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

Friday, January 30, 2009

Missing Irish Dancer's DNA found?

As all of you who subscribe to Irish Dance Magazine probably already know, there is some missing Irish Dancer DNA in the latest Feis Dad column. IDM forgot to include my DNA graphic (which I spent many long and arduous seconds drawing with my crayons) in the article and the "as shown below" doesn't really mean anything because there is nothing below. No biggie. Here's what the article should have looked like ...

Last month we discussed how your wife, daughter, the local dance studio and a gaggle of high level CIA agents coerced you into allowing your daughter to take Irish dance lessons. This month, let’s discuss how to get out of it.

You can’t.

End of article. End of life as you know it.

Don’t believe me? Talk to some of the veteran feis dads that have been around for years. You know the ones. They all have hollowed eyes, empty wallets and wear noise canceling earphones. And each one will tell you the same thing. Once the Irish dance bug has bitten, there’s no going back.

Upon performing her first treble, your daughter’s DNA was irrevocably changed. Thankfully, due to tremendous advances in medical technology in recent years, researchers have been able to map the DNA sequence of Irish dancers. All of which have curious … uh, abnormalities … within their DNA, as shown below.


Given all this irrefutable medical evidence, many of you may just want to give up. Surrender to a higher power.

“But wait,” I ask. “Are you a man, a feis dad or a mouse?”

Squeak. Squeak.

“Come on! We can’t just give up?” I say, pounding my fist on my computer desk. “Tidfgser wwwwwweee casms ppeeessreve …”

Sorry, I’m now typing with a bandaged hand due to my forceful desk pounding. What I meant to say is, “Together we can persevere. We can overcome. We can …”

No … actually, I don’t think we can.

Other than hoping for terminal accordion failure, about all we can do to make our situation bearable is consume liberal amounts of alcohol.

Which, now that I think about it, can be a lot more fun than all of that persevering and overcoming.

--feis dad

Sunday, January 18, 2009

New Celtic Crusader Episode!




Join The Celtic Crusader in her latest EXCITING adventure ... The Blue-Eyed Rascal Takes the Stage on her website at http://www.celticcrusader.com/. Pay close attention to some of the pages, the action is so furious, things might start flying around. Also, check out her "About me" page, its packed full of new info and images.


--feis dad

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Kid's Best Christmas Present

Okay, Christmas is done. Finished. Over. Now, the only question is ... what was your kid's favorite present? Me, being a feis dad and all, thought I'd get my kids the HOTTEST toy of the year.

Was it a Tickle Me Flatley doll?

No.

Was it a Cabbage Patch Dumpster Kid?

Nope.

Was it the LATEST, HOTTEST video game for the Wii?

Yep.

But it wasn’t Guitar Hero or Rock Band … it was Dean Crouch’s Accordion Hero!

THE game for Irish dancers! Battle the computer while listening to your favorite Irish dance music.

My kids LOVE it. Now they don’t want to do anything else but play Accordion Hero.

What was your kids favorite Christmas present?

--feis dad

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year from feis dad!

It’s 2009 and I know everyone is excited for the New Year and all the fun, adventure and surprises it may hold. We all know that it’s the time of year to make all those resolutions that we’ll never keep. So, in that spirit, why not make some New Year’s resolutions regarding Irish dance? Here are a few of mine.

I resolve to go to at least THREE feisana this year … at two of which I will NOT wear ear plugs.

I resolve to learn how to spell orocktis … oreaktas … that big regional dance feis thing

I resolve to fully support my daughter’s need for a new solo dress … by increasing my monthly (now weekly) plasma donations

Please add your own resolution (via comment to this blog) and I will post. I’ll even help you get started.

I resolve to ___________________ (insert resolution here).

--feis dad

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