Remember the first time you saw your little one take their first wobbly steps? You felt a mix of pride and terror. As your child transitions from teenagehood to young adulthood, you’re about to experience a similar emotional roller coaster…
A Missouri father of three shares his joys and challenges of raising two teenage boys during his recovery journey.
Goal Setting for Parents I strongly believe in the idea of setting goals. If you aim for nothing, you’ll get nothing every time. This concept is typically used to set personal goals, but I’m here to talk about goal setting…
The Men and Mental Health Blog features some curated content from online resources. This post originally appeared on the Institute for Family Studies website and was not written by Good Dads staff. The Nobel-prize winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman has…
I read all the books. I practiced swaddling on plastic dolls. I learned how to properly burp a newborn and I even watched all the videos on how to get your baby to sleep. I had no idea what I…
Ask James Mincks, Doug Saunders, and Charlie Romine and they’ll tell you, Jobs for Life made a big difference in their life. As persons with a history of incarceration, they never really thought they would have what many of us…
Real Men, Real Stories I met Chad as a new participant in the New Pathways program in a Fatherhood Development class. He was discouraged, felt alone, and was mad at the world. He did not have contact with his children,…
For most of his life, it seems, Josh has been responsible for keeping the peace. It started when he was a child, negotiating conflict between his parents, especially after his dad had too much to drink. It’s not like he…
Managing Real World Challenges Boy Meets World was a teen drama in the 90s that followed a young man through the ups and downs of adolescence from middle school to college. In the season where Cory (the lead protagonist) is…
“I recognize this world. We practiced for it at home.” These words are the bold declaration of a young man waving good-bye to his parents as he heads out into the real world—to college, to the military, or to work…
Freedom to Learn the Privilege of Choice What to make better decisions? Make a few bad ones. Generally speaking, the best learning occurs when we make a poor choice, are allowed to suffer the consequences, and get some guidance from…
What happens when you are an over-the-road driver and your wife has twins? Prime driver, Daniel Skidmore and wife, Kerry, recently faced this challenge when they welcomed a set of twins to their growing family. When Jackson, age 3, was…
Moms and dads both participate in the development of their children, but in unique ways. Both offer love, acceptance and teach life skills, but each accomplishes these in different ways. It’s helpful if moms and dads are aware of these…
I was twelve years old and our car was acting up. My dad, a full-time sheriff’s deputy, was very busy and not reachable. I stood with my mom at the auto repair shop, knowing she was very distressed. I could…
“Why not Europe?” I said. “Other kids go to Europe.” “I don’t want to be like other kids,” she said. I prayed about it,” she said, “and I think this is something I’m supposed to do.” “Anyway, I probably won’t…
The second Saturday in May they always appeared, side by side in the refrigerator, in perfect white boxes tied with gold cord. Sometimes they were roses, sometimes orchids. Always they were chosen to coordinate with dresses to be worn by…
Getting kids to learn the value of work is no easy task. When you throw in a couple of parents who most likely were raised with varying views of chores, allowances, and the appropriate age to start working at an…
“Say you’re sorry.” Many parents instruct children to express regret for thoughtless actions to another using these words. Head down, face frowning, the child mumbles “Sorry.” In return, he may hear, “Sorry too” or “That’s alright.” It’s really not alright.…
Kevin: Over the course of many years of parental investment, I have tried to calculate whether or not my fatherhood has made a difference in the life of my three boys. Being fully aware of all my weaknesses, I have…
On the highway of life, there are so many wonderful adventures with our kids. That is, on the metaphorical highway of life. On the literal highway, especially when our kids start sitting behind the wheel of the vehicle we all…
My wife and I teach our kids to do three things with money. We created three money containers for both of our girls that say – GIVE, SAVE, and SPEND. We feel the three lessons below are the foundation of…
If ever a story, a relationship, a social infrastructure, or a magical phenomenon been more under emphasized than the importance of a child’s need for their father’s love and attention, I cannot imagine what it would be! My own experience,…
