One of the greatest challenges for fathers who have switched from “husband” to “single dad” is figuring out the tricky mix of new love interest — or sometimes just new intimate partner — and your children. I’ve experienced the gamut myself as a single dad for almost five years, and I have my own rules...Continue reading
Category: Parenting
Coffee with Sam: Dana Holmes, professional gift guru, on buying the perfect gift for the women in your life
I recently had the opportunity to have a virtual cup of coffee and chat with Dana Holmes, professional gift guru and hero of many lost givers. What to do when you need that special something, but you just can figure out what that something IS? We’ve all been there. Dana, help us out! Samantha Feuss—You...Continue reading
For the skeptics: The research on dads’ influence on girls’ puberty
Several people took issue (some in an unfortunately hostile way) with my post that mentioned research showing that girls with involved biological fathers start puberty later than those with a non-biological father or no father at all. So to satisfy the critics, here are several citations that should satisfy your inner (and not-so-inner) skeptic.
For Girls, Puberty at Age 6? That’s One of the Best Reasons to Be an Involved Dad
More and more girls are starting puberty early. Some as early as six! If you’ve got daughters–and I’ve got three of ’em–there are a few things you really, really need to know. Let’s start with the good news, some of which I’ve written about extensively. Girls who have actively involved dads start puberty later than...Continue reading
World Autism Awareness Day
This post is dedicated to all of the amazing girls and boys who live with autism and their families. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) “ASDs (autism spectrum disorders) occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, but are four times more likely to occur in boys than in girls.”
Case Studies in Flying Above the Father in Literature & Film: Hemingway’s Robert Jordan
What was Hemingway trying to tell us?Continue reading
The Importance of Father-Son Proximity and Initiation into the Masculine Culture
Friday after Thanksgiving was a lazy, windy, cold and gray day in Washington, D.C. I nearly forgot I had scheduled to meet a friend because he had expressed an interest in getting involved in men’s health issues. I got to our meeting place early, grabbed a hot chocolate to warm up, and a Wall Street...Continue reading
Back to School with Mr. Dad!
Dear Mr. Dad: My five-year old is going to start school in the Fall. He’s all excited about the whole idea of Kindergarten but I’m nervous. What can my husband and I do to prepare ourselves? A: The first day of school is always a big day for kids—and sometimes a bigger day for mom...Continue reading
A Federal Focus on Fatherhood
Apt parenting is at the very core of our social construct, and the paternal role is a vital linkage in this fabric. Beyond the mere biological need to reproduce, we unequivocally understand that the father figure has nothing less than an obligation to protect, nurture, guide, and edify their young into capable independence. And, this...Continue reading
Top Ten Surprises of New Fatherhood
At some point not long after the baby is born, just about every new father gets hit with a sharp jolt of reality: he’s a father–with new responsibilities, new pressures, new expectations to live up to. For some of us, this seemingly basic little epiphany comes early, before we leave the hospital. But for others,...Continue reading
