When Chad Vargo was a new dad, he had so many questions but wasn’t sure who to ask. What’s the best baby food? How do you get your child involved in sports? Which is the best preschool?
He didn’t know where to turn so the enterprising father eventually came up with his own solution, launching the Naperville Dad Network.
The times in which fathers left all the decisions and work to their wives are long gone. Nowadays dads are usually keen to be involved with everything at every stage from newborns to adulthood.
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“Times have evolved with technology and as a new father early on, I wanted to make sure everything was perfect,” Vargo said.
Vargo and his wife, Lucy, moved to Naperville from Portland, Oregon, in 2014, before they started their family. Jacob was born two years later and their daughter, Anna, in 2019.
“As new parents and new to the Naperville area, my wife and I were eager to connect with other families and learn from others who were seasoned parents in the area,” Vargo said.
“My wife quickly found a local group for moms that she was able to make friends and connect with to ask for parenting advice, recommendations on child care as well as gain insight into local hidden gems in Naperville for parks and kids’ activities. On the other hand, I didn’t have a group and saw an opportunity to get the dads together to set up playdates and have a place to openly ask for advice and build community.”
Today the group is approaching a thousand members. Any dad in Naperville or the surrounding areas is welcome to apply to join the closed group. which is not just for new dads but for fathers of all ages to share their experience.
Through word of mouth, it’s been exciting to see the Naperville Dad Network grow, Vargo said.
“The dads actively discuss best contractors, share lawn care advice, talk sports, look for others who connect on similar interests to run, box or kayak etc.,” he said. “They discuss best Mother’s Day gifts or talk about our kids and ask for advice.
“The best part of the dad network is the diversity of our community of new dads and seasoned dads, who all come together to help each other out. We even get the occasional comment from our own mayor and proud dad, Steve Chirico. We set up happy hours and park play dates.”
Vargo, who works as a safety manager for a chemical company, said he hopes to be able to enjoy more in-person gatherings with members as pandemic restrictions ease.
“While I was in the office, a guy I work with came up to me and said he liked the group and finds it very useful,” he said. “It was cool to think I’m helping people I work with even if I didn’t know it.”
With the local community in mind, Vargo also wants to do more to support dads and their interests and passions. He’s already worked with another local dad to design and make shirts, donating the proceeds from sales to local charities.
“I setup fantasy football leagues and bought a traveling Naperville Dad Fantasy Football league trophy that will hopefully be passed around for years to come,” he said. “I was also excited to work with Michael Nelson, a Naperville dad himself and owner of Little Pop’s Pizzeria in Naperville, who matched my gift card donation to support local restaurants during a difficult time with the pandemic and raffle off gift cards to the Dad Network during the holidays.”
Member Rich Shumacher is using the group to reach other men interested in helping the environment.
“I’m looking for help and resources to assist in an environmental concern happening in my neighborhood,” he said. “This is a developing topic and I’m looking to bring together a group of people to help fight for a change to improve air quality. Lots of members have begun offering their advice, experience, and understanding to help me pursue areas of research and documentation in this space.”
It’s no exaggeration to say the Naperville Dad Network changed member Justin DeLisle’s life. He joined the group early last year after making the decision to move here from Darien. The father of three put his house on the market in January.
He explained: “Not knowing how fast things were going on the market, we quickly sold but the realized we had created another problem. After losing out on two bidding wars for Naperville houses and our closing date approaching, I decided to post a notice in the Naperville Dad Network group.”
DeLisle received a message from fellow member Robert Slayton, who told him he was selling his house without a broker. A viewing was quickly arranged.
“The conversations progressed nicely, and the house was fantastic, not to mention in our preferred neighborhood,” DeLisle said.
“We closed May 14 after living six weeks with the in-laws and we can’t wait to officially move in. We’re getting some minor work done now but in the five days we’ve owned the house we’ve met most of our neighbors and couldn’t have felt more welcomed. We knew Naperville is where we wanted to move but the Dads’ group made that possible.”
Slayton says it was a win-win.
“The nice part is that I have a relationship with the buyer so we know the house we sold was going to a great family,” he said.
Both Vargo and DeLisle see the group as a positive reflection of Naperville residents.
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“I never thought in a million years that a Facebook group would change our lives,” DeLisle said. “And not only did we find a house through it, but we also gained friends and still talk frequently with the Slayton family after moving in. … Just another example of why people who live here are so welcoming and nice.”
Hilary Decent is a freelance journalist who moved from England to Naperville in 2007.