Top Gun fired up a generation of children to want to fly fighter jets, including Marisa Porges who made it far than most of those dreamers. The author of What Girls Need: How to Raise Bold, Courageous, and Resilient Women started her career as a naval flight officer and eventually became a leading counterterrorism and national security expert in the Obama White House. Porges, now the head of The Baldwin School, a 130-year-old all-girls school outside of Philadelphia, talks about the importance of fathers -- including her own -- encouraging their daughters to pursue their dreams and how … [Read more...]
Sharing Songs Among Generations Eased Family’s Pandemic Blues
The pandemic first impacted most of us when many restaurants and bars closed to indoor dining one year ago. Where I live, that shutdown occurred the day after my wife and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary at a local restaurant. We remember eating that night and thinking, “There’s no way they’ll shut down this restaurant.”We all know what happened next: a full year of pandemic family life. When I reflect on the past year, I start with gratitude. My wife and I have remained healthy and employed, and my two daughters have been able to continue school virtually with few problems. But … [Read more...]
Help Daughters Develop Strong Voices, Become Confident Women
Do you ever fear your home is too much of a haven from the “real world”? As a former stay-at-home dad of two daughters now approaching young adulthood, I sometimes wonder if our family bubble of gender equity has prepared them adequately for the larger culture’s reduced-but-still-entrenched sexism. Fortunately, What Girls Need, a new book by Marisa Porges, offers tips about how parents can serve as a bridge for their children between home and the larger world. While her tips are focused on raising daughters, many apply to raising sons as well. Her foundational advice is to help each girl … [Read more...]
Raising a Daughter Special Challenge for Divorced Dad
Editor’s Note: Orlando Dads Group co-organizer Flor Mercado spoke at the recent Dad 2.0 Summit as a featured “Spotlight” reader. He read this piece advising divorced/single fathers raising children, especially daughters, to the audience in Washington, D.C. A version of this piece first appeared on his website Dad Style 99. Getting divorced is something no one plans on when they get married. Having a child in that marriage adds a whole different level of challenges. This is a difficult step for either parent to go through. All you can do is hope to have a civil, respectful relationship … [Read more...]
Babysitting Little Brothers: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
My 5-year-old stares at me, not really comprehending what this means. Unless it’s candy or a shot to my balls, he doesn’t have much use for it. But my 11-year-old son, he knows exactly what it means and his face falls. “Dad …” he begins. “No,” I say. “Don’t dad me. Don’t even begin to think I’m changing this. Your mom and I are going to see a movie and your sister is babysitting.” “But …” “No buts.” He looks at me hard, and his lips go tight. But then he accepts it. My wife looks wonderful today. She smiles in a way that she did before we had children. It’s more carefree, … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 9
- Next Page »