Just Winging It

Socializing becomes a whole lot different after having kids; when it happens at all, it often involves a half-engagement with other people and half-focus on watching or thinking about our kids. We know friendships are generally a good thing to pursue, but who has the time to put into them anymore?

Patrick and John welcome guest Finn McSweeney to chat about what it has been like for he and John to connect via their kids. The three dads explore why the pursuit of friendship with other dads is a worthy one.

When it comes to planning anything with kids, there's the fantasy version of the event we hope will happen and then there's the reality. Parenting is all about how you mind the gap.

John and Patrick talk about their recent Valentine's Day and other activities they plan with their families—and how they've managed when things don't turn out the way they were "supposed" to turn out.

Time keeps on rolling by, each and every moment fleeting. Despite having a multitude of methods to capture memories of our kids, it never quite feels like we're recording enough of them.

Patrick and John work through the right balance between being in the moment and capturing the moment to enjoy later, sharing some strategies on how to do a better manage their responsibility as parents to make some of the impermanent permanent.

The first few years of our kids lives come with an onslaught of sickness. Slowly, their immune systems build up while we get to repeat childhood episodes of colds, fevers, and vomit.

John and Patrick chat about some of their kids' recent ailments and how the families dealt with it in the moment and in the stressful aftermath. You might not want to listen to this episode while you're eating, or after you ate, or... ever.

A new year. A new season! A new me?

Patrick and John are back for season three of Just Winging It! It's time to catch up and chat about why, no matter how many new years we've begun already in our lives, it still feels like a time we need to reinvent ourselves. How will we make this year, this season, and ourselves, better than ever?!

It's the end of the year! A season filled with celebrations and maybe a bit of time to reflect on the fact that we raised our family through another full year.

John and Patrick close out season two of Just Winging It. The dads take stock, reflecting back on the 40+ episodes they recorded this year, and chat about where they'd like to take their lives and the show in the new year.

To all those just winging it in 2019 and those about to just wing it in 2020: thank you for hanging out with us and making us filthy rich. Oh wait, that's right we do this for free. You're welcome.

The modern US family household typically centers around children, dictating many of the life choices that parents make. It wasn't always that though. In her book, "All Joy And No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood," Jennifer Senior brings some historical context to parenting today.

Patrick and John continue their discussion, going deeper into the pressures of modern parenting and exploring what the future stages might look like as their kids get older.

What if parenting doesn't bring the happiness we're led to believe it should? How do we deal with the gap between our experience and the expectations we've set with every other parent? These are some of the questions Jennifer Senior explores in her book, "All Joy And No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood."

John and Patrick unpack the first half of the book, hitting on many of the threads discussed previously on the podcast about how kids impact parents— this time based in some insight from somebody who might actually know what they're talking about.

A generation that grew up with the Star Wars phenomenon now get the chance to pass on the ways of the force with their children.

Ahead of the latest Star Wars theatrical release, Patrick and John reflect back on their love of the movies and franchise. And they consider the joys of being part of the millennial dad Jedi order.

What does the life of a stay-at-home-dad look like? Episode 34 guest Joe Ketner returns to report live from the front lines after leaving his job ten months ago to be home with his young children.

Joe reports back to John and Patrick what it has been like to transition, how he manages his days, and what he's learned about himself on this journey.