Pat Monahan’s Blog: Thankful for Thanksgiving

Thanks for welcoming our newest celebrity blogger — Pat Monahan!

The Train frontman is dad to two teens — Patrick, 17, and Emelia, 13 — as well as Autumn, his 2-year-old daughter with wife Amber.

In addition to Train — whose latest album Save Me, San Francisco has spawned the hit singles “Hey, Soul Sister,” “If It’s Love” and “Marry Me” — Monahan also voices the lead character on Sprout’s Driver Dan’s Story Train.

In his latest blog, frequent flier Monahan, 41, discusses the busy week ahead — and why he’s ready to take a break for Turkey Day!

Jimmy, Pat and Scott – Courtesy Pat Monahan

 

Here I am in Guadalajara, Mexico. After coming from Brazil, Argentina and all over Europe, I am in a lot of airports and notice there is always one thing that picks me up from any mood — it’s seeing a dad and his kid. I love it. Of course it makes me long for my children even more, but I love to witness the magic of a man recognizing life’s most powerful moments. It makes me so happy for the entire family.

Me and the other Train guys get to see our kids soon for Thanksgiving and I plan on ODing on kid love. Of course I will be loving my wife as well! Thanksgiving has probably become the most anticipated time of year for us all because we get to break from the constant travel long enough to make our long-awaited connection to the real importance in life. We have the chance to ground ourselves so that we can get back at it and share music and love with a fresh, healthy attitude.

Side note pause … I’m listening to John Lennon as I write this and I plan on really trying to connect to his message on my next writing adventure.

Jimmy, Scott and Pat – Courtesy Pat Monahan

 

I’m sending a few band shots today since we’re all dads and we’re all going through the same experiences as fathers. We tend to talk a lot about the lonelier times and we help one another feel more positive about our time away not being in vain. There has to be a sense of doing something reasonably important to spend this much time away from our families.

My heart goes out to military moms and dads … I know some that have to leave home for months without any contact with home whatsoever. That would be agony. I will be sending love and good energy to all of them this holiday.

Speaking of holidays — my kids are way into our new Christmas song, “Shake Up Christmas“. It may at last be taking the place of “Hey, Soul Sister” as the ‘booty-mover song,’ at least for a little while. It will makes its debut in a commercial during the American Music Awards this coming Sunday. Hope your kids like it too. I might have to write a “Hey, Soul Brother” at some point though, that’s for sure!

Scott, Pat and Jimmy – Courtesy Pat Monahan

 

Well, I have an early lobby call tomorrow morning as usual. We have a busy week — from radio and shows here in Mexico to shooting a video for “Marry Me”, performing on the AMA‘s and being on Jimmy Kimmel Live, which will air the 22nd. I am planning on having my kids with me for most of these things — if I can talk school into it! — and then we have turkey. I can’t wait to cook. It’s what I miss most when I’m on the road, other than family.

I will talk to you all soon. Hope you’ve seen Driver Dan’s Story Train. Autumn is WAY in!

Rocking out onstage – Courtesy Pat Monahan

 

Sending you love,

– Pat Monahan

Comments

The part about “There has to be a sense of doing something reasonably important to spend this much time away from our families” is so true!

I only hope that one day my children realize that the work wasn’t taking me away from them, it was keeping me closer to them. The sacrifices we make as working parents does pay off when, at the end of the day (or tour, in your case), we get to come home to that love.

Keep on keeping on, guys!!

- Lynne on November 18th, 2010

Once again thanks for a great blog and looking forward to hearing the new x-mas song.

- JES on November 18th, 2010

Have a happy Thanksgiving, Mr. Monahan—-let the lovin’ commence!

- Cindy Abramo on November 18th, 2010

Hi Pat,

Thanks for another great message – it is important that we find peace in our decisions to work or whatever. I hope one day my girls will understand that I worked so hard because there’s no one else to do it for me and that it’s because I want to give them the best I can.

No Thanksgiving as such here in France (and I’m British anyway), but there’s always room to give thanks in your life, so I’ll try and do that at least.

Best wishes to you and your family, and the rest of the guys and their families, for the holidays and your much-deserved break!

By the way, we (my two girls and I) have been listening to SMSF on a loop for about three weeks now – I know it’s what gets me through this tough, tough time as I try to come to terms with single motherhood: THANK YOU!

- Kirsty on November 18th, 2010

Love this guy & his blogs….HE ROCKS

- simon on November 18th, 2010

UM, I think his “unit” should be photo shopped out! Wayyyyy too obvious!

