The page you requested could not be found. Try refining your search, or use the navigation above to locate the post.
This past March, life threw us all a big curveball, and although probably no dads can say they were completely prepared, all of us changed our routines to a degree and it affected our fathering. Some dads appeared to adjust pretty seamlessly and naturally, while...
by David Hirsch It’s our pleasure to feature David Hirsch in this week’s blog (see below). David is a longtime friend of the National Center for Fathering, ever since we met him in the 90s, and when he and the late Peter Spokes (former vice president and C.O.O. at...
“What barriers or obstacles have you faced in your fathering as a result of the pandemic?” Some of you will remember that question from our recent survey (conducted this past summer) about fathers and the pandemic. (And for those who participated, we greatly...
It doesn’t take long in the fathering journey for any dad to recognize that each of his children is unique, with specific gifts, interests and challenges. And many of the things they get involved in don’t line up with our hobbies or interests. So it’s almost a...
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. A young child’s first reference points in the world, what he uses as he begins to map out his entire universe, are his parents. And as a father, your children need you to be a dependable, predictable reference point in their lives. Children...
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. According to the old clichés, “Real men don’t eat quiche,” and “Real men don’t ask directions.” Those are punch lines, and mostly harmless. But there are other, similar messages—like: “Big boys don’t cry,” “Guys don’t have feelings,” or “Men...
A little kindness can go a long way. A few years ago this story came out about a young man named Josh. After his father passed away, Josh and his family moved from a small town to a city. Changing high schools wasn’t easy. Josh was a bit of a loner, and while still...
by Ken Canfield, Ph.D. How much is a dad’s involvement worth? Think about it in dollars and cents: what are you worth to your children? It depends on whom you ask. One well-known father promised his son they would do something together on the boy’s birthday. They made...
Providing financially has been a key aspect of fathering through the ages. Until about half a century ago, almost all that was expected of a father was to protect and provide for his family. Today, most men realize that the cultural perceptions are changing: a good...
by Bob Collins When I first became a stepdad just a couple of years after my divorce, I was excited to have a ready-made family to love, care for, and raise. I gradually learned that it wasn’t that simple and easy. I had no idea what “stepdad” really meant, but my new...
by Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield Dads, my new book, Let’s Talk: Conversation Starters for Dads and Daughters, was just released this week. And that’s exciting for me, but I want to make sure you dads know where I’m coming from. Because I know there are some dads who...
by Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield As we all know, it can be a daunting task for dads and daughters to talk about the hard stuff, the deep stuff, the vulnerable stuff, and the complex stuff. And a lot of dads have told me they prefer to leave some of those heavier topics...