Daddy's Hangout

I love Summer Sports the best. But during the heat of the summer athletes may be at greater risk for heat-related illness and need to know the ways to prevent it. When you are watching your favorite sports teams, have you ever noticed that the first thing the athletes do when they get to the sideline or dugout is get a drink, which most of the time is Gatorade?

We often remind our kids to remember their water bottles, but water does not replace electrolytes and sodium lost in sweat, so it isn’t enough to protect kids against the summer heat and humidity. The right sports nutrition and hydration, including Gatorade, can play a vital role in helping young athletes get the hydration and fuel they need to stay safe and perform their best. Proper hydration is just as important to athletic performance as the food your child eats, and more important to their safety
To help keep athletes safe and performing their best during the hot summer months, Gatorade and the NFL created “Beat the Heat,” an educational program focusing on the dangers of heat-related illness and the importance of taking the proper steps to reduce the chance of illness and injuries. This information is especially important for Parents because children have an increased risk of dehydration and exertional heat illness due to their size and other factors.

Parents , To learn more about The importance of proper hydration and Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” program.  Head on over and download the Heat safety kit. For every unique download of the Heat Safety Kit, Gatorade will donate $1, up to $20,000, to beat the Heat charities.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog campaign by Dad Central on behalf of Gatorade’s “Beat the Heat” campaign and received Gatorade samples to facilitate my candid review. Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate

It came as quite a shock to me 12 years ago when my girlfriend told me that she was pregnant. We had in truth been trying for a baby after she had her first miscarriage, but I never thought it would happen so soon. I am not really sure why it’s crazy, I know. I have to admit that I was quite scared at first but now feel very lucky and he has truly changed my life in a positive way.

A couple weeks before my son was born, The Boys and I decided to get together and have a guy’s night and chill out like old time sake. It was like one last night out of freedom before being thrust into parenthood.  This whole night I remember thinking, I will miss this. For some reason I actually thought that becoming a father would end any social life that I had.

The feeling of emotion and happiness when I first set eyes on and held my son is very hard to describe. He was so small and light.  He was perfect. I wouldn’t let him out of my sight. I even went back to the nursery when the nurses took him out to give him his first bath. My girlfriend was catching up on her rest so I was left in the room on my own, holding my little man. I could not stop staring at him, he was so perfect.  Right then I knew I was the luckiest man alive.

My whole attitude to life has now changed; in the past socializing with my friends was a big part of my life.  Now I would rather be home with my kids any day! You might think I am crazy or boring but when I am out I miss my kids so much, I can’t really enjoy myself.

Now that he is getting older he is the first one to wake up and walks into our room and says, Good morning dad! I wake up and there in front of me is my son with a beaming smile on his face.  Then soon to follow are my 2 little girls. Who are truly “daddy’s Girls”.

I feel very sorry for people who are unable to have children and find it very hard to understand people who choose not to have any. I am a very proud parent and would do anything for my Kids. Even when they are naughty I find it hard to be angry at then for more than about two minutes. I have recently spent a few weeks out of state due to my job. It’s been hell!  The whole time I am away all can think about is getting back to my 3 great kids.

I now have something to really live for and the future is really exciting. For any Man out there who is unsure about whether they want or should become a parent, I can honestly say that from a personal experience it has been amazing and is truly a blessing.