- acorr on November 18th, 2010

Acorr- Huh?

I love this blog. It’s so…I don’t know i guess the word is real. It’s a realistic way of talking about parenthood. I like the guy perspective too.

- Luna on November 18th, 2010

I love this guy – couple reasons. He IS from Erie PA but he is so unaffected. He doesn’t act like some copped out star dude, he acts like a nice fellow (and his group) who can sing. When he’s home in the Erie area, people leave him alone too, so he can enjoy his time off. He’s a good guy with a nice voice.

- Mrs. Brace on November 18th, 2010

Love this blog! Took my teenage daughters and their friends to the Train concert in August at Ravinia north of Chicago. Best…concert…ever. The way Pat connects with the fans is unbelievable. Reminds me of Springsteen way back when.

Sorry you guys have to spend so much time away from your families, but so very glad for us fans that we get to see you live. Please, come back to Chicago soon!

Looking forward to hearing the new Christmas song!

- Lisa on November 18th, 2010

I have been a writer in the music biz all my life and had the pleasure of seeing Train perform here in Nashville with Martina McBride a couple weeks ago. Not only is Pat the best singer on the planet but I truly believe he may be one of the finest human beings just by the things he said and where he wears his heart. I hope our paths cross someday soon.

- Keith Follese on November 18th, 2010

I am a late comer to Train but I have fallen in love with this group and especially lead singer Pat. (It doesn’t hurt he shares my name) I have listened to him talk and he is such a humble and honest guy. For someone being in the Biz as long as he has and yet has such a refreshing way about him endears him to me and my family. I hope Train continues with their success for many years to come! God Bless.

- Trish on November 19th, 2010

Pat is a huge family guy and makes so much sense with what he says..and very humble too. I only like a couple of Train songs but he still gets a big fat kudos in my book.

- Kris on November 19th, 2010

I am a single Mom of two great kids, one is a teenage girl. We have been Train fans for at least 15 years. You have a song called “Her Eyes” which has become the anthem in our house for dating guys that like and respect you for who you are! Thanks for writing such a great song for a Mom/Daughter connection!

- Holli on November 19th, 2010

I’m going to have to disagree about loving this blog. It seemed like this one was just a big plug for his group and their new songs for the holidays. I thought this was supposed to be all about family and kids? I miss Mark McGrath! Maybe the next entry will be better but this one was too commercial and fake for me.

- Sheena on November 19th, 2010

Those are some tight pants you’ve got on there, Pat. Thanks!

- Hea on November 19th, 2010

Hey guys, what a great story, I hope you all have a wonderful time for Thanksgiving and love love love the kids. God Bless all of you.

Love the new CD, Hey Soul Sister is fab….

- Terry on November 19th, 2010

wow-those pants can tell you what religion he is…

- rita on November 19th, 2010

Good luck at the AMA’s on Sunday night, guys. I am looking forward to your performance.
Your Christmas song is terrific….love it!

What is it about those great songs of yours, they are addictive, in such a GOOD way. You just HAVE to smile and be happier when you hear one.

Pat, I want to wish you and your family(and Jimmy and Scott as well), a wonderful Thanksgiving. I really enjoy your blog posts here.

When will you be back in Canada?

- Anne on November 20th, 2010

Scott’s a dad? When did that happen?

- Lin on November 21st, 2010

Hey Pat, “love your blogs” always nice to know what you’re thinking.I’m so happy you take time for us, your fans, to keep us updated on how things are going with you. I wish you and your family great holidays. xox ps. I left a little message on your other website, in case you never read it, you have some new fans, I e-mailed your new christmas song to my friends, THEY LOVED IT SOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH! I think I played it like 100 times today ha ha ha!! take care.. Angie, SUDBURY, ONTARIO, CANADA

- angie on November 23rd, 2010

Just the best I have heard in a long long long time !!!!!!
I go back to the 60 , the last group that I felt this way about is the stones .

- Dennis on November 25th, 2010

Hey just saying thanks for hey soul sister, it made us fall in love all over again ……….hugs

- judy on November 26th, 2010

Big Fan of Train! Have tried to get to all their Concerts in Southern California. As a mother of four boys and VERY family oriented. It is so refreshing to hear Pat’s message. Thanks Pat for sharing your amazing talents with us and reminding us in spite of our talents nothing is as important at our families!

- Heidi on December 2nd, 2010

loving these blogs. and the photos are amazing the ones above are taken by pat’s son, who is an amazing photographer he has many great photos on there facebook page.

- leah on February 16th, 2011