May 24, 2012 by admin

What made ‘blended’ splendid? “Stepfather of the Year” contest announced.

DATELINE: PLYMOUTH, MA…

25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad author Joe D’Eramo recently announced plans for a “Stepfather of the Year” award to recognize the important role stepdads play in blended families.

In nominating a Stepfather of the Year, D’Eramo is soliciting anecdotes from members of blended families—families with children from previous marriages/relationships. The person submitting the most touching story about that transcendent moment when their blended family became splendid will win dinner for two at Olive Garden.

“Being a stepfather can be a tough gig. As much as the kids might have been excited about Mom getting remarried, living with another adult in the house is an adjustment,” said D’Eramo, stepfather to two. “But there are these events in our lives, good or bad, where we cross that line and become a family. That’s what I want to hear from other blended families as they nominate their stepdads.”

Interested blended family members can enter their stepdad by telling their story on the 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mystepdad (you have to like the page first). If you are not on Facebook, you can submit your story in 250 words or less to joe.deramo@facebook.com. Photos are welcome. A winner of a $50 gift certificate to Olive Garden will be selected on June 18 (the Monday after Father’s Day). U.S. residents from all 50 states are welcome. You must submit a valid name and e-mail address to be considered.

“Stepfathers play an important part in the lives of their stepchildren. Yet it can be difficult for children to celebrate Father’s Day with their stepfather for any number of reasons—visitation schedules that require the children to be with the biological father on Father’s Day; guilt over celebrating Father’s Day with someone who is not their biological father,” said D’Eramo. “ “The reason behind this contest is so that I can create a special way to honor these men who do so much for their families.”

According to the website The Bonded Family, almost 2,100 blended families form in the United States every day. Another site, Smart Stepfamilies, states that more than 29 million parents (13 percent) are also stepparents to other children.

A Plymouth, Mass.-resident and step-parent of two, Joe D’Eramo recently published a new e-book, 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad as a way to offer helpful suggestions for soon-to-be or newly married men who are becoming husbands and fathers for the first time.

25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad sells for $8.95 on Amazon as a Kindle book (Kindle also offers a free app that enables customers to read e-books on their PC) and as an e-book on D’Eramo’s website, www.hiroadcommunications.com. You can read more about the book and tips for stepfathers on the 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/mystepdad.

March 15, 2012 by admin

My new e-book, 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad

Here’s the press release announcing my new e-book, 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad:

StepDad knows best. Plymouth, MA resident Joe D’Eramo authors “25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad”.

DATELINE: PLYMOUTH, MA…

With blended families becoming more and more the norm, saying “I do” for many single men means becoming a husband and a father as well. Instantly. Plymouth, Mass.-resident and step-parent of two Joe D’Eramo recently published a new e-book, 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad, to offers some helpful suggestions for soon-to-be or newly married men who are becoming husbands and fathers for the first time.

“I was 40 when I first got married. I had a pretty close relationship with my six nieces and nephews and got on extremely well with my now wife’s two kids, getting married was a whole new ballgame,” said D’Eramo, a freelance copywriter. “The book talks about some of the things I did to smooth that transition, some of the things I wish I’d done, and some of the things I still work at.”

25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad sells for $9.95 on Amazon as a Kindle book (Kindle also offers a free app that enables customers to read e-books on their PC).

Some of the topics and chapters in 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad include:

Following your spouse’s parenting lead.
Dealing with her ex.
“No, I’m his step…”
“Dad’s Day”
“Grandma/Grandpa? Nana/Papa? Sir or Ma’am?”
“It’s your turn, Coach.”
“StepDad! Pick up!”
“Respect all the parents”
“In-laws as allies”
“Hers and ours…Starting your own family”

All of the material covered in the book is based on D’Eramo’s experiences helping to raise his two stepchildren, a task that took on another dimension with the birth of his daughter nearly six years ago.

“She’s just about the age when I met our son. It’s been kind of nice to see the movie from the beginning with this child, but it’s given me an entire new perspective on how my wife raised the older two as a single parent,” said D’Eramo. “With this book, I wanted to let other soon-to-be stepfather or current ones know you are not alone.”

Adds D’Eramo, “Not that I’ve mastered the art of parenting. Far from it. I don’t have a Ph.D. in anything. I’m a just a regular guy who embraced the challenge of being a stepfather and was rewarded with the most fulfilling experience of my life.”

In addition to 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad, D’Eramo, a Framingham State University graduate, also penned Recipes for the Roommate-Impaired, available on Amazon.com as a paperback.

Visit the 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/pages/25-Ways-to-go-from-Stepfather-to-StepDad/262404817174765, for more information.

About HiRoad Communications:

Based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, HiRoad Communications is owned by freelance copywriter Joe D’Eramo. HiRoad generates copy for web content, marketing communications materials, PR pieces, articles, blogs, social media sites and more. For more information, visit www.hiroadcommunications.com or call 617-848-0848.

February 10, 2012 by admin

Five things that worked for me in 2011

Happy new year, everybody. Clearly one New Year’s resolution of mine wasn’t to get out the first edition of Changing Lanes in a timely fashion. Still, let the record show this edition came out in January 2012.

One of my “traditions” before setting my goals for the coming year is to review what’s worked in the previous. Those things can be tools for business or things that helped me do business better. Here’s the top five of things that worked well for me last year:

Constant Contact – Social Media

It may seem like a trivial add-on to an already great service. Yet being able to share your e-newsletter to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media serves a great purpose if you’re trying to be consistent with your social media efforts. Even better, you don’t need to take a class on how to do it. Just check a few boxes and it’s pretty self-explanatory.

Matt Furey’s Combat Conditioning

I’ve been using Matt Furey’s Combat Conditioning program for six years and enjoyed the incredible workout these bodyweight exercises provided in a short period of time. One in particular, Hindu Squats, I’ve found to be a tremendous cure for writer’s block.

While a lot of people find a trip to the gym or a run a great way to alleviate writer’s block, it can take a lot of time. A set of 100 Hindu Squats can take three or four minutes. You’re probably breathing a lot harder than a run or 30 minutes on the treadmill and you can do them right at your desk.

Matt Furey – Carpal Tunnel Fix

Last year, hitting a punching bag was my version of stress relief. Unfortunately, it caused a little bit of elbow tendonitis, otherwise known as ‘tennis elbow’. Upon shaking the hand of a 110-lb graphic designer and feeling pain, I knew it was time to seek some help but did not feel like dealing with multiple trips to physical therapy, co-pays, deductibles and all that. I ordered Matt Furey’s Carpal Tunnel Fix program. Within a few days, the pain had subsided dramatically. Within a week, it was gone.

IrfanView

If something works for me, I stick with it. That’s why I kept the same printer-scanner-copier for the past nine years. It worked fine and I saw no reason to switch. Well, almost no reason. When I bought the new computer with Vista, the photo editing software that came with the printer was not working well. Or, at all. That’s when I discovered IrfanView. It enabled me to edit size, crop, change resolution and a bunch of other stuff. And it was free. ’nuff said.

Paint

Not the kind you put on walls. The Microsoft software that’s part of the Accessories suite. Usually thought of as kind of a throwaway/add-on, it has actually come in quite handy in my attempt to save my printer. In fact, it’s the program I use to scan documents. It sure beats buying a new printer.

That’s what worked for me last year. Stay tuned for next month’s Changing Lanes, which should appear before February 31.