A Father's Presence

Fathers' presence and child wellbeing

Father involvement is linked to happier, healthier children

Feeling grateful that I had involved dad and that my Wayne is an involved dad.   My dad was actually  part of the hands off, they know I love them, I don't need to say it outloud era...but he never bought into that.  He said I love you often and was always warm and interested.  Such a great example.

Couldn't believe all of the feelings that came up when I found this pic....

Dads are great... Grand dads are better!

My honey loves being a dad...and really did/does a great job.  But seeing him around the grand kids is just priceless.  Its fun for me to watch him and his man friends all turn into grandpas.  I can't believe the joy they show and share on behalf of their grand children.

Alfie has Wayne totally wrapped.  Alfie calls Wayne, Papa.  Papa  is determined to get Alfie on his motorcycle by the end of the summer. Alfie is pretty cautious and nervous about the big machine in the garage.  Wayne takes him out every time he comes and says, " this is Papa's motorcycle."  He has let him get used to it in stages.  Looking at it from afar, touching it, sitting on it, having it turned on and just listening to the engine roar, putting on a helmet and wearing it around the house...and having him watch Papa ride it.  I believe it will happen just like Wayne hopes.

Papa got Alfie a remote control car before Alf could even walk.  Alfie was TERRIFIED of it...and the joy we hoped for on Christmas morn, didn't happen.  It took months for Papa to work the care and Alf to learn to love it and not be afraid of it.  Papa won out, and now Alf thinks he is the master of that car.

Papa will get on his hands and knees and play pony with Alf.  Play cars with him for hours. Jump on the tramp with him.  Go to the park and push him on a swing.   Give him candy, cookies, or his favorite string cheese.   Alf has Papa wrapped around his finger.   It really is fun to watch.

I'm sure this just doesn't happen in my home but all over the world.

Flying High Friday

Global truth...Dads love throwing their kids in the air and most mom's hate it.  Well may be not hate it, but at least cringe, or get a wee bit nervous that the catch is not going to happen.   The kids have a joy on their faces that is indescribable and absolute trust is happening.  

I wonder what that would feel like? I know my dad tossed me, but I don't remember.

 It seems we spend the rest of out adult years trying to get that feeling of absolute freedom and joy and trust back.....always searching. 

  I think the thrill and the search  got imprinted on us when our dad's threw us in the air.  

 As I've looked at photo blogs around the world, there are tons of pics of dads from Paris to Tokyo, Huntsville Alabama to Ayr Scotland with dads launching their kids.

This is my son throwing his son... the circle of life?

Fathers change lives

How fathers change lives for the better

About 80% of the world’s men and boys will become fathers in their lifetime. Their actions throughout their children’s lives can have profound effects for the good.

New DAD blog

Ok…I’ll just say it.

I love dads!

Starting a blog about Dads can be daunting.  I’m not a dad, I have never been a dad, I will never be a dad…but I had a dad, my husband is a dad, and my sons are now becoming dads.  I’m  surrounded with great examples of involved, caring, loving dads  and I want to celebrate that.

I found myself looking for and then really searching out pics of happy dads and kids on photographer sites.  It just warmed my soul.   This is a crazy, scary world sometimes with so much tragedy and senseless violence and poor role models and well, you know?   So having something as beautiful as a new baby in a father’s arms is just THE BEST.   I found that there is universal feeling and pictures around the world of dad’s and babies, dads and kids, dads and grand dads, father’s of the bride ..3 and 4 generations of dad pictures and every single pic from USA to Argentina, from Germany to Japan just warms the cockles of my proverbial heart.  

So I want to share that all with you.

This is my youngest son, Monson.  He became a new dad in October…and he has taken to this task, as a fish does to water.  He is one of the new breeds of "hands on dads" which I really do and I’m sure his wife really does appreciate.  

Seeing these first pics of the joy of fatherhood on his face was a tear jerker moment for me.

These pictures were taken by Pepperfoxphoto.com