As a single dad, your situation may not be ideal, but your kids can still thrive and succeed.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, grandads and father figures! I hope you’re able to spend precious time with friends and family today and celebrate the positive influence dads have. No man is an island — we need a supportive community to flourish and grow.

When I called for men to talk about their mental health, I wasn’t sure what the response would be. But the comments from readers show that many men do want to speak about their emotions, although they feel they are not being heard.

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.

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.

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.

Jason Smith and his wife Paulina, in their Purposeful Parenting scheme, have designed various rites of passage for their teen children centering on fun, responsibility and service as they mature into adulthood. Read on to glean some ideas about how to shape your teen's destiny with such memorable moments.

A friend of mine challenged me with statistics about the importance of reaching out to your neighbours and building family and community in your own neighbourhood. He gave me three good reasons why hosting a Christmas Street Party for your neighbours is a really good idea.

Loving needs to be unconditional. That’s what we’re all called to do as husbands and fathers. When a family member has a need, we take action. Even if it’s inconvenient! Love is more about commitment than feelings. But thankfully, the loving feelings will often follow the loving actions.

This concept of men being sharpened like iron, or improving themselves, is a key component of Dads4Kids' mission to "transform the nation by inspiring fathers to help their children be the best they can be."

A few words of encouragement to single dads who have custody of their kids. In many ways, these dads can learn valuable lessons from the many single mums who have blazed the trail before them.

Richard has now experienced what an incredible blessing it is to be a parent. As a single dad, he courageously stepped up to a task that seemed too big, and now he recognises the amazing things he would have missed had he chosen to give in to fear and run.

The phenomenon of eloping to avoid the drama and cost of a big event is not a new idea. What is new, is having the big event, but exchanging vows separately in a smaller, more intimate, ceremony.

As a man, I can speak to this deficit of male friendship. Many of us can say hello in passing, talk about the weather, and maybe discuss the latest sports news, but how many of our connections truly care about us and would be there when we need them?

When I speak to groups of dads, I often bring up generational family issues to try to help them gain a better perspective on their own challenges. I ask a series of questions to bring these issues regarding their fathering heritage to the surface.

Wayne Alcorn has recently released a new book, "My Father's Son". International speaker and leadership consultant Sam Chand said, “'My Father’s Son' will make you laugh and cry at the same time, inspire and challenge you simultaneously.” I agree with Sam. It really is fantastic!

Single fathers face a unique set of challenges and concerns that can significantly impact their lives and their ability to raise their children effectively.

It’s commonly accepted today that first marriages have a greater success rate when delayed. If we dig a bit deeper, however, we find this conventional wisdom regarding delayed marrying has its flaws. Certain factors are at play in the success of all marriages.

Ultimately, parents must remember that they likely won’t be around for their children’s entire lives, but children’s siblings probably will be. If parents can teach their children how to build a solid family network together, they will offer a legacy not only to their children, but one that can be passed through the generations.

My role in their lives wasn’t exactly the same, but I realised that I was just as valuable — if not more so — than I was before. My worth had nothing to do with the ‘single’ and everything to do with the ‘dad’.