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Navigating Fatherhood Together

This Dad Says He Does Babysit His Children. Sometimes.

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I'm a poser. I, at times, gracefully fake being a fully present father.

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From my vantage point on the nearby playground, I could see a golfer on the tee box in the distance. He looked like a legitimate professional – wearing a white belt, a bright-colored, neatly pressed shirt with matching shorts and sparkling clean, glowing white spikes.My daughter attempted to interrupt my staring, “Dad? Dad? DAD?”“Hold on, Vivi! I want to see this guy tee off,”  shushing my 8-year-old as if I were a patron at the Masters.“SHHH? What? It’s a … [Read more...]

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Couple’s Gender Role Reversal Creates ‘ZagZig Parenting’ Book

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We write a lot about breaking gender roles when it comes to parenting. Now we talk about it, too.Joining us on the Modern Dads Podcast are Kori Reed and Mike Becker, husband and wife and co-authors of the book, ZagZig Parenting: (Mis)Adventures of a Career-Driven Mom and a Stay-at-Home Dad.ZagZig Parenting, released this week, takes you on a journey through the married couple’s contemporary perspective on being a mom and dad when the traditional parenting roles are reversed. Using comical vignettes, they share their differences, struggles, mistakes and failures in ZagZig. They even … [Read more...]

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‘Raising a Secure Child’ When Nothing Seems Certain

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On the latest Modern Dads Podcast, we talk with psychotherapist Kent Hoffman about his new book, Raising a Secure Child, and the concept of the “Circle of Security” that helps parents be nurturing and protective while still encouraging children’s independence."Instead of perfect parenting, the (Raising a Secure Child) authors stress the need for present parenting. They believe being there for our children, mistakes and all, builds trust and frees our children to be who they really are in front of us. Security leads to confidence, which leads to self-reliance," wrote a book … [Read more...]

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When Reality Clashes with Teaching Generosity, Kindness

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Preschool and early elementary school are obsessed with sharing, taking turns and learning cooperation. Yet, it's a skill set in very short supply among adults. _______ An old New York Times blog post really struck a chord with me. In "A Daughter Too Kind for Her Own Good," author Jerisha Parker Gordon writes about the flip-side of teaching her daughter to always be nice ... it only gets you so far. So how do we cope with people who just aren't affected by niceness?You don't have to look too far to see a world where people are selfish and lack the socialization to show concern for … [Read more...]

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Dad to Daughter: You Will Never Be a Disappointment to Me

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"Whether you get As or Cs will be irrelevant. No single letter of the alphabet will raise or lower your value to me." Dear Daughter,I'm sorry.I'm sorry you're so stressed out right now. Finals week is always tough. You're a high school sophomore: no longer a child, not yet a college student. I'm sorry you have to care more about grades now than you did when you were younger. Yeah, yeah, yeah -- this is the year grades apparently count, the first year of grades that college admissions counselors will look at when you apply to schools.I'm sorry I can't be more helpful as you study. … [Read more...]

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