About Me

By Michael Premo.
With more than 6 years of experience, I can say with confidence that I have learned enough tips and tricks to help many of my fellow Dads out there—single or married. Much of what I have learned comes from on-the-job training. Kids don’t come with a manual, like your iPad or 3D TV. I have read a short list of books that have helped me understand a child’s behavior and development. These books are what I would consider foundation and framework, allowing a structure to better understand my children. I believe we can glean from all of the latest information out there to benefit our children. While at the University of Iowa, I took several childhood development and behavior management courses required for teachers, all of which have helped me with my children in their school years.

I’m not bracketed into a single child rearing philosophy or controlled by a single way of taking care of children. Modern American society has a colorful and varied collection of insights into a child’s psychology, from the simple “Reward-Punishment” to the complex “Redirecting Behavior.” There is an over-abundance of material on children and parenting, enough for a lifetime of reading. My hope is to help sort through all of the materiel and help you trust your instincts.

Prior to being a stay-at-home parent, I was in the advertising and marketing industry, working as an Account Executive and Project Manager in several small firms and ending at a Fortune 100 company. My experience with infants was next to nothing, the youngest of three boys, and youngest of my cousins. In my early twenties, I held my two-month-old niece once, then went back to college and didn’t get to see her until she was a toddler. I had never held a baby before. I never changed a diaper, never gave one a bottle, never burped an infant. I quit my marketing job at the Fortune 100 company to take care of my eight-month-old son, while my wife went to work. Homemaker, Stay-At-Home Dad, or some are even call it the CDO (Chief Domestic Officer). We attended Gymboree, library reading time and played—a lot. Then, my daughter was born when my son was two-years-old. An infant and toddler can make your head spin. Dishes, laundry, meals, transportation, enrichment and education are only a few of the things I am responsible for. The most difficult and rewarding occupation I’ve ever had. I managed millions of dollars, projects and businesses, none of them compare to the stress and exhaustion I have experienced. Nearly seven years later, my son is finishing 1^st grade and my daughter is going into Kindergarten. And, because this is my resume, I can brag about the fact that I’ve been congratulated, admired and received accolades from my peers (stay-at-home Moms), counselors and pediatricians.

As all stay-at-home Moms know, there are no medals or awards for what we do, no pay raises, and many times there’s no thanks, except for a day in May for them, June for Dads. Sure, you get the occasional smile and hug that brings tears to your eyes, or the occasional pat on the back from a friend. Both are priceless, but in our materialistic society, where money and industry have become our rewards, these moments are becoming more difficult to comprehend or acknowledge. I look forward to the future when my children will reward me with them becoming themselves, happy or heartbroken, successful or struggling, none of it will matter to me because I love them regardless, unconditionally.

This is Dad’s focused. Being a good Dad is not something we are born with, and like everything else in life, we need to work at it, understanding it better will make us successful. If you have questions or concerns, discuss these issues with your spouse or the children’s mother (The Ex). I encourage you to investigate further, exactly what it means to be a father, and when you do, let me know, because I’m still learning a lot.

Disclaimer: I am not an expert. The opinions, my opinions, are my own. Please consult your pediatrician, counselor or therapist first before putting into practice any of my opinions. If you have child related medical, physical or behavioral, questions, please consult your pediatrician. If there’s one thing I know, your pediatrician is an excellent resource, so use them.