Birth and Beyond: Growing into Fatherhood
I know that technically Father’s Day is the first Sunday in September, but I think that your first Father’s Day is the day of your child’s birth. Your baby is born, but a father is born, too.
I know that technically Father’s Day is the first Sunday in September, but I think that your first Father’s Day is the day of your child’s birth. Your baby is born, but a father is born, too.
In 2013, Michael Ray became the sole parent of his two-year-old daughter Charlie. Michael has since published his first book, "Who Knew", which speaks to his experiences as a single dad, exposing some of the stigmas men come up against in the parenting world.
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.
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?
As a father, prioritising exercise is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your family. Not only will you reap the physical and mental health benefits, but you’ll also strengthen your role as a positive influence in your kids’ lives.
Can I share a secret with you? Only on the condition that you promise not to tell anyone else. The secret is: “My wife makes me look good.” She supports me in my work, and also notices when we need some healthy downtime!
Becoming a single father brings with it a whole raft of incredibly significant changes to your life. Being a single dad means being the absolute centre of your child’s life; the pillar that their future rests on.
The concept of atomic habits, popularised by James Clear, emphasises the power of making small, routine changes that compound over time. If you build good habits, good results will eventually follow.
Fatherhood is an incredibly rich and thoroughly immersive experience. It’s important to spend a little time to develop habits that will keep you healthy; this is something that can pay big dividends for you and your family in the long run!
Now that I have two toddlers, we spend many happy hours in playgrounds. Here in Brisbane, we are spoilt for choice. There are various new features which surpass the playgrounds of yore.