It’s flu season. And you’re trying to conceive or maybe you’re pregnant. Should you get a flu shot? For those of you who never get the flu, here is the modern definition: A terrible sickness where you feel like you shouldn’t be able to walk, but somehow you can. For about a week, everything is...Continue reading
Steven Wilkerson, a former Marine who fought in Iraq and a father of three, makes $8 an hour at a Tampa fast-food restaurant. He usually gets off work and takes the bus home at 10 p.m., too late to see his kids before they go to bed. Wilkerson, 28, is just one of millions of...
Jemal has had four daughters with two women—two of his daughters in their 20s, two in preschool—but is living with none of them. A thoughtful 47-year-old African American man in a large Eastern city, he knows he “made mistakes” and said “I don’t want to repeat them with my younger daughter.” Jemal is among about...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: I’m in the military and about to deploy. I have two children under 5 and a third who will be born while I’m gone. What should I do prepare (them, my wife, and myself) before I leave? A: At any given moment, there are about half a million children under five in military...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: You’ve talked a lot about kids and sports. Why are sports so important? A: Kids these days have it tougher than we did when we were their age. Today’s kids live in a world where social media puts every aspect of their lives under a harsh microscope—something we and our parents and grandparents...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: My baby is nearly two. When’s the right time to start potty training and how do we do it? A: I’ve always maintained that changing diapers is a highly underrated bonding experience—especially for dads. But no matter how fondly you recall the experience, most of us are delighted when we can put that...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: While I appreciate your column and your attempts to get dads more involved, the simple fact is that women are biologically better suited than men to be parents. Your response? A: Sorry, but you’re dead wrong. Margaret Mead once said that fathers are a biological necessity, but a social accident. And throughout much...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: My 15-month-old baby is suddenly afraid of everything—including a lot of things he wasn’t afraid of just a few weeks ago. He’s scared the bathtub, getting his hair cut, the vacuum cleaner, the dark, and even our dog (the same dog that he actually rode on recently. What’s going on and what...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: Everyone I ask has a different opinion about whether it’s okay to share a bed with a baby. My biggest concern is safety. What’s the bottom line? A: The short answer to your question is a resounding “It depends.” For years, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended against bed sharing (sometimes called “the...Continue reading
Dear Mr. Dad: I’m a professional baseball player and during the season, I’m on the road a lot. I love my job, but I hate being away from my kids (ages 6, 9, and 13)—and I know they’re not happy about it either. How can I stay connected to them when I’m away? A: What...Continue reading