Since 2020 Dad Central has partnered with Dove Men+Care to promote involved fatherhood across Canada. In that time, over 150,000 dads have been impacted through delivery of free fatherhood resources and training.
Over the years there are a few themes I have kept coming back to because I think they are so important. One of them is “the motherload.” That’s the somewhat intangible (and to men, sometimes invisible) load of responsibility, care, worry, planning and keeping track that usually falls on mothers’ shoulders.
We share two powerful stories that can help kids reach their potential. In our first video, Jack Armstrong shares the impact his “tough love” had on his former players. He then connects that to how parents can set expectations and support their children in meeting or exceeding those expectations. His insight and wit in telling the story makes the principle easy to digest.
There are so many types of dads out here and the term “being present” means so many things. To the dad who lives at home with his kids, being present may look like putting down your digital device long enough to give your kids attention. To the long-distance dad, being present may look like using creative ways to spend time with your children. To empty nest dads, finding a way to stay involved in your children’s lives when they no longer live at home is a challenge.
An important part of calm and alert parenting is knowing how to manage stress and to recover your positive energy after stress. Stress, tension, anxiety and anger all burn our energy. That’s energy we could use to make good parenting judgments, have fun with our kids or do other positive things. So, when you’ve burned up energy because of stress, you need to help yourself recover that energy.
What you do as a father affects your hormones more than your hormones affect what you do as a father. In other words, if you want and need to be a hands-on dad, put in the time and effort. Your hormones will support and reward you.