When I volunteer for the annual school carnival, I usually get to run the bounce house. That’s where the action happens. I wear a black T-shirt and tell parents the bounce house is "for kids only," although I understand their desire to climb in. Bounce houses are awesome. That's the kind of job dads normally do when they volunteer. But sometimes, when you're a dad named Shannon and the new president of the PTA doesn’t know you yet, you get a job that would normally go to a mom. That’s how I found myself, a bald middle-aged man, running the hair chalk station. My first customer, the … [Read more...]
Playground Dads Deserve Understanding, Respect — not Suspicion
Dear Playground Patron of the Adult Persuasion, The playground at our local park remains a really great yet intimidating place for fathers like me. It’s a place where we get to have loud, crazy fun with our kids but it is often where we encounter frustratingly frequent reminders of how much gender roles and stereotypes about men and dads are entrenched in society. To help you and all those of us who watch over our children (or others' children) at these public spaces, I put together a guide so you can understand what modern dads are thinking and experiencing. This guide could have been … [Read more...]
#MeToo Parenting: How Moms, Dads Can Make a Difference for All Kids
The #MeToo movement has been a game-changer in the world of entertainment, politics and business. But how can parents make it one in everyday life while raising children? And how can men participate without being accused of the dreaded "mansplaining" or fear of causing more harm than good, no matter their intentions. On the latest Modern Dads Podcast, guest host Whit Honea speaks with two powerful voices on parents’ roles in the #MeToo movement: Karen Walrond and Mike Reynolds. + Listen to our #MeToo podcast + Walrond is an author, photographer, speaker and coach. The Houston resident is … [Read more...]
Making a Fool of Yourself a Gift Your Kids Won’t Forget
Every Christmas growing up, for as long as I can remember, our entire family would attend a The Nutcracker ballet together. We would get dressed up and, my dad's three brothers and their families also along, head into downtown Chicago to watch some Christmas magic. As I kid, I really didn't enjoy this. I had to wear dress pants and most likely some God-awful itchy sweater that my mom loved. However, what I did like was that we went as a big group to somewhere special. That was our time together. We haven't done this in forever. With us kids grown up and with families of our own, the … [Read more...]
Boy Scouts Allowing Girls Will Help ‘Build Respect’ Between Genders
While dropping off some paperwork last week at the offices of the Greater New York Council of the Boy Scouts of America, my cell phone alerted me to a breaking news story: The Boy Scouts soon would allow girls to join and create a path for them to earn the coveted rank of Eagle. For a moment I was stunned. Then I texted my friend Gary. “A great day for our organization,” I typed. “Wow it is. Thank you,” he replied. I reached out to Gary before any of my other friends because his 16-year-old daughter, Sydney, has become a face of her gender’s struggle to join the Boy … [Read more...]
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