Geeky Parent Guide (159)
The Geeky Parent Guide is a semi-monthly editorial series by Fanbase Press Contributor (and father of two) Travis Lakata that will help parents and other caregivers to safely and positively navigate various avenues of pop culture with their children.
Finding your footing in the wonderful world of board games can be quite daunting. There are a seemingly endless number of games you can choose from; plus, there are a variety of themes, different player counts, and many game mechanics that serve as the method to make moves within each game. Do we collect cards? Do we roll dice? Do we vie for resources by placing meeples? Fortunately, we have a great pair from All You Can Board (AYCB) to chat with today to share their experiences with tabletop games.
Lisbon. The capital of Portugal is a magical place. I recently shared how to prep your kids for international travel, and our trip to Lisbon was the reason. Being a parent is a wonderful thing and providing our kiddos with more experiences is something my wife and I want to accomplish. Travel is definitely high on the list of experiences we want for them.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan represents an iconic class of storytelling within all movie-going worlds. Star Trek is a beloved franchise and many will debate their favorite TV series or movies, but The Wrath of Khan is a film that defies time. It represents a clear message to all viewers that being in charge of others (like a parent) is not always a clear path. The decisions Captain Kirk and Spock make have an overarching goal to benefit the many, while Khan’s path is distinct in who it benefits.
Being a parent over the past few years has ramped up stress and anxiety tenfold. We’ve had periods of isolating ourselves to avoid getting sick, while tackling homeschool and being even more involved in our children’s overall growth. Yes, I am quite proud of the kids they’ve become, and it’s been such an amazing experience to increase my participation in their lives by teaching them day to day. Knowing it’s been trying for our kids, as well, has increased the desire to travel and expose our kids to more experiences and cultures.
Home Alone isn’t necessarily the typical movie one thinks about during the spring or summer months. It might not even be some people’s favorite holiday movie, but it does represent an aspect of parenthood my wife and I are currently facing. No, we’re not planning on leaving our two kids home alone after flying off to some exotic destination.
Free Comic Book Day is right around the corner, and there are plenty of ways to show support to local comic shops. Free Comic Book Day is such a popular event, shops from all over the world participate, giving away free comics and usually providing amazing deals to their customers.
Teen Titans Go! is an animated series that my kids absolutely love. It’s silly with incredibly ridiculous moments where my kids can laugh at the characters as they go about saving the world. If you are interested in adding some of that silliness to your little one’s world, then consider this fun animated series.
If you’re a stay-at-home parent or homeschooling your kids, being a physically active parent might not be top on your ranking criteria. From keeping the house situated, running errands, and teaching your kids, life gets pretty busy. It’s understandable to be completely exhausted and not know the best ways to keep you or your kids active. It’s equally important to understand that every single day doesn’t have to be perfectly structured. Whether it be exercise, what’s on the meal plan (if there is one), or having family fun, each day or week doesn’t have to be set in stone.
The Oracle Code is a wonderful graphic novel from DC Comics that explores themes where asking for help, learning to overcome adversities, and believing in who you are exceedingly important for anyone to see. Writer Marieke Nijkamp crafts a story centered around Barbara Gordon and her new life after being paralyzed from a gunshot. Nijkamp not only excels at clearly identifying Barbara’s frame of mind after the attack, but helps readers understand that life changes do not mean they have any less value than before. Seeing all of the changes our kids have experienced over the past few years makes this an excellent option for older kids to read, let alone every adult.
Being a parent means approaching life in a way that you want your own child to follow. Once my wife and I knew we were going to parents (about 10 years ago!), I realized the old adage, “Do as you’re told, not as you see,” was problematic. I have sometimes felt incapable of sharing my feelings or I’ve bottled things up, uncertain of how to deal with certain aspects of life. Whether it’s talking about my feelings associated with being sad or frustrations with my own failings, I wanted to do better, so my kids would feel comfortable coming to us whenever they wanted. Fortunately, I’ve come to rely on Star Trek: The Next Generation (TNG) in many facets of my life.
