The DadTalk blog features insights from dads and Responsible Fatherhood practitioners from around the country. Its goal is to start conversations about important issues surrounding fatherhood and programs for fathers today.
I’m sure that you have all heard the statement, “they don’t have a manual that comes with your child when they are born on how to be a parent”. There still isn’t a manual, but there are some cheat sheets. The NRFC’s…
Summer is winding down, which normally is a time for parents when kids are wrapping up summer activities such as vacations, camps, and outings and preparing for the new school year. However, you and the kids have been home since March. You may be feeling overloaded because you have been trying to balance work, home life, childcare, and homeschooling--all while navigating the added stress and anxiety of this “new normal” and uncertain future. It’s understandable if you may be feeling a bit burned out, and don’t worry, you most certainly are not alone! In a…
I’m often asked how I balance life and family since I am a work-from-home dad. The truth is, it isn’t always easy. I never imagined a day would come when my role as a provider for my family would put a strain on the perceptions I have regarding what it means for me to be a good father. Growing up, being a responsible father had a singular, clear-cut definition--the unspoken expectation that being a provider and being a good dad were the same thing. This is no longer my definition of a good dad.
The “bread-winner only dad” perception was challenged for me in November 2013. While…
When I was a child, I resented the fact that I didn’t know who my father was and that he wasn’t in my life. My mother and father had gone their separate ways before I was even born. What made things even harder as a child was that my mother could only share limited details about who my father was with me. In fact, the only information I ever knew was that his last name was Graham, that he was African American, a veteran, and very tall.
In my 20’s, I began to realize that not knowing about my father was taking a toll on me, and I felt a strong sense that it was time to look for…
My daughters, ages 6 and 3, love Frozen. No, seriously, they love, emulate, and want nothing more than to be the sisters Elsa and Anna from the Disney Frozen franchise.
I had no idea how alluring the magic of Frozen was. The first movie arrived in theaters in 2013, 6 months prior to my first daughter’s arrival. Suffice it to say, I didn’t see it--I thought I was an adult and had put away childish things. I remember hearing that Queen Elsa was the top kids costume for Halloween in 2014, 2015, and 2016, and I thought, What’s the big deal? It’s just a princess with the power to…
On June 21, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) will launch its Virtual Collaborative Community (VCC) and redesigned Fatherhood.gov site. Practitioners will have new options for engaging with peers and keep up with the latest information in the Responsible Fatherhood field.
Virtual Collaborative Community
The NRFC Virtual Collaborative Community is here to help strengthen responsible fatherhood programs, practitioners, and all who work to support fathers, families, and children. As a…
When thinking about play, a person may picture children having fun, using their imaginations, and passing time lightheartedly. While play is all of these things, it is also very important for a child’s development. In fact, play is so vital that it is recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child worldwide.
The act of play fosters a child’s development by providing opportunities to refine motor skills, solve problems, and take initiative while…
It happened--the day that most young people look forward to their entire lives. Our daughter turned 21, and she could not have been happier. It’s a milestone that marks the day she became a legal adult. Her mother and I rejoiced for her. Not just because she “did it,” but because “we did it.”
When Nzinga was just a year and a half old, her mother and I separated. Like most romantic relationship endings, it wasn’t easy. My family, which I loved so dearly, was breaking up. Suddenly, I felt like a failure again. It was déjà vu all over; first the absence of my father for…
Growing up in the 80’s, I recall watching my Uncle Shorty, a retired, decorated WWII pilot, raise his two young grandchildren. My cousin had become a victim of the opioid crisis long before it ever made national news. One night, while trying to rescue my cousin from another drug induced stupor, my aunt was hit and killed crossing a busy highway chasing my cousin. In an instant my uncle became a single parent to two very young children in his 60’s. He did his very best to provide his grandkids a stable life. They were his life. He attended every school event, signed them up for…
One of the greatest regrets I’ve heard from parents is that they didn’t spend enough time with their children when they were younger. Or that when they are with their young children now, they’re too tired to do anything creative. Questions that dads have asked include: “I’ve forgotten how to ‘play’—is this bad for my kids?” “Do we have to be ‘on’ and fully engaged at all times while spending time with our children?” “What exactly should we do with them?”
Questions like these can make the reality of caring for our kids feel daunting and stressful, so I thought it might be…
I spend a lot of time each day looking at screens. I tell myself this is OK, much of the time is spent doing work, writing or responding to emails, reading books or newspapers online, and watching “quality tv” or “essential sports.” After all, I’m just keeping myself informed and entertained. If I’m honest though, I do worry about the amount of time I spend with these various screens. My guess is I’m not alone in this concern. And I’m sure many parents worry about what’s best for their children.
Luckily, although still relatively new, there is a growing body of research…