🩺 What fatherhood does to your immune system

Dadpack Digest, Week 5 

Hi News, I'm Dad

• In case you felt old, Joe Biden turned 80-years-old this week, which should make you feel like a pardoned spring chicken. Congratulations on being young again.

• Both the Children’s Hospital Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics asked the Biden Administration to declare an emergency response to the surge of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases among infants, so hospitals can be given the relief they need to attend to sick children.

• “Thor” star and father of three Chris Hemsworth announced plans to take time off from acting to be with his family, after learning that he has two copies of a gene that makes him eight to 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. That will really put things into perspective for anyone, even an Avenger. 

• While gambling experts weigh-in about their picks for the Detroit Lions vs. the Buffalo Bills game on Thanksgiving, the weather has already spoken. Radar images from a snowstorm over Western New York appeared to resemble the blue and red logo of the Bills, like a water stain of the Virgin Mary for Buffalo fans.  

This Week From Dadpack

• The upside of your kids always getting sick: There is some evidence that parenthood alters your immune system for the better.

• A back-saving tip for shoveling show: And you don't have to buy a plow or pay the neighbor to do it.

• Fun and weird Thanksgiving facts: Regale your family to sleep with plenty of festive dad trivia. Tryptophan helps too.

• When you ask dad what he thinks about football: It's the one time you shouldn't expect a concise response.

• How to deal with a jealous dog: Learn how to carry two babies at once.

• What it means to be an "emotionally unavailable" parent: Not being emotionally present for your kid might mess them up more than you realize.

• Why everyone hates "free-range" parenting: We shouldn't have to tell you this, but we live in a society of rules.

How Fatherhood Changes Your Immune System

Between flu season, Covid-19, and the aforementioned RSV surge, parents are bracing themselves for what experts are calling a "tripledemic." As much as that sounds like a figure skating move you'd watch with your kid during the Winter Olympics, it's not that and actually very bad.

The only good news about having a house full of sick kids is that what doesn't kill you could make your immune system stronger. Research shows that parents were less prone to colds and the flu than non-parents, and this protection appeared to increase the more children they had. However, immunologists warn that this doesn't make your immune system stronger against everything, just the pathogens you were recently exposed to. 

It is possible that parents just don't have time to let themselves feel sick. Regardless, the next time you childless buddy complains about having yet another cold, do the right thing and invite him over to babysit. 

For more information on the rising RSV rates and symptoms to look out for, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For more on the state of cold and flu season and how to better prepare for it, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

Snow Business

It is officially snow shoveling season and depending on where you live, you might already have the aches and pains to prove it. There are plenty of shoveling hacks on YouTube and TikTok, but assuming you're not ready to invest in a snow-blower or other heavy machinery, an older Greek guy from western Massachusetts has a timeless trick back from 2014. All you need is a shovel, a rope, and the kind of positive attitude it takes to slip into a one-piece snowsuit as a grown man. 

Dad Facts: Thanksgiving Edition 

Be warned: rattling off some trivia on the long drive to The Grandparents will make you feel like you're turning into your father. 

• There was no turkey during the first Thanksgiving, those wouldn't flock to the holiday for hundreds of years.

• By 1705, pumpkin pie eventually became so important to Thanksgiving that a town in Connecticut postponed it due to a molasses shortage. They simply could not go on without that sweet pumpkin.

• In 1953 a C.A. Swanson & Sons employee overbought 260 tons of extra frozen turkeys, so the company used the meat to invent the first frozen TV Dinners for stereotypical dads who cannot cook.

• The first Thanksgiving was a total sausage fest, but only because approximately 78 percent of the women who arrived on the Mayflower passed away during the winter... OK, maybe don't share that one.

When Your Kid Asks You About Football

It might not be this Thanksgiving, it might not be next football season. But one day, your kid is going to ask about your favorite football player and get the dissertation they never wanted. And that is going to be a glorious day, whether you know how to use photoshop or not. 

Dog Vs. Baby

There's only so much you can do to prepare your dog for a new baby, especially when you are a new parent. Although some pets adjust fine with some time, other jealous pups can cause quite the family feud, particularly during nap time. 

In difficult instances like this, the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends praising your dog and rewarding them for positive interactions with the baby. At the same time, don't reward negative behavior like barking or jumping, but don't punish the animals for being jealous either. 

The organization similarly suggests including the dog in playtime and walks with the baby, but never forcing interactions. If you can, make sure the dog has their own space to retreat to — which is easier said than done, once kid stuff starts taking over your home.

In the end, the key is patience and consistency, just like regular parenting. 

Am I An Emotionally Unavailable Parent?

On the surface "emotionally unavailable parenting" might sound like the latest self-help buzzword. But for adults who grew up with moms and dads who you describe as "not the worst," it might partially explain why you struggle with anxiety, perfectionism or interpersonal relationships. 

Psychologist Annie Tanasugarn notes that emotionally unavailable parenting isn't necessarily abusive, but what happens when parents from older generations don't deal with their own trauma and withdraw emotionally. That said, the impact of emotionally unavailable parenting can affect your kid's mental health throughout their lives, making it all the more crucial to cope with whatever baggage you're hanging onto, so you can show up for your family. 

For more on emotionally unavailable parenting, visit Psychology Today. 

Parting Paternalism: Respect The Range 

While we're on the topic of bad parenting buzzwords, can we please abolish free-range parenting? When mother of four Mara Doemland admitted to raising a "free-range family" recently, she was properly roasted on Twitter for letting her kids eat dessert for dinner, drink coffee, and run around without shoes on.

Sure, it's not the worst way to live as a kid, but think about the other adults who have to deal with them on a given day. Do they really deserve that? You're raising humans, not livestock. If you don't want them to be today assholes one day, you need a little range. 

Polling Your Leg