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...
Category: Mental Health
Dads in the Military
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
Intersectionality and the Tragedy of the Black Male
Feminist ignoring of male issues has especially harmed the black community. “Intersectionality is a concept often used in critical theories to describe the ways in which oppressive institutions (racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, xenophobia, classism, etc.) are interconnected and cannot be examined separately from one another.” Intersectionality is a well-known word among people concerned about those who...Continue reading
Ways to Show Your Pregnant Partner That You Care
Dear Mr. Dad: You often talk about how to be an involved dad, but how can I be an involved husband, especially while my wife is pregnant? A: Here are some ideas that will boost your popularity at home and make your wife the envy of all of her friends, pregnant or otherwise: Offer to give...Continue reading
Joining a Blended Family with Teenagers
Dear Mr. Dad. I’m marrying a woman who has two teenagers from her previous marriage. This is my first marriage and, although I like her kids, I’m a little worried about how I’ll do as a stepfather of teens. Any suggestions? A: About half of all marriages are remarriages for at least one of the partners,...Continue reading
Talking Through Pregnancy
Dear Mr. Dad: My wife and I just found out she’s pregnant. I thought the pregnancy was going to bring us together, but we’ve been arguing a lot lately. Either that or silence. Is this normal? Either way, what can we do to get back on track? A: Pregnancy is a time of great joy...Continue reading
A New Dad’s Guide to His Partner’s “Baby Blues”
Dear Mr. Dad: My beautiful son was born just a few weeks ago and I’m overjoyed. But my wife is a different story. She’s very down in the dumps, barely eats, and has no energy. I know that giving birth took a toll on her, but I’m worried. What should I do? A: About 70% of...Continue reading
Talking Can Be the Most Dangerous Thing People Do
You might think talking was easy. We’ve all been doing it since we were children. But most of us talk in ways that do not inspire safety and trust. When couples aren’t able to communicate effectively their relationships begin to deteriorate. That’s when marriages often fail. I’ve been a marriage and family therapist for more...Continue reading
You Don’t Hit Girls
Women’s physical vulnerability is real, but men need not hold back in debate One of the clearest messages I heard from my father when I was a boy was this: You don’t hit girls. I wasn’t supposed to start fights with boys either, but if one of them were to hit me, my dad made...Continue reading
Why We Need to Talk About Men’s Mental Health
As Men’s Health Month comes to a close, I want to talk about something that we don’t talk about enough: men and depression. While it’s not exactly a women’s health topic, our typical focus at the Office on Women’s Health, we know that most women have important men in their lives. Fathers, partners, sons, brothers,...Continue reading