"Daddy Doin' Work" deconstructs fatherhood and really affirms the efforts of so many of us. Although Doyin Richards' book Daddy Doin' Work is subtitled “Empowering Mothers to Evolve Fatherhood,” this book is as much for fathers as it is for our spouses and partners. It's the type of book my wife and I should both read and discuss. Richards received much media attention earlier this year after posting a picture of he and his daughters on his blog, also titled Daddy Doin' Work. He was multitasking: doing one daughter's hair with his youngest daughter strapped to his chest. Richards spends … [Read more...]
Parenthood After Ferguson: Dread or Hope?
I have had a difficult time digesting many of the conversations regarding race that have occurred following the tragic events in Ferguson. I couldn’t put what I was feeling into words. I was at a loss. Then one morning I was driving my daughter to school and I glanced at her in the rear-view mirror. So many thoughts flooded my head. So many images. So many words. So much history. My eyes began to water and I got a lump in my throat. I was five minutes away from school. In those five minutes, here is what I thought: I am standing on the shoulders of Titans. I’m living a life – though I … [Read more...]
How My Absentee Father Has Influenced My Parenting
For the first time in 11 years, I read the novel, Things Fall Apart. As an English teacher, I honestly feel that each time you read a book, you see different things. Although it has always been a challenging read due to the spousal abuse, this time, I read this book in the mindset of a parent and husband. The protagonist Okonkwo is not the most liked of characters and a poor father at best. This is due in large part to his being influenced by his relationship with his father. In addition, his father is not much of a role model. Everything Okonkwo does is in response to how little he thought … [Read more...]