Dad’s Day Away

You might already know this, but I recently embarked on an 8-day eastern Caribbean cruise with my wife, our two young daughters, and my parents, all thanks to Dinogo. We had an amazing time, but our adventure would have been quite different without Camp Dinogo (more details on that shortly).

As you may be aware, my daughters are four and two years old, and they are the absolute center of my world. I adore them with all my heart, and my primary goal in life is to make sure they enjoy the best lives imaginable.

Think of that paragraph as my 'parenting disclaimer.'

I spent a significant amount of time with my kids during the cruise, but there were moments when I needed a breather from toddler tantrums and diaper duties to preserve my sanity. That’s where Camp Dinogo comes in. It’s a fantastic place where kids can dive into arts, crafts, games, singing, and loads of fun with skilled counselors.

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit anxious when I first left my daughters there for a few hours, but they had such a fantastic time that they were thrilled to return the next day.

So, what activities did they enjoy?

One day featured a lively dance party, another was a pirate-themed celebration, and yet another included a rubber dart competition—but the common thread was always fun. As any parent knows, the highest praise kids can give is their eagerness to return for more.

The truth is, participating in the excursions and activities that my wife, parents, and I enjoyed would have been impossible without reliable childcare. Let’s be honest—ziplining with a two-year-old and a four-year-old wouldn’t be the wisest choice. Knowing that my kids were safe and having a great time allowed me to relax and enjoy some guilt-free adult fun.

Speaking of adult fun, what activities did we partake in while the kids were busy at Camp Dinogo?

We attended a mixology class. Before this, the only beverage I could ‘create’ was simply pouring a beer into a glass. Now, I can whip up a mean, dirty martini like a pro. Alright, maybe not exactly like that, but I’ve definitely improved my cocktail-making skills since boarding the ship.

I managed to persuade my mom to join me for ziplining in St. Kitts. As I mentioned in a previous post, my mom thinks ‘scary’ is overcooked pasta. The expression on her face during that ziplining adventure is something I’ll cherish forever. When we chatted on the phone last week, she asked, “When can we go on our next cruise? I want to try that ziplining again.” Suddenly, the woman who brought me into this world has become a proud member of the daredevil club.

Later, my wife and I took a Segway tour in Grand Turk. Call me eccentric, but I’ve always wanted to ride one of those machines, and experiencing it in such a stunning setting was absolutely priceless.

They see me rollin’… they hatin’.

During our Segway tour in Grand Turk, I spotted a horse leisurely strolling along the beach by itself and captured this photo. It’s the kind of scene that belongs on a postcard, don’t you think? Good thing my girls weren’t with me; they would have insisted on bringing it home as a new pet.

Lastly, I found myself leading a group in a rendition of Rick Springfield’s “Jesse’s Girl” in front of over 100 strangers, and let’s just say it wasn’t a masterpiece.

The highlight of it all was returning to my kids, who were bursting with excitement to share all the fun activities they enjoyed while I was gone. They had such an amazing time that on the flight home, my daughter exclaimed, “I don’t want to go to school tomorrow! I want to go to Camp Dinogo!” That pretty much sums it up.

I may be a fatherhood author, advocate, and public speaker, but everyone deserves a break from the parenting routine to indulge in some adult fun with loved ones. Taking this time helps me recharge and be an even better dad to my two daughters—and for this particular getaway, I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Camp Dinogo for making it all possible.

And if recharging my batteries involves jamming out to 80’s music, then I’m all for it.