Welcome to feis dad

Hello, my name is Matt. I have a daughter ... no, make that two daughters ... who LOVE Irish Dance.

There. I admitted it. I’ve come clean.

It's the first step in recognizing I have a problem.

Did I say problem? Well, maybe that’s not quite right.

It’s more like a crisis of epic proportions.

If you’ve got a daughter in novice, prizewinner or championship, you know what I mean. Don’t worry, if you’re just starting this ride, you’ll find out soon enough.

If you don't know what a feis is. you're on the wrong blog. If you do know what a feis is and like it, you're on the wrong blog. If the thought of going to a feis makes you feel queasy, you're in the right place.

So, you're supposed to be here, now what?

Take a look at my first post, titled: Feis Dad Syndrome.

See if you've developed this terrible condition.

If you've got it, don't despair. There is help. I may not offer any right now, but don't lose hope, I'll get to it eventually.

Above all, I am looking forward to your comments, funny stories and helpful suggestions.

Thanks for joining me.

-- feis dad

Blog Posts

The following are posts. Please read, laugh and comment.

-feis dad

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Feis dad takes a road trip -- part I

Feis mom and dancing daughters decided to take a road trip to Albequek ... Albequarq ... Alb ... that town south of Sante Fe in New Mexico for a feis. I couldn't think of an excuse fast enough, so I got talked into going along.
Here's a photo-essay of our trip:

8:45 am: Dancing Daughter Two packing for the trip



8:46 am: Feis mom and dancing daughters packing the car



8:50 am: Feis dad packing all he needs for a weekend of feis-ing



9:00 am: On our way!



9:02 am: Returning home to retrieve Dancing Daughter Two's forgotten iPod



9:22 am: Finally leaving AGAIN after Dancing Daughter Two finds her iPod, Dancing Daughter One remembers that she's forgotten her solo dress, feis mom waters the plants and feis dad takes a quick nap.



9:16 am: Feis mom requires a pit stop at Starbucks to survive the long drive.



9:57 am: Finally on our way again. Dancing Daughter One having fun.



9:37 am: Dancing Daughter Two having fun. This is going to be a GREAT



9:38 am: Dancing daughters fighting. This is going to be a LONG trip.



11:23 am: Visiting one of Arizona's finest rest area facilities



12:02 pm: Endless Arizona beautiful scenery. ARE WE THERE YET?



12:56 pm: Hurray! New Mexico state line. Only 300 hours till we get there.



1:12 pm: Hatch, New Mexico and the World's Largest Piggy Bank. Do I know how to show my family a good time or what?



4:35 pm: Finally arrive at hotel!!!


Whew, the trip was easier than expected. Now, there's only the feis to worry about. Right. Join me for Part II next time. See if I survive.

--feis dad
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A serious message from feis dad about being a feis dad

This blog is not to be taken seriously. It’s meant to take a good-natured poke at how Irish Dance affects fathers (something many wives and daughters may not think about).

The reality of the situation is that most dads just don’t get the Irish Dance thing. It’s like asking our wives and daughters why they don’t throw high fives every time our favorite player hits a three-pointer in the playoffs.

I love my daughters, but I just can’t sit through twelve hours of accordion music at feis’ once a month. It is beyond me. And I truly believe that forcing me to do so would make me begin to resent their activity, which none of us want.

BUT, that doesn’t mean I don’t support our daughters in my own way.

That’s exactly what this blog is about. For good or bad, THIS is part of my support for them.

Some may say I’m not a good father if I don’t go to each and every performance or feis. But I believe both my daughters know I think what they are doing is important and good for them even though it’s hard for me to spell feis or oreach … orack … that big national feis thing.

My point in all of this is that although there are some things we just won’t do, I believe real feis dads need to ensure they:

Support their daughter’s (or son’s) love of Irish Dance.

Take interest in how they are doing.

Are excited when they perform well and move up.

Comfort them when they don’t.

Support their activity as much as we can within realistic financial and family obligations

Although we may not understand the specifics (like the difference is between a slip jig and a reel) we take an interest in the general idea

We tell our children we are proud of them every chance we get

Although we make light of some of the aspects of Irish Dance, they are never mean spirited or hurtful

We ensure that our children know what they are doing is important to us

Do what dads do best: build things—practice dance floors, sound systems, etc.

Take them to practices and performances when possible (even if it means missing part of the game, but maybe not if it’s the playoffs).

Again, this blog is not meant to be taken seriously.

No one is perfect. Not even feis dads. If you can’t laugh about it (or about yourself) then you’re missing out.

--feis dad