Dear Mr. Dad: I am having difficulty communicating with my 11-year-old son. When I ask him questions, he barely answers with one syllable grunts and is completely uninterested in spending any more time with me than he has to. What can I do to build a better relationship with a child who thinks his father...Continue reading
Category: Family
What Children Need
Dear Mr. Dad: I’ve been dating a wonderful man and think he’s “the one.” The only issue is that he has a two-year-old child. I never wanted to be a parent (I’m not sure I even liked kids), but that’s changed. I think I’m ready to be a stepmother and even have a child of...Continue reading
Can Stem Cells be Used to Create People?
We’ve known about stem cells for half a century. They are cells that not only make copies of themselves but can also become other types of cells and tissues. This kind of biological feat is unique in science and has the potential to cure disease. So why haven’t we seen more scientific success and stem...Continue reading
Cardiac Health Should Concern Everyone, Especially Young Men
As a young man, I often learned life lessons from my father. Perhaps none have been as lasting as the lesson he inadvertently taught me about health as his own health took a downward turn. While I was in middle school—a time when most boys are navigating puberty—my dad was busy prepping for heart valve...Continue reading
Depression Is On The Rise In Men, This Is How Women Can Help
While Men’s Health Month came to end this past week, it’s still important to talk about men’s health issues year-round. As a woman, men’s health might not be at the forefront of our minds but it is increasingly essential that women start talking about depression and suicide in men. Already nationally, there has been increased...Continue reading
The Dad Effect: There’s More to Fatherhood Than What’s in Dad’s Wallet
Dear Mr. Dad: I think I know how you’re going to answer this question, but my wife and I have been arguing (in a friendly way) about whether moms are naturally better parents than dads. She says yes, but I disagree. What’s your take? A: For decades, conventional wisdom told us that when it came...Continue reading
Whether We Like It or Not, Video Games Are a Force In Today’s World and They’re Influencing Generations
Many of today’s games often promote narcissism and anti-social behaviours. The worst examples exploit players, forcing them into vulnerable and uncomfortable positions in order to make them easier to monetize; harming players’ physical and mental health and creating resentful, aggressive and toxic online communities.
Picking Good Apps
Dear Mr. Dad: A few months ago you talked about limiting screen time for toddlers and the importance of picking good quality games for when we do allow screen time. There seem to be in infinite number of choices out there. How on earth do we know what to pick? A: There are literally hundreds of...Continue reading
Talking to Your Kids About Substance Abuse, Part 2
In Part 1 of this series, we talked about how to talk to kids about drugs and alcohol and some of the dangers inherent in drug and alcohol abuse. How To Prevent Your Child From Using Drugs and Alcohol It is most likely for someone to start trying drugs during their teenage years which can...Continue reading
Hey, Dad, Look at Me!
Dear Mr. Dad: My two-year-old daughter constantly wants me to stop what I’m doing and look at her—especially if I’m in the middle of doing something. I try to be encouraging, but it seems to me that a lot of what she’s doing isn’t terribly special. I’m concerned that if I get excited about every...Continue reading