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Author: Mr. Full-Time Dad

Thankful for Every Phase

Thankful for Every Phase

The following was originally published in “The Good Life Men’s Magazine” Nobody told me parenthood is a path toward enlightenment. They told me it’s expensive, tiring and thankless. There’s a bit of truth to both takes, but lately I’ve found myself inordinately delighted by the unpredictable antics of my three-year-old son, Macklin. Tomfoolery that would otherwise inspire madness has become the highlight of my days. I’m completely content with evenings spent lying facedown on a living room floor that hasn’t…

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3 Is The New 23

3 Is The New 23

The following was originally published in “The Good Life Men’s Magazine” We just wrapped up a three-day party for Macklin’s third birthday. About 20 people invaded our home, ate our food and left all of their garbage behind. We had a bounce house in the backyard, beautiful weather throughout, all of Mack’s favorite people… even the Blue Angels came to town to celebrate. It was a wild success.  As expected, Mack raked in a pile of awesome gifts sure to…

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Milestones That Matter

Milestones That Matter

The real game changers parents secretly celebrate The following was originally published in “The Good Life Men’s Magazine” As I was gathering up Macklin’s shoes and jacket, waiting for that perfect moment to snatch him up from the rainbow carpet where he and his classmates were sitting entranced by storytime, his teacher came up with a rare smile on her face. “Mack put his nap stuff back in his bag all by himself today!” she nearly shouted.  Stuffing haphazardly a…

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Life Lessons from a Tree

Life Lessons from a Tree

The following was originally published in “The Good Life Men’s Magazine” When my wife and I moved into our home nine years ago, I didn’t pay much attention to the tree out our front window. It was a modest tree at the time, relatively well-kept but more or less forgettable. To this day I haven’t even bothered to find out what type of tree it is. The fact that our neighborhood was well-established and had full-grown trees lining the streets…

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With a perfect son, it’s hard not to be ‘that parent’

With a perfect son, it’s hard not to be ‘that parent’

I recently posted a guest blog written by one of my oldest, most modestly dressed friends, Reid. It’s a not-so-subtle take down of other parents. We dreamt up the idea one Sunday afternoon while playing with our 2-year-old sons at the local indoor playground. As we silently judged the menagerie of parenting styles running amok all around us, we independently came to the same conclusion: we are the best parents the universe has ever known, each with an equally perfect…

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Guest Post: Hell Is Other Parents

Guest Post: Hell Is Other Parents

Today I bring you a guest post from one of my oldest friends and fellow toddler father, Reid. I present this post to you unedited (mostly) and unfiltered (remember that). While I may have taken a more nuanced, more eloquent, all around more sophisticated tone, I completely relate to his take on modern day parenting, dystopian as it may be. So, disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed below are those of the author’s and do not necessarily (but mostly) reflect those held by yours…

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Yes, I’m Living Vicariously Through My Son

Yes, I’m Living Vicariously Through My Son

You can read all the books you want; parenting will still be a series of surprises with varying degrees of jaw droppage. For example, I haven’t used a semicolon since high school. Sorry, Vonnegut, I’m a dad now. I can no longer discriminate against well-intentioned punctuation. Most of the education leading up to your first go round as a parent comes in the form of warnings. Travel now, because you won’t be going anywhere for years. Sleep when the baby…

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What an Adorable Year: MFTD’s Top 17 Insta Posts of 2017

What an Adorable Year: MFTD’s Top 17 Insta Posts of 2017

With minutes to spare, I present Mr. Full-Time Dad’s top 17 Instagram posts of 2017… what an adorable year it was. Disclaimer: these may not be in perfect order, and I may have included a few personal favorites that didn’t technically make the cut (but should have). For your benefit, they’ve canceled school pictures from here on out. You’re welcome. A post shared by Ben Hanson (@mrfulltimedad) on Nov 9, 2017 at 7:34pm PST Santa brought us some style. Merry…

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The Curse Heard Round the Parking Lot

The Curse Heard Round the Parking Lot

Keen observers, toddlers are not. Or so they would have us believe. Con artists, I say. They trick us into believing they lack any measurable attention span by effortlessly ignoring our pleas to wash hands, to stop eating the dog food or to give the poor Christmas tree at least a fighting chance at staying upright. From what I’ve seen, it’s just a long con. It’s a toddler game of lulling us into a weird sense of parental apathy that…

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