Sharing Secrets
(Photo Courtesy MacGillivray Freeman Films) IMAX filmmaker, activist and local Greg MacGillivray talks about his upcoming projects, the ocean and his optimism for the future....
Leading by Example
Meet local dads who are powerful role models, demonstrating positive behaviors and values to instill in their community and its future generations.
Editor's Picks
Baseball Dad
[caption id="attachment_36208" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Courtesy of Los Angeles Angels[/caption] COVID-19 and stay-home orders have impacted all people and industries — including baseball. In time for...
Father’s Day Gifts for Dad
Skin Care This affordable yet luxurious skin care line by Brickell Men Products steps in to make dad’s skin smooth and thrumming with vitality again—offering...
Recent Articles
Sports Dads
Get to know some local dads, and their passion for athletics and coaching. Athlete dads are happy to share their passion for sports with children.
Standout Dads
These OC dads go above and beyond at home and work. Travis Hartman works as a police officer with Westminster Police Department; former K9 officer
Kids Who Haunt
Wyatt Stanley working on the Hatbox Ghost for the Haunted Mansion-themed yard display at his Aliso Viejo home. (Photo Courtesy of Ralph Palumbo) Younger generations of Halloween lovers are finding pathways to careers in theme parks, prop making and more. Jacob Larson was born into the haunting life. His dad, Dave, started a home haunt in Orange five years before Jacob was even born, in 1999. Now at 18, Jacob is busy working at Knott's Berry Farm as an FX technician in the Entertainment Department during the theme park’s biggest event: Knott’s Scary Farm. “In our department we create animatronics,...
Sharing Secrets
(Photo Courtesy MacGillivray Freeman Films) IMAX filmmaker, activist and local Greg MacGillivray talks about his upcoming projects, the ocean and his optimism for the future. An ocean breeze gently blows through the window. Filmmaking memorabilia hang on the wall. A grandchild plays on the floor and a smile grows wide on filmmaker Greg MacGillivray’s face as he reflects on film, family, and nearby surf from his big corner office. The guy who started out making surf films and ended up becoming probably the definitive IMAX filmmaker is rolling through another busy day in Laguna Beach. He recently co-produced the new...
Dad on a Mission
(Photo Courtesy of James Alvarez) A local dad turns tragedy into teaching and helps other dads become the best they can be. The worst night of James Alvarez’s life could have broken him. It could have poisoned the rest of his life. Instead, he channeled his grief into a mission to help the daughter who needed him and all the dads he didn’t even know. “All I was thinking was, ‘How could this have happened?’ I still couldn’t believe my wife was gone,” Alvarez says of that August night in 2020. “All our goals and dreams were gone, just like...
Dads & Kids
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) OC dads who work and volunteer with kids tell us why they do it and how they’re inspired. Thomas Barsoe City: San Juan Capistrano Family: Wife, Anna; kids, Noah, 8, Jude, 6 How do you work with kids? “I’m the owner of OC Hit, a record label, recording studio and artist development facility in Tustin. “We work with incredibly talented, young singers and songwriters and develop and train them for a career in the music industry. You can compare OC Hit to a varsity soccer team or the Olympic gymnastic team, etc. We have become THE...
Climate Crusader
(JT Reager, NASA research scientist with his daughter Elena) UC Irvine PhD graduate, NASA scientist and dad, JT Reager imparts his knowledge of water science. JT Reager is a doctor for the planet. “I give a lot of lectures at high schools,” says JT Reager, research scientist for the Earth Sciences Surface Hydrology group at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). “I always tell people, at JPL and NASA, we’re like doctors for the planet. Just like a doctor might listen to your heart with a stethoscope, we have all these instruments up in space that are looking back down at...
Dr. Dad
(Dr. Monty Pal and family) City of Hope’s Dr. Monty Pal shares his love of science with the community and passion for music with his kids. According to Dr. Monty Pal, one of the greatest things about being a father is sharing your interests with your children. “I really love that the passions I have are being handed down to the kiddos,” says the oncologist. And Pal has some pretty exciting passions to hand down. He lives in Brea with his 8-year-old son, Aarav, 6-year-old daughter, Aria, and his wife, Reena, where the family shares in his love of teaching...
Mindful Dads
(Photo Courtesy of Canva) Fathers can also greatly benefit from mindful communication with their children. Being present and practicing mindfulness with children is easier said than done. While new mothers are traditionally expected to be mindful, fathers are often understudied and overlooked when it comes to the relationships they form and nurture. While there is little research that specifically assesses the impact of mindfulness on father-child relationships, a multitude of twin-parent studies show that there are immensely beneficial aspects of open communication between fathers and their children. The following benefits of mindfulness are directly correlated with an enhanced relationship between...
From One Hero to Another
Local pastor, diagnosed with brain cancer, completes Ironman for his daughter, Hero. On a warm Friday morning in October, 39-year-old Jay Hewitt is at the starting line for the Ironman Triathlon. Organized by the World Triathlon Competition, Ironman consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run. Races are held worldwide from Japan to Turkey to Australia. But Hewitt isn’t racing in a far off land with thousands of other athletes. He is racing alone, at home in Orange County. Hewitt initially planned to race in Australia this year, but the race was canceled due...
Developing Skills for Mindful Parenting
[caption id="attachment_43257" align="alignnone" width="450"] Photo by Madison Lavern on Unsplash[/caption] Parents have a lot to handle these days. Here are some methods for staying sane when things get real. Becoming a parent and having the opportunity to raise a little one of your own is one of the best gifts that life has to offer. Still, as beautiful as the experience is, there’s a lot that goes into parenting that can wear you down until you feel like having a temper tantrum of your own. When it feels like you’re losing control of your emotions, some mindful parenting techniques can...
