How do I help my son forge his own identity? How can I teach him what it means to be a leader? What should I do so he develops a set of ethical values? Reading Ten Conversations You Must Have with Your Son by Dr. Timothy Hawkes is a good way to prepare yourself for the difficult task of helping your son, especially a teenage boy, grow into a man. Hawkes, a father and Australian boarding school headmaster, writes that we have to let our sons know they are loved. But there is a fine line between saying “I love you” and showing your love. Showing your love gives him a sense of … [Read more...]
About Jason S. Grant
Football, Fatherhood and Love
To Dad, From Kelly is a poignant collection of love letters from first-time memoirist Kelly Lytle to his deceased father, College Football Hall of Famer Rob Lytle. It’s not every kid who can say his dad was a running back in the NFL and won a Super Bowl Championship ring with John Elway and the Denver Broncos but Kelly Lytle can. Rob Lytle was his son’s hero. But the author seems to make it clear from the start that his father was not his hero for his exploits on the playing field. “This book is my attempt to remember the father who shaped me through his unique blend of humor, kindness and … [Read more...]
Avoid Overparenting and Learn “How to Raise an Adult”
How to Raise an Adult, the new book by Julie Lythcott-Haims, discusses the many pitfalls and consequences of overparenting. A former undergraduate dean at Stanford University, Lythcott-Haims recounts stories of young adults who have been left devoid of the basic life skills that are crucial to surviving in a dangerous unforgiving world because of their overprotective mothers and fathers. She writes, for example, that many parents today are hesitant to give their children the freedom to play alone outdoors or in the playground the way they were allowed when they were children. … [Read more...]
Detroit Dads Group Becomes 18th City Dads Outpost
Detroit has become the 18th and latest metropolitan area to join the City Dads Group network of social and support groups for fathers of all walks of life. At the helm of our Motor City outpost are area residents Brian Manninen and Nick Edwards. Matt Schneider, co-founder of City Dads Group, said, “Many dads have inquired about a group in the Detroit/Ann Arbor area, so I'm glad we have some guys who have stepped up. Nick and Brian are going to make a great team as they create a diverse community of dads, online and off." Find the Detroit Dads Group on: Meetup (go here to join) … [Read more...]
Parental Blogging and Self-Censorship
I recently had a misunderstanding with a member of my family over blogging, something I wrote about my son and posted online in particular. I tried to convince this relative that it was pure satire, tongue-in-cheek, like "A Modest Proposal" but with Star Wars references peppered throughout. Needless to say, the conversation turned ugly and things were said that we both regret. But, in retrospect, he had a point. This relative was furious that I would post anything negative about my son or that I would make it appear I resented my own child or would seek to harm him in any way. I meant no … [Read more...]