What Your Kids Feel When Dad’s in the Room
Every home has an emotional climate kids can feel but rarely name. Here's what shapes it, why it matters more than we realise, and how to build one that lets children thrive.
Dads, Don’t Forget to Keep Dating Your Bride
If there is one piece of non-negotiable advice I have for all fathers, it is to forget your children for enough time each week to date the woman who mothers them.
From the Beginning: Secure Attachment
Babies who have a secure relationship with their father use more coping tactics to entertain themselves during times of separation from parents than other infants who were not securely attached to their father.
Ten Reasons Why We Fail
Here are ten reflections on falling short of a desired outcome. More precisely, why we fail despite ourselves or our best intentions.
The Innate Difference Between a Mother and a Father
What Angie and I are learning during this season is just how differently the two of us are wired. Motherly instinct is an incredibly powerful force, and this holds just as true for an adoptive mother as for a biological one.
What Makes a Good Father
What makes a good father? Anyone can have children, but not anyone can be a father. So before you claim that "World's Greatest Dad" mug, take a look at some of the criteria that illustrate how to be a good father.
A Letter to Our Baby’s Birth Mother
Squish will always know the story about her birth mother and will always be free to ask questions about how it all began.
Your Baby Might Be Smarter Than You Think
It is truly amazing that in this one little life is a personality just bursting to get out, complete with interests and quirks, distastes and dreams, humour and chutzpah, and so much more.
A Beautiful Message from Our Baby’s Birth Mother
As an adopted daughter myself and now a birth mother, I will always be an advocate for adoption. I want women to know that there is an option.
You and Your Baby Were Made for Connection
It amazes me that someone so tiny, barely two months out of the womb, is so eager for connection. Treasure every moment. Look your baby in the eyes.
How NASA Naps Could Help Sleep-Deprived Dads on Autopilot
NASA naps last for around 23 minutes and have the potential to save sleep-deprived dads on autopilot.
How Our Crazy Adoption Story Began
Our adoption story is a twisting, turning tale that stretches across three countries and involved the riskiest decision my wife and I have ever made.
We Are All Better People When We Get Enough Sleep
Getting Squish to nap regularly is a conscious choice, a discipline. It has me wondering how many parents let their newborns decide their own sleeping patterns and, if so, how much misery it could cause!
Parenting Tip: Tap In, Tap Out
Tap in, tap out. It’s as simple as it sounds — a self-explanatory parenting tip about sharing the many new responsibilities of raising a child.
Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is marriage enemy number one in our book. When sleep-deprived, everything can appear miserable and beyond redemption.
The Joys and Challenges of Adoption
Adoption is a beautiful thing. But God’s first and best plan is the natural family. My wife and I are extremely pro-family. Who would we be to interfere if Squish’s birth parents wanted to get back together and keep Squish?
All You Can Do Is Your Best
My wife and I are in the process of adopting a baby girl, known affectionately as ‘Squish’ here at the Daily Dad until her adoption is finalised. I am now writing a weekly column as we learn the ins and outs of parenting a newborn, and as we navigate the ...
My One-Month-Old Was Miraculously Healed!
In recent weeks, I’ve shared a few anecdotes about our newly adopted baby. She’s known as ‘Squish’ here at the Daily Dad until her adoption is finalised. I am now writing a weekly column as my wife Angie and I learn the ins and outs of parenting a newborn, and as we navigate ...
The Newborn Challenge No One Told Me About
Last week, I told the origins story of our newly adopted baby. She’s known as ‘Squish’ here at the Daily Dad until her adoption is finalised. I plan to write a weekly column as my wife Angie and I learn the ins and outs of parenting a newborn, and as ...
A Dispatch from a Newly Adoptive Dad
As of two weeks ago, I’m a dad. It feels weird writing that, like it’s not quite true yet. But it is! My wife Angie and I have a brand new little human in our lives, a beautiful daughter whom we have affectionately nicknamed ‘Squish’. (Due to confidentialities around the ...
7 Lessons for Fathers from Mary Poppins
I know. “Mary Poppins.” I haven’t blown a gasket. Just hear me out. Without drilling too much into childhood nostalgia, or the feminist overtones, the original film has a great deal of good in it for dads. With the help of actor David Tomilson (1917-2000), the P.L. Travers/Disney film was ...
30 July: International Day of Friendship
In 2011, Australia and dozens of other members of the United Nations designated July 30 as the International Day of Friendship. Their goal was to educate the public, to mobilise the political will to resolve global problems, and to celebrate the achievements of humanity. Friendship promotes peace, inspires happiness, and ...
The Necessity of Resilience
Like a Marine, a dad is the first vanguard in their child’s life. Dads are a child’s first superhero. This is why the world needs men who refuse -- come hell or high water -- to go out on the devil’s terms. Put simply, the world needs resilient dads. Dads ...
Outta Puff Dads Dance for Mental Health, Manhood & Masculinity
Outta Puff Daddys (OPD) is a mixed bag of over-40s men from Brighton in the United Kingdom dancing to bridge the gap between masculinity and good mental health. It’s cringe for a good cause. Together as a group since 2012, they started life as a one-off way to encourage their ...
Staying Power
Walk through any quality '80s film, and the reoccurring theme is staying power. Daniel LaRusso, Rocky Balboa, Indiana Jones, Luke Skywalker, and Han Solo? Staying power. Axel Foley, Ripley (Aliens), John McClane, Mr Miyagi, and Maverick? Again, staying power. Add to this, characters played by some of the 80's best ...
More New Dads Seek Help for Mental Health Concerns
by Rachael Ward New dad Matt Carter knew something wasn't quite right when he suddenly became overwhelmed with sadness as soon as his two babies started crying. From there it just snowballed. He experienced several breakdowns before finally telling a maternal and child health nurse he was struggling. The now ...
