When I became a father for the first time, a little under two years ago, my priorities and perspective on the world changed in ways I was not expecting.

Parenting two under two is a rollercoaster, and some days, we’re just holding on for dear life.

While we are far from experts on toddler tantrums, there is one principle my wife and I have agreed on in recent days: pick your battles. We want to avoid as many unnecessary power struggles as possible, and preserve our emotional energy for the battles that really matter.

Fatherhood might feel all-consuming, and in many ways, it is. But here are three reasons you can take great heart in your fathering and stay the course.

As I think about my own children, I’m concerned about the world they will inherit. Generation Alpha (those born from 2010-2024) kids are stepping into a world of slower economic progress, higher inflation, mountains of inherited debt, and many uncertainties besides.

One of the key ways fathers shape their children is through play. Studies show that dads spend a larger percentage of their parenting time engaged in play, often favouring more physically active, rough-and-tumble interactions, like me with Squish at the beach.

There’s no better sound in the world than my daughter’s rapid-fire giggle. And as it turns out, the laughter she experiences during these crucial chapters of her childhood comes with benefits that will leave a lasting imprint.

Not only is love a multipliable resource — it is a multiplying force. Such is the beautiful arithmetic of parenthood. Expanding your family expands your heart.

One of parents’ constant struggles is trying to be there for our children while also meeting our own needs. What if the solution isn’t found in separation? Instead of asking when we can take a break from our children, we can instead ask a very simple question: How can we do this together?

According to ordo amoris, there is a natural hierarchy in how love and compassion are distributed — beginning first with family, followed by neighbours, community, fellow citizens, and then extending outward to the rest of the world.

A week ago, our little miracle man was born. For those unfamiliar with our journey, my wife and I struggled with infertility for over three years, during which time we adopted a beautiful little girl in the United States.

In the modern and digital age of instant gratification, where we can easily waste hours scrolling YouTube shorts, TikToks, and reels, the idea of reading a book may seem very daunting, yet it’s one of the best ways to grow our knowledge, our focus and introduce us to new ideas.

When your backyard feels boring, you’ve walked your neighbourhood one too many times, or another trip to the shops just won’t cut it for your toddler, here are 10 ideas for local family outings that won’t bust the budget.

After months of preparation, the due date for our second baby has finally arrived. In this period of calm before the chaos, let me share a few ways we have been preparing to become parents for two under two.

In 2024, a hurricane of events has forced us to scale back our ordinary observances. It all began in May when we found out that my wife Angie was pregnant with our second child. This miracle news of our new baby turned our plans upside down.

“Our kids are counting on us to provide two things: consistency and structure. Kids need parents who say what they mean, mean what they say, and do what they say they are going to do”. These are the wise words of Barbara Coloroso, who is an internationally recognised speaker and author on parenting. Yet these words could also be the mantra for Jason T. Smith. Jason T. Smith is a writer, ...

If we don’t provide today’s young men with more male role models from whom they can naturally learn to be an active father, will we continue the cycle of deadbeat dads?

Whatever your Christmas looks like this year, remember that clutter and chaos have always been part of this ancient celebration — and that God is with us in our mess.

When I found out I was venturing into dadhood earlier than planned, I pretty much cried for two weeks straight. But this challenge was exactly what I needed.

Our culture has embraced many myths about fatherhood that make men hesitate to settle down, marry, and start a family. It’s time to bust those myths — beginning with these four.