Baseball Dad
[caption id="attachment_36208" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Courtesy of Los Angeles Angels[/caption] COVID-19 and stay-home orders have impacted all people and industries — including baseball. In time for Father’s Day, we spoke with Los Angeles Angels baseball outfielder Justin Upton to get a glimpse of a professional athlete and father living life in the age of coronavirus. Justin Upton Los Angeles Angels outfielder City: Newport Beach Family: Wife, Ashley; daughters, Sydnee, 4, and Evyn, 1 Los Angeles Angels player: Since 2017 How long did you know you wanted to be a professional baseball player? “I started playing when I was 4 years old...
Your Guide to Super Parenting in 2020
Here’s how to up your parenting skills to superpower level for the new year. Parenting is a tough job. Your commitment, love and genuine desire to help your children grow and thrive are key to super parent success in 2020. The new year offers an opportunity to refocus and reprioritize. For working parents, that means taking some time to think about your family dynamic. If 2019 was a year of challenges, confusion or frustration, the new year is a chance to switch up your routines. You can find a better way for your family members to support and relate to...
Orange County Top Dads on Balancing Family & Career
These busy dads are pros at putting their kids first. Ed Ratledge Lives in: Huntington Beach Profession: AVP professional volleyball player; owner of VolleyOC, which offers beach volleyball classes and camps for children and adults Married to: Jessica Kids: William, 8, and Adeline, 3 How did beach volleyball become your career? “Piece by piece. I became a professional at age 23 and built a business around what I love, starting first with summer camps (2002), running events (2004) and finally adult classes (2009). Everything is on the beach, centered around beach volleyball, and I’m very proud of all the players...
Father’s Day Gifts for Dad
Skin Care This affordable yet luxurious skin care line by Brickell Men Products steps in to make dad’s skin smooth and thrumming with vitality again—offering only the best of the best to the special man in your life. Brickell Men Products prides itself on using only the most natural and high-quality organic ingredients in its entire line of 73 products that range from skin care to body care and even hair and beard care. They also offer a variety of sets to fit every man’s needs, so you can find the best option possible for your needs. $13+, www.brickellmensproducts.com E.C....
Inspirational Fathers
Kind, inspiring, empathetic, supportive, hardworking, loving – all virtues good fathers embody. Throughout Orange County, there are wonderful, unique dads who not only exemplify these traits, but also use them to do big things for both their families and their communities. Here are just a few of these extraordinary fathers within our neighborhoods. Henry DiCarlo Early mornings for many Southern California families are kicked off with Henry DiCarlo informing them whether or not they should grab a sweater on their way out to work or school. Despite his crack of dawn work hours, the KTLA 5 Morning News meteorologist and...
YMCA Dads
The YMCA which started the first Father’s Day on June 19, 1910, introduces two inspiring dads from the organization’s Adventure Guides Program. C.J. Pearl C.J. Pearl, like many dads, wanted to find a way to bond with his kids and foster their self-confidence. And, of course, he wanted them to create fun memories that would last a lifetime. After hearing about the YMCA Adventure Guides program, which is designed to strengthen family relationships, from a friend of his son, C.J. signed up to participate with his two children, Jack and Ava. Now in their fourth year in the program, C.J....
Father’s Day Golf Courses
A Father’s Day gift for dads who love golf — 3 favorite OC courses Pelican Hill Golf Course One pelican, many hills, two golf courses, 36 dramatic holes, and a thousand “oohs” and “ahhs” as you drink in the scenery while playing at this top-ranked Pacific-coast golf paradise located on an ocean-hugging ridge in Newport Coast. Both the Ocean North Course (pictured above) and the Ocean South Course have spectacular views, and each has its own personality; the North known for its sweeping vistas of the coast, the South feeling more secluded with tighter tree-lined fairways, and three holes that...
Organizations and Groups for Dads
From support groups to fun meetups, Orange County offers a variety of organizations and groups that are specifically for fathers. Boot Camp for New Dads Santa Ana | granolababies.com/products/boot-camp-for-new-dads Newborns might not come with a manual for new dads, but Granola Babies is offering the next best thing. It hosts three-hour workshops that give dads-to-be hands-on experience with real babies. Topics include soothing a crying baby, finding a work/life balance, and understanding the changes in a new mom. Men will also learn how to form a team with their partners and strengthen relationships in their new familial dynamic. The class...
How Not to Become a ‘Momager’ or ‘Dadager’
We’ve all seen – and shuddered – at the overbearing “stage dads” or “momagers” on reality television shows who know the pageant dance numbers better than their competing kid. Parents who have kids involved in the performing arts tend to be more prone to stage mom syndrome – especially since it’s the parents who have to sit through rehearsals, or watch their child repeatedly practice their dance or acting routines, attend the shows or competitions, and so on. If your child is passionate about acting or dancing, then you naturally will (and have to) be too. But before you start...
Montessori Soaring
The Out of Box Education. The founder of Montessori education, Maria Montessori, brought her philosophy to the United States from Italy over a hundred years ago. It enjoys over fifty years of history within the Orange County community, where generations of children have benefitted from the unique way of learning. The Montessori educational philosophy provides children with the freedom to grow and experiment within a comfortable environment. Without endless directives, children are able to develop independently through sensorial work. By allowing students to take charge of their own education, they advance at their own pace and develop real world skills...