The Life of (A) Dad at Mom2.0Summit

asouthernmother
May 12, 2013
Photo Credit: Life of Dad 

My blog has been so serious lately, I thought I would update some of my more pleasurable life events.  

If someone had told me that I was going to make some of my favorite new blogging friends at Mom2.0Summit and they were gonna be a group of dudes, I wouldn’t have believed them.  I unofficially met them in the HLN Raising America with Kyra Phillips Shark Tank auditions.  People still don’t believe me that a group of grown men sang the theme song to the Little Mermaid, all while dancing around the room and climbing on chairs.  I would soon learn that was a pretty typical day for The Life of Dad blogger, Tommy Riles.  He is in charge of getting the crowd involved at the Ellen DeGeneres show.  I only wish I had been smart enough to bust out my phone to video it.  If any of my readers did video the show, I would love to have the link and I think the boys would too!  

Photo Credit: Raising America
If getting up in front of a room full of people and pitching a story wasn’t nerve wrecking enough, just imagine doing it in front of a table of the Raising America host Kyra Phillips, a few executives, and their social media maven.  Sounds like fun huh? Now just picture that, and knowing your going to follow a group of some of the funniest men you have ever met.  They very deservingly got all green lights and a room full of applause.  I just sat in my seating praying I wasn’t the person to follow them, who would want to follow that?  Did I mention I had never pitched anything television related? 

 Thankfully, I wasn’t called next but my new friend Dr. Ann Corwin from Pocket Full of Feelings was.  I said a little prayer for her.  She runs a fantastic blog about teaching children how to deal with their feelings.  Ann also gave me some incredible advice about how to help my son to deal with the transitions of my husband popping in and out of our lives.  I love her “daddy box” idea which I am going to share later.  Ann ended up getting green lights too, and I look forward to seeing all of us on Raising America (yeah, you read that right!  I got green lights too but that is another blog post).  

I bumped into Patrick Quinn from Life of Dad when we went back for our second interviews.  We were waiting in line together.  I made sure to tell him that I would never be able to watch the Little Mermaid again without thinking of them.  If you want to know more about Patrick’s personality you should read this blog post about pranking his parents.  He must have gotten his sense of humor very honestly, because his mother’s payback prank is almost as funny.  

I didn’t personally meet Tommy until we were both standing trying to get feedback from

Photo Credit: Jessica Urgelles

Rena Popp the executive producer at HLN’s Raising America with Kyra Phillips.  She was the one person on the panel that had given me a red light and I wanted to get constructive criticism.  Some of the participants were calling her the Simon Cowell of the Shark Tank.  I found she was just bluntly honest, and I could understand her original hesitation with putting me on air.  When Tommy walked over, I wanted to walk off.  I wanted to have a serious conversation and I hoped to win her over.  I didn’t want to compete with him.  I realize now that I was laughing so hard at him, it was hard for me to be nervous.  It was even funnier to hear Rena tell him he needed to turn it down a notch, and I needed to turn mine up.  Tommy suggested he could interview me and I said a quick prayer hoping that would never happen.  I can’t help but chuckle around those guys, I certainly couldn’t keep a straight face on camera.  


Rena had other cocktail party attendees to talk to and I just needed a glass of wine after that day.  My friend Jen Lovallo and I joined a group chatting on the patio, and like everyone else was drawn to the antics of The Life of Dad guys.  Did I mention I was wearing a very large flower and peacock feather veiled fascinator?  Kentucky Derby hats are very much like my southern accent, they make for good conversation starters.  We were about to join the Lowe’s Whirlpool Kentucky Derby Party to end the weekend.  The boys were feeling left out that they didn’t have cute hats, so they decided to make one.  How do you make a Kentucky Derby hat?  Well if your Tommy or Patrick, you grab the nearest folder, box, wrapping tape, and a marker.  Tommy ended up closely resembling an elf and well Patrick just looked like he skipped his meds.  They both decided they needed a little further adornment, so they snagged a rose or two from the hotel lobby.  

Photo Credit: Jessica Urgelles 
I’m not sure I have laughed that hard in a very long time.  I couldn’t imagine being the spouse or child of Tommy or Patrick.  I bet they have some very interesting days but at least their homes are full of laughter.  Hopefully, it won’t be the last time I see Tommy or Patrick.  I can’t wait to see how HLN Raising America fits them into their program. (I will take back what I said about never letting Patrick interview me, who could be nervous when your laughing at him?!) If you get a chance stop by their blog, they are an amazing group of dads and have lots of laughs to share.  I’m glad to have made some interesting new friends and a favorite blog read.  

I’m going to take the opportunity to call the guys out.  I still haven’t heard that you signed up to be Champions with the Shot@Life global pediatric vaccine access campaign?  We need you on our team, so you can help advocate for life saving vaccine access in the countries where it is needed the most.  You have a unique voice which could inspire others to get involved.  I hope all the Life of Dad bloggers will be encouraged to join us.  

Happy Mothers Day to all the Mr. Moms,
XOXO
~Jess 

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