As one year winds down and another begins it is always a time to look back and look forward, to reflect on the year that has passed and to plan for the year ahead. 2009 was both a challenging and rewarding year as we battened down the hatches both at work and at home to weather the choppy seas of an unstable economy.  As parents it is especially challenging to manage the stresses of the real world and at the same time continue to provide our kids with a strong sense of safety and security.  After all, they will have plenty of time to worry on their own when they grow up.  Childhood is the rare time to truly experience the world and life as purely and as worry free as possible, and as parents it is a joy to do our part in providing such an environment for our kids.  2009 surely put us all to the test in that regard.

Look Ma, No Hands

For me, in my job as “dad,” 2009 was a remarkable year.  My oldest son turned 21, and my youngest, my daughter, turned 18, making 2009 the year all three of my kids technically were “adults” and the first year one of my children and I could legally share a celebratory glass of champagne on New Year’s Eve.  Despite being able to label my kids as adults, 2009 was also the year I recommitted myself to fatherhood by sharing my experiences here at Dad-O-Matic.  Yes, I began writing for Dad-O-Matic toward the end of 2008, but in 2009 I was with you here every single week, and as a result this blog, and the great community around it, became a very important part of my fatherhood routine.  Not only did I connect with so many of you through these posts, but Dad-O-Matic has provided me with the opportunity to connect and share with my kids in new ways, and to point new spotlights on them as I share our experiences with you. One of the highlights of 2009 for me was being a part of the Sony DigiDad Project and thus having the chance to create some memorable videos with my parents and my kids.  I also met some fantastic other dads which has led to a new project, the Cast of Dads podcast.

The Year Ahead

As remarkable as 2009 was, I already know that 2010 is going to be even better.  As the Dad-O-Matic and Cast of Dads communities continue to grow, along with other “dad” group blogs like Digital Dads and Dad Labs, 2010 may turn out to be the year of the Dad!  On a more personal note, 2010 will be the first year one of my sons will be living away from home, in another State, which has already left me in quite a state trying to adjust!  This year will also have me attending two significant graduations as my oldest son will finish college and my daughter will graduate High School.  These are the things I know about 2010, and I am even more excited about the things I don’t know are yet to come!

I Love You, Man!

As I look back and forward my reflection leads to affection.  The deep love and affection I feel for my kids… the affection I feel for you, for taking the time to read and comment and share… and the affection and appreciation I have for living in a time where all this and more is possible.  Thanks to being a Dad and the wonderful, life altering, life enriching experience of raising and guiding my children, and sharing a piece of that experience with you, I enter 2010 with more connections, more friends, and more optimism for the future than I have ever had before.  While there is still uncertainty and challenges ahead, I am blessed to have a loving family, a loving relationship, and a love and passion for everything I do. Not a bad way to start the year.

Thank YOU for listening and for being a part of my year, and best wishes for you and your families to have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

Jeff Sass is the proud dad of ZEO (Zach, 21, Ethan, 19 and Olivia, 18).  He is also a seasoned entertainment and technology exec and active social media enthusiast.  You can see more of Jeff’s writing at Sassholes! and Social Networking Rehab.