Mending Fences: The Three R’s of a Good Apology
May 14, 2026
Jude asks his son Kyle (15) to take out the trash by the time he gets back from the store.
Good Dads Blog
Sort by Topic:
With Thanksgiving season upon us, dads and their young learners across the state are learning about gratitude and respect with the Good Dads Strong Schools program. The message in these lessons is clear: Showing gratitude shouldn’t just happen once a year. Being grateful should happen every day! Schools across Missouri use the Good Dads Strong […]
...
At Good Dads, we talk a lot about the importance of being an intentional father, but what does that actually mean? As it turns out, it means a lot of things! Being “intentional” means taking an active role as a parent. It means deciding, not sliding. And from what we’ve learned on the podcast, being […]
...
Brian Mattson has a lot of roles in his life: husband, father of two, lead pastor of the Downtown Church in Springfield, and Strong Schools captain for McGregor Elementary. Brian heard about this new way to get involved in his community from Good Dads’ founder Dr. Jennifer Baker, who attends church where Brian is lead […]
...
Have you ever had this thought? You buy a Powerball ticket and discover you won the jackpot! You’ve made it!! You can quit your job, pay off the mortgage, buy the car you’ve always wanted, and retire to some Caribbean island. I’m sure you have – I have. Even though we dream that just doing […]
...
What do making paper airplanes, coloring pictures and creating pipe cleaner creatures all have in common? These are great, simple ways for dads to bond with their kids—and beyond that, they’re also all activities featured in Good Dads Strong Schools events! Believe it or not, the simple act of building a paper bridge or playing […]
...
Father of three sons Brian Stranghoener didn’t know what he was getting into when his 4th grader, Hudson, brought home an informational flyer on a before-school breakfast program called Good Dads Strong Schools at his school, Bissett Elementary. Curious, Brian wanted to see what it was all about. For Brian, he’s enjoyed watching his sons […]
...
In the latest episode of the Good Dads Great Communities podcast, we spoke to experts about father involvement in elementary schools. Hosts welcome Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap and Good Dads Board Member Dr. Mike Dawson for a meaningful discussion about how even a few minutes of paternal presence can positively impact schools, families and communities....
Eric Griffin, Springfield father of two kindergarteners and two fifth graders, knows what being a busy father looks like. He works hard as an accountant to provide for his family, but it’s rare for him to see his children until late into the evening after work. “Most days I get up and I’m at work […]
...
Most people would be more than happy to stay retired after serving nearly 40 years in the education sector. Jim Millsap, Good Dads’ Strong Schools Coordinator, isn’t most people. “I was so bad at retirement, I came on board with Good Dads,” he joked. Jim has always enjoyed being involved in education. He previously spent […]
...
School’s out and the kids are in—in your homes, in your refrigerators and in your hair. The newness of the experience has passed, so you have started looking for someone or something to babysit them. You could maybe get the next-door neighbor’s teenager to watch the kiddos, but that would cost money. So, the next […]
...
Curiosity is the foundation of lifelong learning, and in Good Dads’ most recent podcast episode on “The Difference a Dad Makes,” hosts Brian and J. Fotsch welcome Rudy Martinez, Director of the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, to explore how dads can cultivate curiosity and outdoor engagement in their children. Rudy shares how his love for […]
...
The oft-heard adage, “Fake it ’till you make it” isn’t perfectly true, but it does contain an important nugget of truth. You see, no one is born with the built-in ability to do things successfully. A newborn infant knows how to cry, feed and sleep. (Maybe a couple of other things also!). All the other […]
...
Mending Fences: The Three R’s of a Good Apology
Jude asks his son Kyle (15) to take out the trash by the time he gets back from the store.
Good Dads Recognized with SPS Partner in Excellence Distinction
This week hundreds attended an annual Springfield Public Schools celebration to recognize some of the wonderful individuals and organizations making
Mom and Dad Live in Different Houses
Five years ago, I was faced with what I felt to be an insurmountable task: explain to my two kids
New ‘Good Dads Forge’ program launches with first class in Fulton, MO
FULTON, MO – Good Dads Forge, a new program from the statewide nonprofit Good Dads, launched last week with its
Communicating with Clarity
“We have trust issues.” “We fight all the time.” “We have trouble communicating.” I’ve heard these phrases countless times over
Understanding Two New Good Dads Programs
This week on the Good Dads Blog we sat down with one of the newest members of the Good Dads
A Peek Inside Our Newest Curriculum, Fundamentals for Good Dads
Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about Fundamentals for Good Dads, the newest curriculum from Good Dads. This eight-part course is
Feeling Understood: The Role of Identity in Communication
Have you ever heard the phrase “men are from Mars, women are from Venus”? Popularized by the 1992 bestselling novel
Communicating Well with Baby on the Way
Becoming a parent changes everything. Your routines, your priorities, even how you communicate and collaborate with your partner. For expectant
Can-Do Collaboration at Good Dads Chapter Orientation
Friday was a very special day at Good Dads! We’re thrilled with the amount of productive brainstorming and positive feedback
Valentine’s Day Conversations: What Really Makes Us Feel Loved?
Valentine’s Day can be one of the most romantic days of the year — or one of the most disappointing.
Facilitators Gather from Across Missouri for Good Dads Plus Us Training Camp
Last week, Training Camp looked a little different compared to other Good Dads training events! Whereas we’d typically invite anyone