every dollar you donate they can provide up to eleven meals. Ninety Eight percent of the funds they receive will be used for their food programs. Feeding America puts an emphasis on summer meals! Donate directly via their website www.feedingamerica.org

2) Help Local Organizations who provide meals

There are many local food banks, food drives, soup kitchens and even food donation bins in front of stores. All of these are designed to make it easy to help those who are less fortunate. Several shelters in our area count on volunteers to serve meals and they encourage local families to donate one or two meals a month to families in need. You can Google: Food Donations and you will find one near you. The United Way, Red Cross, St. Vincent DePaul and many churches sponsor these programs on a regular basis.

3) Invite a kid to lunch or dinner

Have your child’s friend over for lunch or dinner. We all know someone who is in a worse situation than we are and they are usually too proud to ask for help. Do the asking for them. Tell them they are always welcome at mealtime and make them feel that they are a part of the family. If you have leftovers, send them home with a little extra food.

In the summertime, the days are warm and seem to last forever. Once school is out, most kids play all day and don’t have to worry about anything. Unfortunately, some kids worry about where their next meal will come from. We should all step up to the plate and put some food on it. If we work to make sure kids in need are fed they can have a carefree summer too!

The post Food for Thought! appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.

My daughter just reached another “milestone” in her life. She is now twenty one.

Her reaching adulthood is bittersweet for me. It is great to see how she is tackling college and preparing for a successful career in teaching. It is not so great to see her less and less.

She is closer to “leaving the nest” and that’s tough for me to accept.

The thing that helps me handle the increased absence of my daughter Marissa is the chance to look back on some of her milestones. I’m not talking about typical milestones: First step, first words, first day of school, first date etc…..although those are fond memories.

I’m talking about “milestone moments” between a daughter and her dad. These are the simple day to day moments that I will never forget. They are the “milestone moments” that will keep my daughter close to me no matter what her age is or where she is in this world.

I remember the first time her tiny hand touched my stubbly cheek and she said “goodnight daddy I love you!”

I remember sitting on her bed and her wrapping that same little hand around my index finger as I read her one of her favorite books.

I remember her sitting on my lap in her tiny UD sweatshirt at her first Dayton Flyers basketball game.

I remember sitting side by side on the couch and watching cartoons and us both laughing at the same parts.

I remember her being asleep on my shoulder as we left Disney World. She held a stuffed Minnie Mouse and her hair tickled the side of my neck.

I remember her jumping up to give me a high five when the Chicago Bears made the Super Bowl. Her head bonked the ceiling fan!

I remember twirling her in the air as Van Halen sang “Jump”.

I remember her reeling in her first fish and asking me politely “Could you take it off the hook, please”.

I remember her being lifted and swung around at an Irish Dance performance and the smile she had on her face after the show.

I remember her laughing as I pushed her higher on her swing set!

I remember her proclaiming “I’m king of the world” as she reached the top of her slide.

I remember having an awful day and her hugging me and telling me “daddy you’re the best” and suddenly that awful day disappeared.

I think you get the idea of why I’m calling these my “Milestone Moments”.

A Milestone is defined as “a very important event” or “significant development”.

The moments I’ve described seem like simple fond memories, but to a dad who loves his daughter they are both very important events and significant developments.

The moments are Important because you never get them back. You must file them away in your heart.

They are Significant, because they are the moments that allow the bond between a dad and his daughter to grow!

I’m looking forward to more “Milestone Moments with my daughter, but no matter what happens I have plenty stored away already!

The post Milestone Moment!! appeared first on Dayton Parent Magazine.